Speech Pathology: Bachelor's Degree at a Glance
Speech pathology entails the study of communication disorders involving cognition, speaking, hearing and language. The field is also known as 'speech-language pathology' and is usually paired up with audiology, which is the study of hearing issues and disorders. Speech-language pathologists, sometimes called 'speech therapists', are healthcare professionals who treat patients with communication problems, such as hearing impediments and issues with understanding language. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in most states a master's degree is the minimum level of education required to become licensed as a speech pathologist. Earning a bachelor's degree in speech pathology prepares you to work as an assistant to a speech language pathologist or to attend graduate school.
| Bachelor's | |
|---|---|
| Who is this degree for? | - Individuals interested in entry-level jobs in the field - Individuals interested in attending graduate school to become licensed speech therapists |
| Common Career Paths (with approximate annual salary) | - Speech-language pathology assistant (with 1-4 years of experience: $21,000-$57,000)* |
| Time to Completion | 4 years, full-time |
| Common Graduation Requirements | - Roughly 120 credits of coursework - Thesis - Internship/clinical practice |
| Prerequisites | High school diploma |
| Online Availability | Yes |
Source: *PayScale.com (December 2012 salary range).
