B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology
Undergraduate Program Mission
The Speech-Language Pathology Undergraduate Program at the University of Toledo is
dedicated to the development of competent and caring entry-level speech-language pathologists
by preparing undergraduate students for acceptance into an accredited graduate program.
The program is committed to quality teaching enhanced by faculty research with an
emphasis on evidenced-based practices in assessment and remediation of speech-language
disorders in children and adults. Clinical observation and practicum are integral
parts of the student’s development and such experiences are interspersed throughout
the student’s education to provide opportunities to observe and apply learned approaches
and techniques under supervision.
Students will be prepared to meet the undergraduate academic and clinical requirements for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence and to demonstrate knowledge and skills required of entry-level graduate students.
About the Program
The University of Toledo began an undergraduate degree program in Speech-Language Pathology in 1969 with the first graduate level speech-language pathology curriculum offered in 1987. The program was accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 1993 and was re-accredited in 1998, 2006, 2014, and 2022. Accreditation of the graduate program extends through February 28, 2030.
We offer both undergraduate and graduate programs in speech-language pathology. There
are approximately 150 undergraduate majors with class sizes in speech-language pathology
courses averaging 30 students per class; labs have smaller class sizes. UToledo is one of the few universities offering clinical practicum courses at the
undergraduate level. Students generally earn 25 practicum hours at the undergraduate
level.
For the undergraduate plan of study, including the SLP Program checklist as well as
the list of
leveling courses for undergraduates who have a degree in another field, are located on the Undergraduate Advising page.
Employment in the Profession
Speech-language pathology employment opportunities have been excellent for graduates
of the Master’s degree program. To our knowledge, all graduate students who have graduated
from our master's program in good standing are employed in the field of speech-language
pathology.
Employment opportunities for speech-language pathologists are in a variety of settings, both educational and medical, serving people of all ages. Speech-language pathology is continually listed as one of the top jobs in the “50 hottest jobs” by Money Manager and similar publications.
Graduates of the SLP Master’s program at The University of Toledo have accepted positions in the public schools, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, university and community clinics, and long term care facilities. Recent figures for starting salaries, which do not include benefits packages, are about $50,000.
Meeting the Requirements for Certification and Licensure
The undergraduate plan of study provides students the opportunity to meet the educational
and clinical requirements necessary to enter graduate school and in accordance with
the ASHA Certification of Clinical Competence (speech-language pathology) standards.
To obtain an undergraduate degree in the Speech-Language Pathology program as recognized
by the College of Health and Human Services, a student must complete a minimum of
124 semester credit hours and meet the course work, practicum, and requirements for
the degree. The Plan of Study is provided on the Undergraduate Advising page.
If a student obtains his/her undergraduate coursework from another institution, careful scheduling with the assigned graduate advisor will be necessary ensure that all educational and clinical certification requirements are met through experiences on the graduate level at The University of Toledo.
Upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree, students are eligible to apply to graduate programs at UToledo as well as other universities. The Master’s degree represents the academic requirement for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) which is granted by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). Other requirements are listed in the ASHA Certification section.
The state of Ohio requires a license in speech-language pathology services within the state. The requirements for the Ohio state license are similar to those for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence. The requirements in the state of Michigan are similar. Specific information about state licensure if provided in the Graduate Handbook.
The school speech-language pathology licensure is also recommended by the University but issued by the state of Ohio. This licensure is not needed in Michigan when the person is certified (CCC-SLP). To meet the coursework and practicum requirements to be eligible for employment in the public school system in Ohio, the student must meet the University requirements for an education focus in speech-language pathology. These requirements may include specific coursework in education as well as courses in disabilities studies, learning disabilities, and American Sign Language. In addition, extensive practicum experience in the public school setting is provided. A score of 600 is required on the PRAXIS examination.
Educational and Professional Requirements
Core Curriculum
All students must complete the University approved Core Curriculum. We recommend that
students enroll in general education course work to meet the ASHA Certification requirements
for science, mathematics, social science, and behavioral science. Course work should
cover the life span and explore diversity issues.
Students must also obtain clinical practicum experience. Undergraduate students at The University of Toledo average 25 hours of practicum at degree completion. Graduate students typically obtain ~200 clock hours of supervised practicum before entering their extern experience to obtain further clinical practicum experience. Most will obtain more than 600 hours of clinical practicum before the end of the program.
The following criteria must be met before admission to clinical practicum/methods is granted:
- Must have at least a sophomore standing (25-55 hours) with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the major.
- Specific course requirements can be located in the Curriculum Check Sheet and the individual Plans of Study. These can be located on the Undergraduate Advising page. Note that there is also a clinical component to the curriculum. You may also want to visit the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic Website to learn more about our clinic.
Undergraduate Course Descriptions are published in the University of Toledo catalog.
The Undergraduate program is designed primarily to prepare students for graduate coursework in speech-language pathology or a related discipline. With that in mind, the program has established undergraduate program-level Student Learning Outcomes based upon the American Speech-Language Hearing Association 2020 Standards and Implementation Procedures for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. Students demonstrate achievement of these outcomes by earning a grade of “C” or better in the program-level required courses. For more information on the program-level required courses, visit the Undergraduate Advising page and view the Curriculum Check Sheet and the Plans of Study.
Undergraduate Advising
Students must obtain advisor approval to register for undergraduate speech-language pathology courses. As such, it is important that you meet with an advisor to plan your course of study appropriately. A list of advisors is available on the Academic Advising webpage.