Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

A career as a speech-language pathology assistant allows you to spend your day working directly with students with special needs.

Our programs prepare you to enter the workforce having studied the most up-to-date methods to treat students with speech and language disorders.

You have the option of completing an associate of arts or bachelor of arts degree. Both are paraprofessional degrees, which qualify you to assist speech-language pathologists in the treatment of students with speech and language disorders.

If you are interested in becoming a licensed speech-language pathologist, please visit our communication sciences and disorders program page.

You enroll in a course of study in the normal processes of speech, language, and hearing, and communication disorders and their treatment. During the course of completing your bachelor's degree, you concurrently earn an associate degree.

Our faculty have strong relationships with a range of schools and clinical sites, which provide opportunities to observe therapy sessions, participate in supervised speech, language, and hearing screenings, and complete clinical practica.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Major in Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)

(Minimum at Elms College: 24 credits/Minimum GPA: 2.67)

Major Course Requirements (48 credits)

CSD 201 Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders (3 credits)
CSD 202 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism I (3 credits)
CSD 203 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism II (3 credits)
CSD 204 Phonetics and Phonology (3 credits)
CSD 301 Hearing Science (3 credits)
CSD 305 Normal Language Development (3 credits)
CSD 306 Audiology (3 credits)
CSD 307 Observational Methods and Techniques (3 credits)
CSD 307L Observational Methods and Techniques Lab (1 credit)
CSD 403 Bases of Intervention (3 credits)
CSD 405 Aural Rehabilitation (3 credits)
CSD 412 Rehabilitation of Articulation Disorders (3 credits)
CSD 413 Rehabilitation of Language Disorders (3 credits)
Clinical Practica (4-12 credits)

Students may enroll in one or more clinical practicum only with permission of the program director.
CSD 408 Clinical Practicum in Schools I (3 credits)
CSD 408L Clinical Practicum in Schools I Lab (1 credit)
CSD 410 Seminar in C.S.D. (3 credits)
CSD 411 Clinical Practicum in Hospitals I (3 credits)
CSD 411L Clinical Practicum in Hospitals I Lab (1 credit)
CSD 415 Clinical Practicum in Schools II (3 credits)
CSD 415L Clinical Practicum in Schools IL Lab (1 credit)
CSD 416 Clinical Practicum in Hospitals II (3 credits)
CSD 416L Clinical Practicum in Hospitals II Lab (1 credit)

Additional Course Requirements (21 credits)
BIO 105, 106, 121, 122, or 215 (3 credits)
EDU 319 Students with Special Needs (3 credits)
MAT 108, 109, 120, or 131 (3 credits)
PHI 242 Everyday Ethics or PHI 248 Health Care Ethics (3 credits)
PSY 201 General Psychology (3 credits)
PSY 204 Human Behavior in Social Environments (3 credits)
REL 302 World Religions (3 credits)

Students must also complete all core course requirements of the college.

Associate of Arts Degree

Major in Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)

(Minimum at Elms College: 24 credits/Minimum GPA: 2.67)

Major Course Requirements (45 credits)

CSD 201 Introduction to Communication Sciences & Disorders (3 credits)
CSD 202 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism I (3 credits)
CSD 203 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism II (3 credits)
CSD 204 Phonetics and Phonology (3 credits)
CSD 301 Hearing Science (3 credits)
CSD 305 Normal Language Development (3 credits)
CSD 306 Audiology (3 credits)
CSD 307 Observational Methods and Techniques (3 credits)
CSD 307L Observational Methods and Techniques Lab (1 credit)
CSD 403 Bases of Intervention (3 credits)
CSD 405 Aural Rehabilitation (3 credits)
CSD 412 Rehabilitation of Articulation Disorders (3 credits)
CSD 413 Rehabilitation of Language Disorders (3 credits)
Clinical Practica (4-12 credits)

Students may enroll in one or more clinical practicum only with permission of the program director.
CSD 408 Clinical Practicum in Schools I (3 credits)
CSD 408L Clinical Practicum in Schools I Lab (1 credit)
CSD 411 Clinical Practicum in Hospitals I (3 credits)
CSD 411L Clinical Practicum in Hospitals I Lab (1 credit)
CSD 415 Clinical Practicum in Schools II (3 credits)
CSD 415L Clinical Practicum in Schools IL Lab (1 credit)
CSD 416 Clinical Practicum in Hospitals II (3 credits)
CSD 416L Clinical Practicum in Hospitals II Lab (1 credit)

Additional Course Requirements (21 credits)
EDU 319 Students with Special Needs (3 credits)
HIS 105 or 106 American History (3 credits)
HUM 101 Rhetoric (3 credits)
MAT 108 College Math (3 credits)
OR
MAT 109 Statistics
OR
MAT 120 Elementary Functions
OR
MAT 131 Differential Calculus
PHI 242 Everyday Ethics (3 credits)
OR
PHI 248 Health Care Ethics
PSY 201 General Psychology (3 credits)
REL 302 World Religions (3 credits)