Why Elms for your Speech-Language Pathology Assistant degree?

  • Acquire the knowledge and skills to immediately begin working as an SLPA upon graduation.
  • Learn from experienced faculty with clinical backgrounds as speech language pathologists and audiologists.
  • Double major in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) to broaden your understanding of how to treat conditions that impair communication.
  • Complete an intensive clinical practicum at a local school in collaboration with a certified SLP.

Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

The speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) major program will prepare you academically and clinically to enter the workforce upon graduation. Elms graduates have a 100 percent success rate finding positions as speech-language pathology assistants in school settings, helping children with communication disorders to improve their speech and language skills.

The SLPA major follows ASHA guidelines and consists of a sequential study of normal development and functioning of speech, language, and hearing, and introductory courses concerned with communication disorders along with a more in-depth study of intervention principles and techniques. The program culminates in a clinical fieldwork experience allowing you to work in an education environment under the direction of a speech-language pathologist.

Quick Info

100% job placement

  • Faculty are experienced teachers with clinical backgrounds as speech language pathologists and audiologists.
  • SLPA majors complete service learning projects in the local community.
  • Gain experience treating speech and language disorders through an in-depth clinical practicum in a local school.

Curriculum

Click to view course requirements for the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (B.A.).

Minimum at Elms College: 30 credits/Minimum GPA: 3.0

Core Speech Language Pathology Assistant Requirements

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
CSD 1001Introduction to Communication Sciences & Disorders3
CSD 1003Sign Language I3
CSD 1004Sign Language II3
CSD 2000 Professional Communication in CSD3
CSD 2002 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism I3
CSD 2003 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism II3
CSD 2004 Phonetics and Phonology3
CSD 3005 Speech and Language Acquisition3
CSD 3007 Observational Methods and Techniques4
CSD 4003 Speech and Language Disorders: Pediatric Population3
CSD 4004Speech and Language Disorders: Adult Population3
CSD 4005Aural Rehabilitation3
CSD 4100Seminar in CSD3
Total Credits40

Clinical Practica

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
CSD 4008Clinical Practicum in Schools I3
CSD 4008LClinical Practicum in Schools I Lab1
CSD 4105Clinical Practicum in Schools II3
CSD 4105LClinical Practicum in Schools II Lab1
Total Practicum Credits8

Additional Course Requirements (21 credits)

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
PSY 1001General Psychology3
RELREL 2104; REL 3015; or equivalent3
ASD/A BAIntroduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders/Applied Behavioral Analysis3
BIO 1005Human Applications3
SWK 2004Human Behavior/Social Environment3
PHI 2408Healthcare Ethics3
Total Credits18