Help people overcome speech, cognitive (thinking), and swallowing disorders through Ball State’s major in speech pathology and audiology.
As a pre-professional program, this major is for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or a doctorate of audiology (AuD).
As a graduate, you will be well prepared to pursue further studies in order to become a speech-language pathologist, a highly in-demand career field.
What You Will Learn
The focus of this major is the study of human communication and its disorders. It includes disorders of speech, language, swallowing, and hearing. Communication disorders can be congenital (existing at or dating from fetal development or birth) or acquired and can affect individuals of any age. In this program, you will learn about:
- speech
- sounds
- speech acoustics – the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of spoken sound
- phonology – the science of speech sounds including the history and theory of sound changes in a language or in two or more related languages
- anatomy – the organs, cells, and tissues related to speech, language, and hearing
- physiology – the functions and activities of the organ, cells, and tissues related to speech, language, and hearing
- how to work in and observe professionals in a clinic
- psychology
- disorders related to speech, speech development, language, language development, hearing, and balance
What It’s Like to Major in Speech Pathology and Audiology at Ball State?
The Ball State University Audiology Clinic strives to be an evolving clinical resource for the people of east central Indiana and is charged with providing the highest level of healthcare within our profession. The clinic offers the following comprehensive audiology services, usually conducted by audiology students under faculty supervision:
Diagnostic Services
- newborn hearing evaluations
- child hearing evaluations
- adult hearing evaluations
- tinnitus evaluations
- auditory processing disorder evaluations
- evaluation of dizziness and balance
- fall risk assessment
Rehabilitative Services
- hearing aid evaluations/fittings
- cochlear implant evaluations/fittings
- ear wax removal
- assistive listing devices: amplified telephones, alerting devices, and classroom amplification (FM/DM systems)
- hearing aid/cochlear implant repairs
- balance rehabilitation program
- swim molds
- hearing protection (for musicians, hunters, or anyone exposed to loud sounds)
Learn More
At Ball State, you’ll be part of a student community that is as diverse as it is committed to excellence.
Students in both our undergraduate and graduate programs work alongside one another to achieve their academic and career goals.
Our program has teaching-focused faculty who are experienced professionals in the field of audiology and speech pathology.
Our student-to-teacher ratio is low, and all courses are taught by faculty, not graduate or teaching assistants.
Read Faculty Bios
Students in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology gain valuable real world, hands-on experience during their time at Ball State.
Our graduates go on to become teachers, clinicians, researchers, managers, and a variety of other critical occupations in the exciting field of health care.
Major Requirements
The speech-language pathology and audiology major is designed for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a master's degree in Speech Language Pathology or a doctorate of audiology (AuD).
Our programs are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
Learn more.
Credits
Total for Major: 67
Courses
A few of the classes you will take include:
- Speech Sound Disorders
- Speech Acoustics
- Language Development
- Child Language Disorders 1
- Neurogenic Organic Disorders
For a complete list of all the courses you will take and their descriptions, please see our Course Catalog.
View Catalog
What Can You Do with a Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology?
Ball State’s bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology is a pre-professional program only and prepares students for graduate studies in speech pathology and audiology. Students who complete their master’s or doctoral studies in this field go on to work as speech-language pathologists (or speech therapists).
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that demand for Speech-language pathologists is much higher than the national average, and 25,900 new jobs are expected to be added between 2016 and 2026.
Speech language pathologists with a master’s degree work with people:
- with the inability to make speech sounds or cannot make them clearly
- with voice quality problems, such as inappropriate pitch or harsh voice
- with swallowing difficulties
- with problems understanding and producing language
- with speech rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering
- who seek to improve their communication skills by modifying an accent
- with cognitive communication impairments, such as attention, memory, and problem-solving disorders
- with hearing loss who use hearing aids or cochlear implants in order to develop auditory skills and improve communication
Paying for Your Education
On top of the dozens of funding options offered through Ball State’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, our department awards scholarships to our own students. Find a scholarship.
Apply to Ball State
Admission to Ball State is selective, and we carefully evaluate all applications on an individual basis. Applying is easy. Use our convenient, comprehensive, and secure online application.
Apply Now
Want to Learn More?
The best way to get a true feel for Ball State is to spend some time here, so we encourage you and your family to schedule a campus visit. Take a tour, attend an information session, meet with a professor in our area, and ask plenty of questions. Or, if you’d rather speak to someone directly by phone or email, please feel free to contact us.