Audiology and Speech Pathology, BSASP (Joint Degree with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville)

Program Objectives
Admissions
Curriculum Summary
BS-ASP Grading Scale
Graduation

Program Objectives

The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology offers course work in the scientific study of human communication sciences and disorders. The undergraduate major (audiology and speech pathology) is preparatory to graduate work and to professional certification in some aspect of speech, language, and hearing disorders. The Masters of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology or Doctor of Audiology is required for professional certificates and employment positions.

For students planning a career in Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology, a special 3+1 curriculum is available, culminating in a joint Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. This 3+1 program provides the required courses for admission to graduate programs in either Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology.

As part of the 3+1 program, students complete general education and prerequisite courses offered in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences (UTK) in 3 years. In the fourth year, the undergraduate requirements for a degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology are completed through the Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology (UTHSC-Knoxville campus). In this model, Audiology & Speech Pathology majors complete 90 credit hours as a UTK student and 30 hours of major classes as a student of UTHSC.

Information about the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology undergraduate major may be obtained from the departmental office, 578 South Stadium Hall, and students are strongly encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor in the department as early as possible in their programs.

Admissions

To participate in the 3+1 program, students who have 60 credits at UTK, with a GPA of 3.0 or better, apply for conditional admission to the Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology, College of Health Professions at UTHSC. Full admission will be granted when students have completed 90 hours with a GPA of 3.0 or better and have completed the course, ASP 300 Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a grade of 3.0 or better. Once admitted to UTHSC, students complete major education requirements of 30 credit hours as a UTHSC student. Students in the program in Audiology & Speech Pathology at UTHSC remain in residence on the UTK campus. Tuition for this program is the same for both campuses. Transfer credits are not allowed for the final year of the program (UTHSC portion).

Specific Requirements

Conditional admission is granted with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 after completion of at least 60 credit hours.
Full admission is granted with a minimum GPA of 3.0 after completion of 90 hours and a grade of B or better in the course ASP 300 Introduction to Communication Disorders & Sciences

Applicants will submit their current transcript to the Undergraduate Advisor within the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology to verify that the criteria necessary for admission into the last year of the 3+1 B.S. in Audiology and Speech Pathology at UTHSC have been met. Applicants will be admitted or denied based on these criteria and notified via letter. A list of admitted applicants will be forwarded to the UTHSC Office of Admissions which will send additional instructions to the accepted applicants regarding establishing a student account and transferring to UTHSC for their final year.

Please Note: Admission to the major does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

Technical Standards

Students who plan to pursue graduate study at UTHSC must have or acquire certain essential skills, functions, and professional attitudes and behaviors. These requisite skills are described in the Technical Standards document noted in the catalog description of the MS-SLP graduate program.

General Education Competencies

Communication - Students must be able to communicate effectively in a style appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.
Mathematics - Students must be able to apply basic mathematical tools in the solution of real- world problems.
Sciences - Students must be able to apply principles of the natural, behavioral and social sciences in the solution of problems encountered.
Critical Thinking - Students must be able to demonstrate their ability to solve problems, construct and present cogent arguments in support of one’s views, and understand and evaluate arguments presented by others.
Information Literacy - Students must be able to seek, access, critically evaluate and appropriately apply information.
Technology - Students must be able to use technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information in a professional manner.

General education competencies will be measured through tools and strategies such as student performance on oral presentations, written critiques of research papers, and papers written in capstone courses. Math competencies may be measured through tools such as comprehensive math examinations prior to graduation. Students will be apprised of specific strategies to be used to evaluate their mastery of the general education competencies during new student orientation.

Curriculum Summary

The curriculum for the audiology and speech pathology major consists of 120 credit hours total, of which 30 credit hours (outlined below) are completed during the student’s final year (when enrolled as a UTHSC student). The classes taken during the final year will be the same as those taken in the fall and spring semesters of the first year of the 3-year MS-SLP program described above.

Sample

Final year of program (for students seeking a Bachelor of Science in ASP)

Fall 1

ASP 303 - Introduction to Hearing Science Cr Hrs: 3
ASP 305 - Phonetics Cr Hrs: 3
ASP 306 - Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Cr Hrs: 3
ASP 320 - Speech and Language Development Cr Hrs: 3
ASP 461 - Introduction to Language Pathology in Children Cr Hrs: 3

Spring 1

ASP 302 - Acoustics and Perception Cr Hrs: 3
ASP 433 - Observation of Clinical Practice Cr Hrs: 1
ASP 435 - Introduction to Speech Sound Disorders Cr Hrs: 3
ASP 455 - Introduction to Adult Speech and Language Disorders Cr Hrs: 2
ASP 473 - Introduction to Audiologic Assessment Cr Hrs: 3
ASP 494 - Introduction to Aural Habilitation/Rehabilitation of the Hearing Impaired Cr Hrs: 3

BS-ASP Grading Scale*

A = > 0.93,
A- > 0.90 & < 0.92
B+ => 0.86 & < 0.90,
B = > 0.82 & < 0.86,
B- = > 0.80 & < 0.82
C+ = > 0.76 & < 0.80,
C = > 0.73 & < 0.76,
C- = > 0.70 & < 0.72
D = > 0.60 & < 0.70

Information about grading for incompletes and withdrawals in covered in the general college section of the catalog. Students should reference this information about grade assignments in these situations.

Graduation

The following requirements must be satisfied to earn the degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 33** hours in academic coursework in ASP.
Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 87***credit hours in general education and pre-major requirements from UT, Knoxville.
Students must complete coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better. Grades of “C” or above are required in all content area coursework and practicum.
Students must discharge all financial obligations to the University and remove all deficiencies documented by the Registrar

* ASP 433 Observation of Clinical Practice uses Pass/Fail criteria
**30 credit hours during the senior year with 3 credit hours taken earlier as a major prerequisite.
*** 90 credit hours are completed through UTK (87 credit hours in general education, electives and major pre- requisites plus 3 credit hours taken specifically in ASP as a major prerequisite).