Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are health professionals focused on the processes and disorders of speech, language and hearing.
Speech-language pathologists study the production of speech and language and work with children and adults who have disorders affecting their ability to communicate. Audiologists study the physical, physiological and psychological aspects of hearing, and provide intervention and technology-based rehabilitation to persons with hearing loss and problems with balance.
The speech-language pathology and audiology program in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences provides the foundation for graduate study leading to clinical certification and career opportunities as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
Careers in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Speech-language pathology and audiology are professions consistently rated among the best careers for the changing job landscape.
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are employed in a variety of school and health care settings such as universities, clinics and hospitals.
Students completing the BS degree and who meet specified clinical practicum requirements are also eligible for state licensure as assistants in speech-language pathology and can provide therapy services under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist.
The University’s Career Center is an important resource for students pursuing their careers. Licensed counselors are available to help clarify career goals, provide strategies for mastering job interviews and writing professional cover letters and resumes and help students connect with campus recruiters.
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at UT Dallas
The BS in speech language pathology and audiology requires 120 hours to graduate: 42 hours from the University’s core curriculum, 33 hours in speech-language pathology and audiology courses and 45 hours of electives.
Students are encouraged to select electives in psychology to complement their coursework in speech-language pathology and audiology.
Internships
Junior and senior speech-language pathology and audiology majors with at least a 2.5 GPA are eligible to receive college credit for a volunteer internship in the community.
Fast-Track
The Fast-Track program enables undergraduate students to take up to 15 hours of graduate courses that will count toward both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in applied cognition and neuroscience, communication disorders, and human development and early childhood disorders. Students must have at least 90 credit hours and meet the graduate admission requirements to qualify.
School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences is focused on the intersection of mind, brain and behavior. Through the school’s research-intensive culture, our professors and students work together to unravel mysteries that will improve human lives. They accomplish this by translating the latest research into treatments and sharing this knowledge through community outreach.
Areas of study include:
- Child learning and development
- Cognition and neuroscience
- Psychology
- Speech-language pathology and communication disorders
- Audiology
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Arts: Psychology*
Bachelor of Science: Child learning and development*, cognitive science, neuroscience, speech-language pathology and audiology*
Master of Science: Applied cognition and neuroscience, communication disorders, human development and early childhood disorders, psychological sciences
Doctor of Philosophy: Cognition and neuroscience, communication sciences and disorders, psychological sciences
Doctor of Audiology: Audiology
*May be combined with a teacher certification degree plan
Research Centers
In addition to the many research opportunities in faculty labs, students can also gain valuable experience through the school’s four affiliated centers committed to research, treatment and outreach.
- Callier Center for Communication Disorders — The center is a national leader in providing care for children and adults with a wide variety of speech, language and hearing disorders. Faculty members support the center’s clinical services by engaging in research to provide the latest information on causes, treatments and prevention of communication disorders.
- The Center for BrainHealth — This center has a unique mission: to understand the brain's ability to restore or protect healthy function, to protect the brain from unnecessary mental decline and to heal the brain through treatments that regenerate function. To accomplish its mission, the Center for BrainHealth unites cutting-edge technologies in brain science with the intellectual talent of world-class scientists and clinicians, thereby advancing cognitive treatments and brain repair across diseases.
- The Center for Vital Longevity — This research center is focused on understanding and expanding the capacity of the aging mind. Center researchers use cutting-edge brain imaging technologies and advances in cognitive science to understand how the brain changes from young to old adulthood, the consequences of neural aging for everyday function and what interventions show promise for slowing cognitive aging.
- The Center for Children and Families — The center’s research, programs and community outreach activities are organized around parenting healthy families, strengthening interpersonal relationships and enhancing thinking and learning.
To learn more about the research centers affiliated with the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and to view a complete list of the school's research labs, visit
Additional Facts about BBS
- Enrollment has increased by almost 50 percent during the last seven years.
- The graduate programs in audiology and speech- language pathology are both nationally ranked in the top five percent, according to U.S. News & World Report.
- The school is home to one of the state’s largest concentrations of child development experts.
- Since September 2008, BBS faculty members have received close to $35 million in research funding.
- BBS has more than 1,200 undergraduate students and more than 460 graduate students.
Contact Information
Melanie Spence, PhD
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education
School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
The University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road GR41
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Fax: (972)-883-2491
E-mail: bbs.undergraduate@utdallas.edu
Website: bbs.utdallas.edu
Office of Admission and Enrollment Services
800 West Campbell Road ROC 11
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Phone: 972-883-2270 or 1-800-889-2443
E-mail: interest@utdallas.edu
Website: utdallas.edu/enroll
