2023-2024 Catalog
Speech Pathology and Audiology
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Professors P. Goetz, B. Kreisman (chair)
Associate Professors H. Koole, B. Oommen
Assistant Professor S. Chun
The Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPAUD) Department offers a 4-year bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology, a 5-year bachelor’s to master’s program in speech-language pathology, a 2-year master’s program in speech-language pathology, and a 1-year certificate program in speech and hearing foundations.
Undergraduate Admissions
Undergraduate Admission to the Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPAUD) Program
Students who wish to enter the professions of speech-language pathology or audiology may qualify for the degree of bachelor of arts in speech pathology and audiology and then apply to graduate programs in either area. Admission into graduate programs in audiology or speech-language pathology is competitive. Students who wish to become audiologists should apply to accredited graduate programs at other institutions during the fall of their senior year. Students who wish to become speech-language pathologists may apply to Calvin’s bachelor’s-to-master’s (BA-MA) before the second semester of their junior year or they may apply to other accredited graduate programs during the fall of their senior year.
Admission for Transfer Students to the BA SPAUD Program
Undergraduate students who have transferred to Calvin from another college or university will follow the regular admission process to the master’s program. They must have completed at least two semesters of full-time academic work at Calvin by the time they apply for admission to the program. Transfer students can expect to be full-time at the undergraduate level for at least four semesters before beginning the master’s program. Transferring to the program as an undergraduate student does not guarantee admission in Calvin’s master’s program.
Retention Requirements for all Undergraduate SPAUD Majors
Students must earn at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) every semester across all courses. If a student earns below a 3.0 GPA in any one semester, the student will be placed on probation and must earn a 3.0 GPA in all other semesters. Students may earn below a 3.0 GPA only one time during their tenure at Calvin University. A second semester with a GPA below 3.0 will result in the student being dismissed from the SPAUD program. Students may retake SPAUD courses to improve their GPA. Students must also meet the essential functions required to practice as a speech-language pathologist, as outlined in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Student Academic and Clinical Handbook.
Graduate Admissions
Students applying for admission to the Speech-Language Pathology MA program should take note of the following policies:
- Prerequisite SPAUD courses must have been completed within the last seven years.
- Preference will be given to Calvin applicants who have completed or will complete all prerequisite courses at Calvin; however, a limited number of seats may be available for post-baccalaureate students.
- Enrollment in the MA program is also contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check, and drug screen.
It is important to note that completion of the SPAUD courses and achievement of the minimum criteria does not guarantee admission into the master’s program or any other graduate program. Enrollment in the master’s program is limited and thus the admission process is selective.
Early Admission Process to the BA-MA Program
High school graduates interested in the Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPAUD) BA-MA Program are eligible for early admission to the SPAUD major at Calvin University. Students must have met the following criteria:
- A high school GPA of 3.8 or higher for US citizens.
- Average marks of 91% or higher from a Canadian high school.
- Students must specify a SPAUD major on their Calvin University application and submit the deposit by May 1.
To maintain early admission status, an early admitted Calvin student must have:
- Earned at least a B+ in all SPAUD courses at Calvin. If students receive less than a B+ in a SPAUD course, they may retake the course, and regain early admission status once they receive a B+ or higher in that course.
- Earned a 3.7 or higher GPA at the time of official application into the graduate program.
- Maintained essential functions requirements and have had no violation of the academic integrity policy at the time of official admission to the graduate program. Any violation would result in an immediate removal of the early admit status without possibility to regain early admit status (see Essential Functions Requirements in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Student Academic and Clinical Handbook for more information).
- Successfully completed a criminal background check and drug screen before entering the MA in Speech-Language Pathology program.
Failure to meet these requirements means that the student will lose early admission status.
Calvin undergraduate students, including students with early admit status, normally apply for admission to the Calvin MA in Speech-Language Pathology program on January 15th of their third year. Early admit students who maintain the criteria for early admit status are guaranteed admission to the Calvin MA in Speech-Language Pathology program; however, admission to a specific learning mode (on-campus or distance education) is not guaranteed with early admit status. It is likely that most students with early admit status will be admitted to the on-campus mode; however, it is not guaranteed. Admission to the on-campus mode is competitive due to its limited student capacity and is determined by a student’s standing relative to other students applying at the time of application to the Calvin MA program. All early admit students who maintain their early admit status will have the option to be admitted to the Calvin MA in Speech-Language Pathology program distance-education mode.
Admissions: During the fall semester of the junior year, all students will be sent a link to submit the application forms and a personal statement.
Regular Admission to the MA Program
Application to the master’s program for regular admission of undergraduate students at Calvin normally occurs during the junior year. Applications are due on January 15. Applicants who submit after the deadline will be considered on a space available basis only. In order to apply to the SPAUD program, Calvin students must have:
- At least junior standing at the application due date.
- Completed the following prerequisite courses or be enrolled in at the application due date: SPAUD 101 , SPAUD 210 , SPAUD 212 , SPAUD 216 , SPAUD 311 , SPAUD 343 , SPAUD 344 , SPAUD 345 , SPAUD 370 ; BIOL 115 , STAT 143 , PSYC 201 ; and a physics or chemistry course with lab.
- A minimum overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 at the application due date.
- Met the essential functions required to practice as a speech-language pathologist (see Essential Functions Requirements in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Student Academic and Clinical Handbook for more information).
- Preference is given to students who have completed the majority of their coursework at Calvin.
- Successfully completed a criminal background check and drug screen before entering the Speech Pathology master’s program
Admission for Post-BA Students
Prospective graduate applicants with a degree or equivalent coursework in speech pathology and audiology or with degrees in other disciplines/areas of study may apply to the Speech Pathology MA program only. Preference for the residential mode is given to Calvin undergraduate students in the bachelor’s-to-master’s degree program; however, a limited number of seats may be available for post-baccalaureate students. Please note that simply meeting the criteria is not a guarantee of admission. As is the case with most graduate programs in speech-language pathology, admission is highly competitive. Admission to the master’s program only is dependent on the criteria listed below.
- Graduation from a regionally accredited undergraduate college or university. If you have a degree in another major, you need to complete the necessary prerequisites PRIOR to applying to our MA program.
- Prerequisite SPAUD courses must have been completed within the last seven years.
- A minimum overall GPA of at least a 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 (no exceptions).
- Successful completion (with at least a 3.0 GPA) of the undergraduate prerequisites or their equivalents. Descriptions of courses are located here.
- GRE scores are not required.
- Final enrollment in the MA in Speech-Language Pathology program is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check and drug screen.
Applicants are expected to have completed all required undergraduate prerequisite courses before enrolling in the graduate program. Applicants who are not able to complete those prerequisites in time are welcome to apply the following year. See below for course listings.
All applicants must also meet the retention requirements as listed above.
Applicants must submit the following items online at CSDCAS (www.csdcas.org):
- Official transcripts from every college or university attended; if currently attending college, most recently completed semester grades must be included.
- Three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors, that address your potential for success in the graduate program.
- A personal statement that addresses reasons for pursuing an advanced degree in speech-languge pathology, professional objectives, and why Calvin is a good fit for your graduate experience and your future profession.
All application materials (including official transcripts) are due no later than January 15 to www.csdcas.org for entry the following fall semester. If accepted, applicants will be directed to the Admissions Office for application to the university.
Retention Requirements for MA in Speech-Language Pathology Students
Students must earn at least a B in every course in the MA program to pass the course. A student who does not earn a B will be placed on academic remediation and must retake the course. The student will register for the course the next time it is offered for the cohort, which under most circumstances is the following year. The student should be aware that remediation may result in delayed externship start, delayed graduation date and additional tuition expenses for the academic course. A second grade below a B in the same course will result in the student being dismissed from the program.
Students must earn at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) every semester across all courses. If a student earns below a 3.0 GPA in any one semester, the student will be placed on academic probation and must earn a 3.0 GPA in all other semesters. Students may earn below a 3.0 GPA only one time during their tenure at Calvin University. A second semester with a GPA below 3.0 will result in the student being dismissed from the SPAUD program. Students may retake SPAUD courses to improve their GPA. Students must also meet the essential functions required to practice as a speech-language pathologist.
If a student is not showing sufficient development as a clinician, or if clinical instructors or academic instructors raise concerns regarding essential functions or professional behavior, a plan will be created outlining the activities and/or experiences the student must complete to demonstrate adequate improvement in the area of concern. This plan must include measurable goals that can be completed within one semester, as well as specification of persons who will be responsible for monitoring and implementing plans to achieve each goal. The student should be aware that clinical remediation may result in a delayed graduation date and additional tuition and fees for the course. Students may not remediate the same or similar issue more than one time. If the same or similar issue for remediation is identified in subsequent semesters was covered in a previous remediation plan, as determined by the clinic director and program director, the student will be dismissed from the program. Further information can be found in the Speech Pathology and Audiology Student Academic and Clinical Handbook.
ProgramsMajorCertificate: UndergraduateMaster’sDual DegreeCoursesSpeech Pathology and Audiology
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