Speech Pathology and Audiology

Professors P. Goetz, J. Vander Woude (chair)
Associate Professor B. Kreisman,
Assistant Professors H. Koole, B. Oommen

The Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPAUD) department offers a 4-year bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology, and a 5-year bachelor’s to master’s program in speech pathology.

Undergraduate Admissions

Undergraduate Admission to the SPAUD Program

Students who wish to enter the professions of Speech 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 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) in 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, if they 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 the MA 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 the following semester. Students may earn below a 3.0 GPA only one time during their tenure at Calvin College. Students may retake SPAUD courses to improve their GPA; however, only one retake per course is allowed. Students must also meet the essential functions required to practice as a speech-language pathologist, as outlined in the SPAUD Handbook located online.

Graduate Admissions

Students applying for admission to the Speech 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, unless advisor approval has been granted.
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 MA or any other graduate program. Enrollment in the MA 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 College. Students must have met the following criteria:

A composite ACT of equal to or greater than 28 or an SAT critical reading plus math score of equal to or greater than 1260
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 College application and submit their final Early Admission qualifying ACT or SAT score on or before May 1 prior to their freshman year.
To maintain early admission status, an early admitted Calvin student must have:
Earned at least an B in all SPAUD courses at Calvin
Earned a 3.0 GPA every semester
Met the essential functions required to practice as a speech-language pathologist (see Essential Functions Requirements in the SPAUD student handbook for more information)
Successfully completed a criminal background check and drug screen before entering the Speech Pathology MA program.

Failure to meet these requirements means that the student will lose early admission status.

Regular Admission to the MA Program

Application to the MA Program for regular admission of undergraduate students at Calvin normally occurs during the junior year. Applications are due on February 15. Applicants who submit after the deadline will be considered on a space available basis only. Application forms are available in the SPAUD Department office. 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 210 , 215, SPAUD 216 , SPAUD 217 , SPAUD 218 , SPAUD 311 , SPAUD 344 , SPAUD 345 . BIOL 115 . STAT 143 , and a Physics or Chemistry course.
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 SPAUD student handbook for more information).
Preference is given to students who have completed the majority of their coursework at Calvin.

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 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 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.
A minimum overall GPA of at least a 3.0 (no exceptions).
Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic and/or professional abilities.
A personal statement that addresses reasons for pursuing an advanced degree in speech pathology, professional objectives, and why Calvin is a good fit for your graduate experience and your future profession.
Successful completion (with at least a 3.0 GPA) of the undergraduate prerequisites or their equivalents. Descriptions of courses are located at www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/academics/speech-pathology/academics/.

How to Apply as a Post-Baccalaureate Student:

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 that address your potential for success in the graduate program.
A personal statement that addresses:
Why you decided on a career in speech-language pathology
Your future professional objectives
Why Calvin College, as a faith-based institution, is a good fit for your graduate education and your future profession.

All application materials (including official transcripts) are due no later than February 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 college.

Programs

Major

Speech Pathology and Audiology Major, BA (4 year)

Master’s

Speech Pathology, MA

Dual Degree

Speech Pathology and Audiology Major, BA-MA (5 year)

Courses

Speech Pathology and Audiology