5XÉçÇø

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

The admissions process for the master's degree program begins by submitting an application through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS). Only after program acceptance, applicants choosing to attend Kent State will be asked to apply to 5XÉçÇø.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university¹
• Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 120 DET score

¹

The bachelor's degree may not necessarily be in the areas of speech-language pathology and/or audiology. However, students wishing to enter the master's degree who have neither completed an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology and audiology nor possess the necessary prerequisite coursework, are required to complete that coursework.

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: January 15
    All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
• Spring Semester
  • Priority deadline: October 1
    Admission for spring semester is reserved for 5XÉçÇø students in the combined B.S./M.A. degree program. All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Effectively communicate knowledge and interact with diverse populations (age, culture, disability).
2. Collect, analyze, synthesize and apply research and data regarding the nature, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders throughout the lifespan and across cultures.
3. Engage in the development and implementation of research-based and ethical prevention, assessment, diagnostic and treatment plans for individuals with a variety of communication disorders throughout the lifespan.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

The Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology (residential) at 5XÉçÇø is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

Full Description

The Speech Pathology and Audiology minor provides students with an understanding of the basic sciences of human communication, as well as introduces them to the evaluation and treatment of communication disorders. The coursework includes a solid foundation in typical and atypical development that may be useful to students considering graduate degrees in speech pathology, audiology, psychology, counseling and other health and human service fields.

Students interested in entering into a master's program in speech pathology or audiology upon completion of the minor should contact the undergraduate program coordinator when the minor is declared to discuss any additional prerequisite coursework that may be required to meet the educational requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Admission Requirements

To declare this minor, students must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.750 overall Kent State GPA. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduate of this program will be able to:

1. Increase their knowledge of the fields of speech pathology and audiology, and the professional roles of speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
2. Understand the basic principles of speech production and phonetic transcription of English with the International Phonetic Alphabet.
3. Understand acoustics and psychoacoustic as they relate to speech production and perception.
4. Describe typical speech and language development and apply this knowledge to analyze the language development of individuals of various ages.
5. Describe the functional anatomy and physiology of the respiratory phonatory, articulatory, neural, and auditory systems as they are used within typical and atypical speech and hearing.
6. Measure human hearing by pure-tone and speech audiometry, evaluate middle ear function by immittance audiometry, screen for hearing loss, and identify pathologies of the conductive and sensorineural systems.
7. Identify disordered speech and language development in children, adolescents, and/or adults and select appropriate, evidence-based intervention procedures to address areas of need.

• Delivery:
  • Fully online
  • Mostly online
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology is a pre-professional program focusing on the basic sciences of human communication, as well as the evaluation and treatment of communication disorders. This program provides a firm foundation for continuing to the master's degree in speech-language pathology or the doctorate in audiology.

The curriculum integrates a sequence of coursework designed to provide a strong liberal arts background and an understanding of normal and disordered aspects of the human communication process. Specific coursework includes anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms, hearing and speech science, neurology, phonetics, normal speech and language development, speech and language disorders, audiometry and aural rehabilitation.

Speech-language pathologists are required to hold a master’s degree, while audiologists hold a doctorate in audiology. Both are employed in a variety of settings, including rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, community clinics, private practice, research laboratories and colleges and universities.

Student may apply early to the and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the in the University Catalog for more information.

Admission Requirements

Admission to this major is selective. A minimum 3.000 GPA is required to be admitted to the major. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement at the time of admission for this major will be admitted to the EHHS General non-degree program until which time they have established a Kent State GPA of 3.000. They may then submit a change of program to declare this major.

Starting with the spring 2026 admission term, a minimum 3.000 GPA will no longer be required. Admission decisions will be based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .

Current Kent State and Transfer Students: Active Kent State students who wish to change their major must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and meet all admission criteria listed above to be admitted. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Admission to the combined bachelor's/master's degree program: Minimum 3.000 GPA (after 90 earned credit hours) and three letters of recommendation.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of speech, language and hearing processes and disorders in children and adults.
2. Demonstrate the skills necessary to be successful speech-language pathologists, audiologists or other health and human service professionals.
3. Gain entry into graduate programs in speech pathology, audiology and/or related fields, or obtain positions in health and human services related professions.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In-person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus