The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is the only public university in Central Arkansas that offers a B.S. degree and post-baccalaureate course sequence which prepares students for graduate education in speech-language pathology. The Department of Speech Language Pathology is in the College of Business, Health, and Human Services. The department is housed in Dickinson Hall.
For additional information about speech-language pathology or audiology please explore the ASHA website.
Speech-Language Pathologists
(SLPs) are health care professionals who evaluate, diagnose, and treat children and adults with communication impairments. Typically, SLPs work as a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary team members with professions such as clinical psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, school personnel, social workers, and physicians.
Minimum Qualifications to Practice as an SLP
Master’s degree in speech-language pathology, successful completion of the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association (ASHA) national praxis examination, successful completion of a 9-month Supervised Clinical Fellowship Experience (post M.S.), and receipt of the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competency.
Examples of Scope of Service
Speech sound production, fluency, receptive and expressive language, literacy, impacts of hearing loss on speech and language, swallowing, feeding, cognition, social aspects, and augmentative and alternative communication modalities.
Examples of Populations Served
Clients with aphasia, autism spectrum disorder, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, developmental language impairments, acquired brain injury, intellectual disability, reading and/or writing impairments.
Examples of Service Sites
Hospitals (neonatal intensive care units, inpatient and outpatient clinics), preschools, public and private schools, Veterans care sites, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, universities, private practice.
Employment Outlook
Increasing faster than most occupations; annual median salary is $76,610.
B.S. Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders/Speech Language Pathology
The B.S. provides the academic and clinical foundation for entry into an M.S. program in speech-language pathology. The academic and clinical course offerings are informed by the 2020 American Speech, Language, Hearing Association (ASHA) academic and clinical guidelines for SLPs. Our program requires a minimum of 41 credit hours in the major, and provides a strong foundation for future SLPs who desire to work with children and/or adults. Freshmen and sophomore students may be pre-admitted to the major. Upper level students may be admitted to the major.
Post-Baccalaureate Course Sequence
Post-baccalaureate coursework provides the academic and clinical foundation for entry into an M.S. program in speech-language pathology. The academic and clinical course offerings are informed by the 2020 American Speech, Language, Hearing Association (ASHA) academic and clinical guidelines for SLPs. Our program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours in the field and provides a strong foundation for future SLPs who desire to work with children and/or adults. Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree.
Minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders; Speech-Language Pathology
The minor in CSD includes 18 hours of AUSP coursework. Additional information is available from the AUSP Program Coordinator.
AUSP Elective Coursework
Students completing a major in another field (such as Spanish, sign language studies, psychology, nursing, linguistics, English, etc.) and interested in completing coursework in this major are welcome to contact the AUSP Program Coordinator.
Contacts
Program Coordinator, Dr. Stephen Kintz
Email: sgkintz@ualr.edu
Phone: 501-916-6045.
Transfer students and students interested in being pre-admitted to the B.S. degree are encouraged to contact:
Ms. Dechantria Wallace, Education Counselor
Email: ddwallace@ualr.edu
Students completing a major in another field (such as Spanish, sign language studies, psychology, nursing, linguistics, English, etc.) and interested in completing coursework in this major are encouraged to contact Dr. Stephen Kintz.