Students in this emphasis are usually preparing for professional practice as either audiologists or speech-language pathologists or they may combine interests in communicative disorders with preparation for careers in speech-language pathology, audiology, medical sciences, dentistry, physical or occupational therapy, community health, physiology, psychology, linguistics, education, rehabilitation counseling or law. The undergraduate curriculum provides the requirements preparatory to graduate study in the professional areas. Minimal requirements are those prescribed for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Students planning for employment in the public schools should also become familiar with the requirements of the Illinois State Board of Education for the Type 73 certificate as a specialist in speech-language impaired.
Total Hours for Emphasis 1, Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology: 82-93
Emphasis 2. Rehabilitation Services
Students in this emphasis are usually preparing as paraprofessionals or professionals providing human/social services to persons with disabilities. The required courses provide a basic background in disability and rehabilitation concepts, psychological principles and statistics. Paraprofessional positions (e.g., job coach, rehabilitation aide) can be obtained by students with the baccalaureate degree. Students desiring professional positions must obtain a master’s degree. The undergraduate curriculum is preparatory to graduate study which meets the course requirements of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling Certification.
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