Undergraduate Specializations
Audiology
Audiology is the study of hearing and its disorders. At the undergraduate level, students obtain knowledge of normal and disordered aspects of speech, language, and hearing but also take coursework pertaining to the evaluation and treatment of hearing disorders and the rehabilitation of individuals with hearing loss. A student must go on to graduate work in an accredited program such as ours in order to obtain their Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Once certified, audiologists also work in a variety of settings where they scientifically measure hearing ability in children and adults, identify the presence and severity of any hearing problem, and help a person understand what a hearing aid or other assistive listening device can and cannot do.
Deafness Studies / Deaf Education
This is a track of study for students whose ultimate goal is to become certified teachers of deaf children, teachers in the field of deafness studies and American Sign Language, or who wish to work in some other capacity with deaf individuals. Though professional certification as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing is not available at The University of Texas at Austin, the undergraduate program forms the foundation for graduate study and certification at other institutions where certification is available. Students take courses in Deaf culture and the community, language and speech development in deaf students, sign communication, as well as courses pertaining to normal and disordered aspects of speech, language, and hearing. A semester-long internship field experience in classrooms with deaf children is available. Our undergraduate courses in Deaf Education are typically acceptable as prerequisites for graduate programs in other institutions. Professionals in this field provide direct teaching and tutorial services, consult with regular classroom teachers, advise administrators on appropriate mainstreaming techniques and placement, educate and counsel both parents and teachers, and meet the needs of deaf/hearing-impaired individuals in a variety of ways.
Speech / Language Pathology
Speech/Language Pathology students obtain knowledge of normal and disordered aspects of speech, language, and hearing and engage in coursework pertaining to the evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders. Upon graduation from our department, students are eligible to work as licensed assistants in the State of Texas if and when they receive a minimum of 25 hours of fully supervised direct client contact. However, a student must go on to graduate work in an accredited program such as ours in order to obtain the Certification of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Speech/Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Once certified, SLPs can work independently in settings such as preschools, public schools, hospitals, free-standing clinics, and nursing homes. These clinicians may work with children and adults who experience difficulty in the following areas, just to name a few: articulating the sounds of the language, putting words together in a sentence, remembering names of objects following a stroke, swallowing without choking, or compensating for the loss of voice following surgical removal of the larynx.
