<p>My daughter is interested in helping children read/speak so she's considering a teaching degree and then going onto M.Ed masters in reading or a masters in speech pathology. </p>
<p>She's worried about taking undergraduate speech pathology as she's learning that getting into a masters program is incredibly competitive....so she's thinking of getting an undergraduate degree in elementary ed (taking as many communication courses as she can) and then applying to graduate schools in BOTH reading and speech pathology.</p>
<p>Her fear is going 4 years and getting an undergraduate degree in speech pathology only to find after 4 years that she can't get into a grad school...and there's no way to work with a 4 year degree in speech pathology.</p>
<p>If being marketable upon college graduation is what she’s after, I think she should go for an undergrad major in elem ed or special ed. I think having a solid base in the classroom would make her more effective as a reading specialist or speech path. I can’t say I know much about about speech pathology programs, but an undergrad speech program would limit her in exactly the way you’ve stated.</p>
<p>I asked my niece who is a speech pathologist in a school system. What ISU is describing is a valid approach as she may turn out that she doesn’t want to be a speech pathologist. However, my niece doesn’t think that anyone with decent grades needs to worry a bit about getting into grad school. </p>
<p>But there are tradeoffs, my niece says to be sure to check up on the latest requirements, but that kids that were in her grad school that were elementary ed took longer to get through grad school as they had to take the prerequisites that she had already taken. Even if it simply becomes just a heavier class load, it may be somewhat harder to compete against those that already took some courses and have been in the speech track. Again, check some schools to see about their latest requirements. There are also some programs that can get you a master degee in five years, so that can save time if she wants to go that route. </p>
<p>It may also turn out that she doesn’t want a role (at least initially) in a school system. Some may prefer to do some/all work in a hospital setting and someone with a undergrad and grad in speech pathology may have an advantage to get hired at a hospital, not because they are any more qualified but because they tracked the same way the person that did they hiring did their education.</p>
<p>Do you happen to know what schools offer the 5 year bachelors/masters degree in speech pathology? Thanks!</p>
<p>Quest,</p>
<p>Save this for future reference. Should your D become interested int working for the NYC DOE, there is actually a shortage in the area of speech and hearing handicapped where the DOE will pay for the completion of the bachelors and a masters program (there is a 2 year work commitment for each year of scholarship at both the Bachelors, and the Master’s level).</p>
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<p>hope this helps</p>
<p>Several Michigan colleges have very good education programs all-around. I know these two aren’t “name” schools, but you may want to check out both Western and Eastern Michigan universities. Both have speech path programs at the undergrad and grad levels, though I’m not sure if they have 5-yr programs. Western Michigan specifically has been good to my Illinois students, and this may be similar at Eastern. (Not sure where you’re located.) I think Duquesne University in PA may have a 5-yr program as well.</p>