Second Degree SLHS Frequently Asked Questions
Post-Baccalaureate 2nd Degree Program
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC)
School of Health Professions (SHP)
Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS)
Application/Admissions Process:
Where can I find application materials?
Application materials for the School of Health Professions can be found at the SHP Application website. Indicate that you are applying for Speech, Language and Hearing Science
– BS Program. When asked which option you are applying for, choose the 1-year post-baccalaureate
2nd degree option.
What are the admission requirements for the 2nd Degree Program?
Students entering the 2nd degree program are required to have a bachelor’s degree by the start of the program
(every August), which must include completion of the Texas Common Core curriculum.
See TTU Core Curriculum Catalog.. Admission is limited and competitive and requires a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
and at least 1 undergraduate course with a passing grade in each of these 4 areas:
physical science (physics OR chemistry), life science (animal biology, human A&P,
OR genetics), behavioral/social science (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology),
and statistics.
Who can I contact to make sure I have the correct prerequisite courses for the program?
You can be advised by the Office of Admissions & Student Affairs at Texas Tech University
Health Sciences Center (806-743-3220; healthprofessions@ttuhsc.edu) Simply call or email to schedule a free advising appointment.
When is the deadline to apply to the TTUHSC 2nd Degree Program?
Priority in application review and admission into the program will be given to those
applicants who have verified and completed applications by April 1st. Applications
completed between April 1st and July 1st will be reviewed in order of completion and
only considered for admission if there is still availability in the cohort. An application
must be verified and all other requirements must be received by the deadline. Applicants
who meet the April 1st application deadline will be informed of admission decisions
by May 1st. The SLHS programs begin in the fall semester each year. Note: You do NOT
have to complete all prerequisite courses prior to applying. You must have a plan
in place for how all courses will be completed by August 15th. Please visit the SHP Application for deadline information.
When do I need to be in compliance with all of my immunizations?
Your immunization records must be in compliance 10 days prior to the first day of
class each semester. If you have questions about immunization requirements or the
status of your immunizations, please contact the Office of Institutional Health at
806-743-3019.
About the Program:
What is the cost of tuition for the TTUHSC SLHS Program?
For current tuition rates, please visit the Tuition website.
Are volunteer or observation hours required or recommended before entering the undergraduate
program at TTUHSC?
The TTUHSC Department of SLHS does not endorse or require undergraduate student volunteer
hours at particular facilities. Thus, no paperwork/formal documentation is required.
However, we strongly encourage students to independently seek volunteer opportunities
that will expose them to the professions of speech-language pathology, audiology,
and related health care or educational disciplines. We advocate use of the honor system
for reporting your hours, and our Admissions Committee periodically checks with facilities
to verify your experience. Because TTUHSC has a graduate program in speech-language
pathology, many Lubbock professionals already allow graduate students to intern at
their facilities. Thus, it is recommended that pre-SLHS students contact professional
speech-language pathologists in their hometown (outside of Lubbock) and request to
observe, shadow, or volunteer during Winter, Spring, or Summer breaks.
What are the benefits of earning a second bachelor's degree (B.S. in SLHS)?
With a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in SLHS, you will have completed all of the required
speech and hearing prerequisite courses as well as the required clinical observation
and clinical assisting hours such that you can apply for a job as a licensed speech-language
pathology assistant (SLPA) in the state of Texas, or you can apply to a graduate program
in speech-language pathology, audiology, or a related field.
How long is the TTUHSC 2nd degree program?
The program begins in the fall and lasts 3 semesters (fall, spring, and summer). Students
will take classes with SLHS traditional undergraduate students.
Are 2nd degree earners guaranteed admission into the TTUHSC Master of Science in Speech-Language
Pathology (M.S. in SLP) or Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Programs?
No, you are not guaranteed a slot in a TTUHSC Graduate Program. You may apply and
compete for a slot after your first semester of coursework in the 2nd degree program.
Admission is limited and competitive and requires at least a 3.0 GPA in 2nd degree
coursework and above-average scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test.
The application for the SLP graduate program is due January 15.
Is it possible to work while I am enrolled in the program?
At this time, the program is for full-time students, and all of our class are traditional
(face-to-face rather than online). Students are required to attend classes on the
TTUHSC Lubbock campus during the daytime (typically Monday through Thursday each week).
It can be difficult to arrange work schedules around class schedules because the class
times change every semester; however, top students can manage 10-15 hours of flexible
work time and/or extracurricular activities per week.
Can I qualify for financial aid?
Because you are seeking a 2nd bachelor’s degree, you may qualify for some types of financial aid and not others. You will pay undergraduate tuition and fees while taking 2nd degree courses. See Financial Aid for more information.
What does an average day in the program look like during the fall and spring semesters?
The schedule is slightly different every semester. You typically attend classes Monday through Thursday each week. During your second semester, you will be required to observe and assist in clinic for an additional 1-3 hours per week at different times between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For each hour you spend in class, you are expected to spend 2-3 hours outside of class time studying and working on class assignments.
What does an average day in the program look like during the summer semester?
During the summer session, you will be enrolled in 2 credit hours of clinical practicum. You will obtain clinical assisting hours by helping to provide therapy to clients in one or more of our summer therapy programs. A total of 20-25 hours per week (Monday through Friday) will be assigned during the summer semester. This will not exceed 8 hours per day.
What kind of dress is expected?
You may wear casual clothes to class; the classrooms are in a different area of the TTUHSC building than the clinic. The clinic, student workroom, and faculty offices share space in the SLHS Department; therefore, if you are checking your mailbox or meeting with a professor, you should wear business casual attire because clients and their family members will see you in the clinic. When you observe or participate in clinic, you are expected to wear business casual attire that is both comfortable and modest such as slacks or skirts and blouses or shirts. Jeans, shorts, and t-shirts are not permitted.
What will I know my class schedule?
For new undergraduate juniors and post-baccalaureate 2nd degree students, an email will be sent by the end of June that contains a website link which provides all sorts of information, including mandatory online summer training, fall orientation schedule, fall course schedule, textbook list, and instructions for how to register for courses and obtain a parking permit online. Scheduling is typically done in November for the spring semester and in April for the summer semester. Our department has a lock-step program, meaning that we will tell you what classes that you and your classmates will take for the upcoming semester. There are no electives or different sections of classes; all students in the same cohort take the same classes at the same time.
What careers are possible with a bachelor's degree in SLHS?
With a bachelor’s degree in SLHS, you are eligible to apply to a graduate program
for either a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or a clinical doctorate
in audiology. You can visit www.asha.org for further information about careers in speech-language pathology and audiology.
You could also apply for a master’s degree in a related field, such as reading, education
of the hearing impaired, special education, rehabilitation counseling, or health care
administration.
If you decide not to go to graduate school, here are some possible options for employment:
- Licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)
- Licensed Hearing Aid Specialist (with additional training)
- Early Intervention Specialist (EIS)
- Case worker at a state agency (e.g., Department of Assistive &
Rehabilitation Services (DARS), Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS), Department of State Health Services (DSHS)) - Activities Director at a long-term care facility
- Child Care Provider
- Teacher’s aide or substitute teacher for public school
- Unit coordinator at a hospital
Is TTUHSC part of Texas Tech Univeristy (TTU), or is it a separate university?
While both TTU and TTUHSC are part of the TTU System, they are separate institutions.
Once admitted to TTUHSC, you will register for courses, pay tuition, attend classes,
obtain TTUHSC ID badge, access the TTUHSC library, and park your car on the TTUHSC
campus. You will also be eligible to maintain a TTU ID card, which allows you access
to TTU sporting events, TTU housing, the TTU library, and the TTU recreation center.
(Your TTUHSC parking permit will allow you to park in TTU campus commuter lots.)