This document discusses the career of speech pathology. It begins with an introduction to the field and the author's interest in it. Then, it provides a brief history of the profession, including how speech disorders were once treated by "quacks" and the founding of organizations like ASHA. The document goes on to discuss graduate program requirements and options at two universities, growth potential in the field, salary information, and the author's relevant skills and education. It analyzes the author's strengths based on an O*Net skills profiler. In the conclusion, the author reaffirms their commitment to pursuing speech pathology as a career after further research.

1. P R I Y A P A T E L
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE
PATHOLOGY

2. INTRO
• Speech pathology definition: the study and
treatment of speech and language problems
• When I was first introduced to the field of speech
pathology I was working at a nail salon in high
school. A client shared a story about her son who
fought over seas in the army who now needed
speech therapy. I did not know much about the
program therefore researched it and fell in love with
it! From that day I have always had my mind set on
becoming a Speech Pathologist to help veterans or
special needs children.

3. HISTORY
• Known as “quacks” – people who falsely claimed to
have a secret technique to cure speech disorders
• First prolonged speech treatment was in 1872 by
Alexander Melville Bell and his son Alexander
Graham Bell
• American clinicians learned from “speech doctors”
in Europe
• Stuttering was the first speech disorder recognized
• Special interest groups and programs, etc. turned
into the forming of ASHA

4. GRADUATE PROGRAMS
• University of West Georgia
• Master of Education with a major in Speech-Language
Pathology
• Requirements
• Minimum 3.0 GPA and GRE score of 147 Verbal/ 147
Quantitative
• Three letters of recommendations from university professors
• Immunizations

5. GRADUATE PROGRAMS CONT.
• University of South Carolina
• Masters in Speech – Language Pathology
• Requirements:
• College-level coursework: human biological science,
social/behavioral science, physics or chemistry, and statistics
• Four speech related courses the summer before entering fall
semester of graduate program
• Aim for 1000 in verbal and quantitative for GRE and 3.5 GPA
(minimum of 3.0 required)
• Three letters of recommendations

6. GROWTH POTENTIAL
• Not many opportunities for growth in Speech
Pathology career
• May own a private clinic
• Further education with by obtaining a PhD
• Specialize in children or adults or special needs

7. SALARY
• $70,000 per year
• $33.59 per hour

8. SKILLS
• Studied and learned American Sign Language for
the past year
• Worked 400 plus hours at a private speech clinic
geared towards kids with autism
• Took group of children with autism in public areas to
engage their speech skills to everyday life
• Planned and taught 1st grade children daily lesson
plans for two months
• Have observed in-house sessions and one on one
sessions at the clinic
• Scored highest on the social level for the O*Net
profiler

9. SKILLS CONT.
O*Net Scores
Realistic
Investigative
Artistic
Social
Enterprising
Conventional

10. RELEVANT EDUCATION
• American Sign Language
• Intern an Speech Pathology private clinic for
children with autism

11. WHY I AM A GOOD CANDIDATE
• According to the O*Net profiler I am more
interested in a social career then any other type of
career; I like to work with, communicate with, and
help teach others.
• I have worked with special needs children and
adults on multiple occasions.
• I have a passion for helping people.
• I have experience with working with speech
programs and therapists.

12. CONCLUSION
• After researching about a career in Speech and
Language Pathology I am more certain then ever
this is the career I should pursue. I have also learned
that I am not prepared as I should be for graduate
school. I need to raise my GPA, visit graduate
schools, take the GRE, etc. I also realized that I am
on the right tract to attending a graduate program
in Speech Pathology. I have interned at a speech
clinic, taken ASL courses, worked with special needs
children and adults, etc. I am glad to have
researched again my career more in depth.

13. CITATIONS
• Speech-Language Pathologists. Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-
language-pathologists.htm
• Summary Report for: 29-1127.00 – Speech-
Language Pathologists. O*Net Online.
http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1127.00
• The ASHA Leader: What Do You Know About Your
Profession’s History? December 24, 2002. Judith
Felson Duchan.
http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2002/021
224/021224a.htm