Pre-Professional Program

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) offers a pre-professional program designed to meet the needs of students who have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited, four-year educational institution in a major other than speech pathology and audiology and prepare them for a speech pathology graduate program. Students have the classification of Graduate Special. Classification as graduate special does not constitute admission to graduate standing in the graduate school.

Course requirements

Graduate special students do not need to earn another bachelor's degree from this undergraduate program; however, they must take a prescribed sequence of prerequisite courses necessary to apply to the graduate program. The undergraduate courses must be taken in a specified sequence to be completed in two academic years. All of these classes must be taken prior to beginning the graduate program. In addition to the prerequisite, departmental undergraduate courses, other general education courses (i.e., biological sciences, physical sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and mathematics) may be required if such courses were not part of the student's undergraduate degree program.

Areas of study

The graduate special student will explore the basic human communication and swallowing processes of biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, linguistic and cultural bases. Additionally, the student will study the nature of speech, language, hearing and communication disorders and differences, and swallowing disorders. Other areas of study will include principles of prevention, assessment and treatment for people with communication disorders, contemporary professional issues in the field, and professional standards for practice.

Clinical observation

The graduate special student must complete 25 hours of clinical observation prior to beginning the graduate program. This opportunity will be provided in the UNR Med Speech Pathology and Audiology clinic. All training in this graduate special sequence is in preparation for enrollment in a graduate program of study.

Advising

Students interested in taking a graduate special sequence are recommended to speak to our graduate special advisor, Rachael Walden to ensure the correct sequence of courses and any additional courses that may be needed.

Courses by year

The following courses are required for the graduate special sequence. Descriptions for the courses can be found here.

• Fall Year 1: SPA 201, SPA 320, SPA 366 and SPA 340
• Spring Year 1: SPA 330, SPA 345, SPA 362, SPA 345 and SPA 364
• Fall Year 2: SPA 365, SPA 331, SPA 400 and SPA 370
• Spring Year 2: SPA 466, SPA 421, SPA 467 and SPA 370