3 answers
beatrice
Student
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2
Questions
Asked
592 views
are there any specific subjects I need to take to become a speech pathologist as a high-school student?
I am in 11th grade located in Vancouver, BC and I was wondering what subjects I need to take.
3 answers
Carrie Eck
Speech Language Pathologist
1
Answer
Perrysburg, Ohio
Updated
Carrie’s Answer
I'm not sure what's offered at your school, but you'll be required to take biological, physical and social sciences in undergraduate to satisfy pre-requisites for your communication sciences courses. If you're able to take statistics, that would be helpful because you'll likely be required to take that in undergrad. Sociology would be a good course because it can help with the cultural competence portion of the requisite skills you need to possess in order to be an effective therapist. Biology, Chemistry or Anatomy and Physiology are also solid choices to help give you a foundation for the courses you'll be required to take in college.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
616
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Beatrice,
To become a speech pathologist, it's helpful to focus on subjects that will prepare you for the field and fulfill admission requirements for post-secondary programs. In Vancouver, BC, here are some important subjects to consider in high school:
1. English/Language Arts: Strong communication skills are essential in speech pathology.
2. Biology: This will give you a foundation in human anatomy, including the structure and function of the vocal apparatus.
3. Psychology: Understanding cognitive and developmental psychology is helpful for speech-language pathologists.
4. Health Sciences: If available, courses in health sciences or human development would be beneficial.
5. Physics: Some university programs may require physics for understanding sound waves and acoustics.
You should also aim for good grades to meet the prerequisites for undergraduate programs in speech-language pathology or related fields like linguistics, psychology, or health sciences.
Best wishes!
To become a speech pathologist, it's helpful to focus on subjects that will prepare you for the field and fulfill admission requirements for post-secondary programs. In Vancouver, BC, here are some important subjects to consider in high school:
1. English/Language Arts: Strong communication skills are essential in speech pathology.
2. Biology: This will give you a foundation in human anatomy, including the structure and function of the vocal apparatus.
3. Psychology: Understanding cognitive and developmental psychology is helpful for speech-language pathologists.
4. Health Sciences: If available, courses in health sciences or human development would be beneficial.
5. Physics: Some university programs may require physics for understanding sound waves and acoustics.
You should also aim for good grades to meet the prerequisites for undergraduate programs in speech-language pathology or related fields like linguistics, psychology, or health sciences.
Best wishes!
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1913
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Beatrice !
This is a vey special inquiry that does touch my heart because I have worked with clients that have speech issues, young, middle aged and elderly during a long career in social services. Although I am not a Speech Pathologist, it is a basic subject that always held my interest and I would like to contribute some advice.
My initial idea for you during high school is to take Anatomy this year and next year. If it is too late to enroll this year, find a course online that covers all the organs and muscles connected to speech. A basic overall Anatomy course is great, too, but your focus will be on organs from the waist up. Although Speech Therapists assist in therapeutic speech techniques, they also deal with swallowing issues, too. In high school, you should also take Biology, Psychology and Math as well. Also helpful for you in college with this major would be to get involved with the debate team, acting or any type of volunteer work. Try not to worry too much about the courses in high school because this career requires a Masters Degree and you will learn everything you need to know during your college experience.
You can consider doing some study of Deaf Culture, also. There is not a very large deaf population in your city, only 1.1%, however, you never know when you will have a deaf patient. I would suggest trying to learn basic spelling of American Sign Language as well as Langue des Signes Québécoise which are the two sign languages that are used in your region. All deaf individuals are different and some prefer to learn how to verbalize. This is why I suggest this to all aspiring speech pathologists.
Look into some colleges for this major and read about what the admissions requirements are. That will be the best way to prepare for your first semester at college. You can start by researching information for University of British Columbia - School of Audiology and Speech Sciences. I have left the link for their website below. The College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia is the regulatory body for speech pathologists so you may want to seek resources from them as well. Also become aware of Speech Language and Audiology Canada which is a professional association that helps speech pathologists in Canada, not exclusively in Vancouver. I have left the link to their website for you below.
I hope that this helps. Feel free to return if you have anymore questions about this wonderful career ! Best wishes to you.
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA SCHOOL OF AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH SCIENCES https://audiospeech.ubc.ca/
THE COLLEGE OF SPEECH AND HEARING PROFESSIONALS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA - THE REGULATING BODY FOR PROFESSIONALS https://chcpbc.org/
SPEECH LANGUAGE AND AUDIOLOGY CANADA - COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND CARE PROFESSIONALS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA https://chcpbc.org/
This is a vey special inquiry that does touch my heart because I have worked with clients that have speech issues, young, middle aged and elderly during a long career in social services. Although I am not a Speech Pathologist, it is a basic subject that always held my interest and I would like to contribute some advice.
My initial idea for you during high school is to take Anatomy this year and next year. If it is too late to enroll this year, find a course online that covers all the organs and muscles connected to speech. A basic overall Anatomy course is great, too, but your focus will be on organs from the waist up. Although Speech Therapists assist in therapeutic speech techniques, they also deal with swallowing issues, too. In high school, you should also take Biology, Psychology and Math as well. Also helpful for you in college with this major would be to get involved with the debate team, acting or any type of volunteer work. Try not to worry too much about the courses in high school because this career requires a Masters Degree and you will learn everything you need to know during your college experience.
You can consider doing some study of Deaf Culture, also. There is not a very large deaf population in your city, only 1.1%, however, you never know when you will have a deaf patient. I would suggest trying to learn basic spelling of American Sign Language as well as Langue des Signes Québécoise which are the two sign languages that are used in your region. All deaf individuals are different and some prefer to learn how to verbalize. This is why I suggest this to all aspiring speech pathologists.
Look into some colleges for this major and read about what the admissions requirements are. That will be the best way to prepare for your first semester at college. You can start by researching information for University of British Columbia - School of Audiology and Speech Sciences. I have left the link for their website below. The College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia is the regulatory body for speech pathologists so you may want to seek resources from them as well. Also become aware of Speech Language and Audiology Canada which is a professional association that helps speech pathologists in Canada, not exclusively in Vancouver. I have left the link to their website for you below.
I hope that this helps. Feel free to return if you have anymore questions about this wonderful career ! Best wishes to you.
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