Available in French

Orthophonie

Faculty of Education and Health

Explore the power of speech, language, and swallowing, from childhood to adulthood.

Discover the program Program Details

Program Overview

Speech therapists use words, amplify voices, and facilitate communication and nutrition for people of all ages.

Note: This program is offered in French only. To learn more about this program, visit the French version of this page.

By becoming a communications specialist, you can play a crucial role in healthcare and education. Discover the world of communication and the impact of words by choosing the four-year Baccalauréat en sciences de la santé en orthophonie (B.Sc.S. Orthophonie). Focused on both theory and clinical practice, this program makes connections between the fields of linguistics, psychology, sociology, anatomy and physiology, education, and biomedical sciences.

In the classroom, you learn to think like a speech-language pathologist by exploring the role of communication and swallowing in everyday life, multilingualism and multiculturalism issues, and assessment and intervention of communication disorders.

In the laboratory and simulation rooms, you practise being a speech-language pathologist in an immersive learning environment, while in the University Speech and Language Clinic, you can observe assessment and therapy sessions. In your fourth year of study, you can complete a research project and work with a speech therapist to better understand the scope of practice.

Since some courses and most of the readings are in English, you benefit from a bilingual education, allowing you to work in both English and French.

Moreover, this is not a limited enrolment program – all eligible students can register.

After obtaining the bachelor’s degree, students can pursue a Maîtrise en orthophonie (Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology) to become a speech-language pathologist or a master’s degree in another health or education field.

If you are passionate about helping others and want to directly impact people’s lives, speech-language pathology may be the career for you. Apply today!

This program is supported by the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS).

After earning your bachelor’s degree, you can apply to a master’s program in rehabilitation sciences, such as speech pathology, audiology, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

You will benefit from experiential learning in the classroom and laboratory.

Small class sizes allow you to receive individualized academic attention.

Career Outlook

The Baccalauréat en orthophonie program prepares you for graduate studies, namely the Maîtrise en orthophonie, a master’s degree in audiology or another profession in rehabilitation sciences. It can also prepare you for an array of careers:

Speech therapy assistant
Communicative Disorders Assistant
Teaching assistant (language and communication)
Health administrative assistant
Health or education project officer
Community health coordinator
Special education facilitator

I am incredibly happy to have chosen to pursue not only my bachelor’s but also my master’s degree at Laurentian University. The bachelor’s program allowed me to strengthen my passion for speech therapy before moving toward the master’s degree. In addition, the professors in this program always go above and beyond for their students. I loved the bilingual nature of the program since I was able to learn about speech therapy simultaneously in French and English.

Julia Bond, M.Sc.S. student (orthophonie)

Program Details

Program language:

English

Delivery method:

On Campus

Contact info

Sophie Laurence
(705) 675-1151 ext. 4129
Alphonse-Raymond Pavilion, AR-230
ortho_coordination@laurentienne.ca

Please contact the email above, and our recruitment team will get back to you!

More About The Program

Enrolment to the bachelor’s program in Orthophonie is not limited. All eligible students (view admission requirements) can register.

In the speech pathology program, our mission is to guide students in an environment of dialogue and knowledge sharing. We are committed to creating a dynamic context conducive to learning by immersing you in a discipline that fascinates us and will not fail to inspire you. Our team is dedicated to offering you a quality education and providing you with a framework for success. We are here to answer your questions, support you, and advise you to the best of our ability.

Speech-language pathology students have fun!

The Conseil d’orthophonie de l’Université Laurentienne (COUL) is led by, and for, Orthophonie students. A COUL member attends the School of Speech Pathology's monthly meetings to convey students’ concerns, suggestions, and ideas. Each year, the COUL organizes on-campus events that bring together students of all levels and promote their well-being. Students who serve on the council executive have the opportunity to develop their leadership abilities, communication skills, and capacity to influence change within the university community. Examples of activities include the Orthophonie Bal, porketta bingo, paint social, yoga classes, and merchandise sales.

LipDub of the Conseil d’orthophonie de l’Université Laurentienne (Youtube)

Speech-language pathologists take communication to heart

Every year, millions of Canadians have a communication or swallowing disorder that affects their ability to communicate or eat. The speech therapist’s prevention, assessment and care of these individuals facilitate their active participation in school, work and daily life activities.

Speech pathology is a rewarding career for several reasons:

Direct impact on people’s lives: Speech therapists work with people of all ages with communication or swallowing difficulties. By helping them overcome their challenges, speech-language pathologists can significantly impact their quality of life, independence and interpersonal relationships.
Variety of cases and populations: Speech-language pathologists work with individuals of all ages with various disorders, from language delays to complex neurological disorders. This diversity provides constant intellectual stimulation and allows professionals to discover new challenges and solutions throughout their careers.
- Children: language delay, developmental language disorder, autism spectrum disorder, learning disability, reading or writing difficulties, head trauma, voice or fluency problems (stuttering)
- Adults: stroke, Huntington’s or Parkinson’s disease, dementia, head injury, voice or fluency disorder (stuttering)
Interdisciplinary collaboration: Speech-language pathologists often work closely with other health and education professionals, such as physicians, psychologists, educators, and social workers. This collaboration allows for holistic care and promotes an enriching and collaborative work environment.
Personal satisfaction: It is extremely rewarding for a therapist to see clients make progress, even small ones. The speech-language pathologist feels a sense of professional satisfaction when they help a client improve their communication ability or restore their capacity to swallow safely.
Growing demand: With the aging population, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of mental health and overall quality of life, including communication. As a result, demands on health services, including speech therapy services, are increasing. There are, therefore, many employment opportunities in a variety of settings—hospitals, school boards, rehabilitation centres, and private clinics.

Overall, the speech therapist can make a significant difference in individuals' lives while enjoying a rewarding, intellectually and emotionally stimulating career.

Speech-language pathology scope of practice

A master’s degree in speech therapy (Orthophonie) is required to practise the profession of speech-language pathologist. To hold the title of speech-language pathologist in Ontario and Canada, you must obtain a master’s degree in speech-language pathology and become a member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). Please click on the following links for information about the profession:

What do speech-language pathologists do?
What is the role of the school speech therapist? (French video)
Do you know who the speech therapist is? (French video)

Other information

Admission Requirements

Ontario High School Applicants

Admission requirements

1 French course at the U/M grade 12 level;
1 English course at the U grade 12 level;
1 biology course at the U grade 11 or 12 level OR 1 kinesiology course at the U grade 12 level;
3 other courses at the U/M grade 12 level (4 other courses if the biology course is at the grade 11 level)
Minimum overall average of 70% of the best 6 U/M Grade 12 courses

Additional information for applicants who have completed Advanced Placement courses.

Additional information for applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate.

Applicants from outside an Ontario High School

International Students

Canadian High School Applicants from outside Ontario

Applicants from Colleges

Applicants from other Universities

Mature Students