Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences: An Overview
Speech, language, and hearing sciences constitute a multidisciplinary field dedicated to understanding human communication and its disorders. Professionals in this area investigate the biological, physical, and psychological processes of communication.
They develop evidence-based methods for diagnosing and treating individuals with speech, language, and hearing problems. Their work enhances the lives of individuals facing communication challenges, ensuring they have optimal access to communication.
Career Paths in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Many people may already know that speech, language, and hearing scientists work as researchers in laboratories and institutes. But they do a lot more than that!
Careers in speech and hearing science are focused on making a difference in someone else’s life.
Research and Academia
The majority of people who earn a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) pursue faculty-researcher careers within a college or university. CSD programs often prefer to hire faculty with PhDs because of their research expertise in a specific area and their ability to teach and mentor students. Data from the CSD Education Survey Reports support the need for more PhD-trained graduates to fill faculty-researcher positions at colleges and universities. The job market is excellent for individuals with PhDs.
Clinical Practice
Students in the clinical M.A. program gain hands-on experience to become certified speech-language pathologists.
The Master of Arts degree without clinical experience is awarded to candidates who do not wish to pursue careers as speech-language pathologists or certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The non-clinical M.A. program provides a strong foundation for other related fields.
Educational Requirements
A bachelor’s degree is required for admission to graduate school. Earning a PhD may take less time for clinicians with graduate degrees, depending on the type of coursework that they have already completed.
Undergraduate Studies
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) is designed to provide undergraduate students with a clinical science foundation that is rigorous and appropriate preparation for a wide range of clinical, educational, and related fields such as nursing, kinesiology, physical therapy, dietetics, orientation & mobility, counseling, and teaching in primary, secondary, and special education.
Undergraduates enter the program in their junior year, usually after having completed most or all of the general education requirements for a Bachelor's degree. Students who have questions regarding general education requirements need to contact a general education advisor in the Undergraduate Advising Center.
All undergraduate students must complete 120 units to graduate from the university.
Undergraduate students may (upon advisement) take up to 6 units of SLHS graduate coursework, beyond the 120 units required for graduation, during their final semester as an undergraduate.
Students desiring a degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences may declare the major without formal admission to the program. Students must earn a C or higher in all major courses. SLHS courses with grades below C must be repeated to count in major which may cause graduation to be delayed.
Course Requirements
The American Speech-Language Hearing Association requires the completion of a Biology course in order to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. Students who plan to pursue a graduate degree in Communicative Sciences & Disorders (e.g., Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology) must take one of these courses: CHEM 100; CHEM 101; CHEM 180; PHYS 101; PHYS 111; or PHYS 220 or equivalent.
The American Speech-Language Hearing Association requires the completion of a Chemistry or Physics course in order to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology.
Students must take at least one course from the Area D1: Social Sciences list or equivalent. The American Speech-Language Hearing Association requires the completion of a Social Science course in order to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology.
Students must take at least one course in Statistics. The American Speech-Language Hearing Association requires the completion of a Statistics course in order to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology.
In the junior and senior year, 15 units are needed each semester to graduate within two years.
In order to facilitate completion of the SLHS degree and university undergraduate requirements within the shortest amount of time, a yearly schedule was created (see course roadmap). Every attempt will be made to offer courses in designated semesters. Whenever possible, class times will be held constant. If changes in times are necessary, every attempt will be made to minimize class conflicts. Lastly, please keep in mind that the minimum units required to graduate is 120 units; this typically means that you must take 5 courses each semester.
The SLHS department maintains expectations for students to meet high academic standards. The SLHS instructors and advisors are committed to supporting students to meet those standards.
Beginning fall 2017, undergraduate students may repeat a maximum of 16 units of coursework taken at San Francisco State University for the purpose of excluding the original grade from grade point determination (grade forgiveness). Students who do not meet these criteria cannot take ANY other SLHS courses.
An undergraduate student who has received a grade of C or higher, or a grade of CR, may not repeat a course unless the course is described in the Bulletin as repeatable for credit.
Majoring in speech and hearing science will provide foundational knowledge for understanding human speech, language, swallowing, hearing and balance processes, with a particular focus on the implications of differences and disruptions in the communication systems associated with disorders.
For PDF files, you'll need Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or above to view it.
Curriculum Example
Here is an example of a typical curriculum for a Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program:
| Year | Semester | Course | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman | Fall |
| 16 |
| Spring |
| 16 | |
| Sophomore | Fall |
| 16 |
| Spring |
| 16 | |
| Junior | Fall |
| 15 |
| Spring |
| 14 | |
| Senior | Fall |
| 13 |
| Spring |
| 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
Note: Students are required to complete a two-course history sequence or a two-course literature sequence. They are also required to complete at least one Core History or one Core Literature course in the area not selected as the sequence. Students should meet with their advisors for the listing of approved courses. SLHS majors are required to select a minimum of 3 electives (total of 6-8 credit hours) from the SLHS elective course offerings. This course can be taken during the summer or fall terms. Minimum of a B in SLHS 3400 is required for admission into many graduate speech language pathology programs. This course may be taken in person or online before the term in which it is listed in order to be eligible for registration for other major courses.
Salaries in the Field
The salaries of speech, language, and hearing scientists vary widely depending on education, experience, work setting, and geographical location.
Leading the Way for Communication
At the University of Florida, the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) is committed to developing the next generation of practitioners who are dedicated to serving the global community in a focused attempt to improve the lives of individuals with speech, language and hearing related disorders.
The department offers four degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, a post-baccalaureate and an undergraduate certificate, as well as two undergraduate minors. Learn more about our Au.D. Learn more about our Ph.D.
Our department’s research labs drive innovation across the field, exploring every facet of human communication and hearing health.
The UF Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences is fully committed to optimal communication access for our students, the UF community, and the greater global community. It is our aim to create a learning, living, and working environment that affirms dignity, worth, and value of all individuals who engage with our department.
We further strive to cultivate an environment that subscribes to openness and respect, as well as being a place of safety for all our constituents.
Learn more from our department chair, Dr.
In this video, Au.D. students provide annual training for Marching Illini Band members on how to protect their hearing and offer free hearing screenings for all band members.