Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Undergraduate Program
The Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University is within the College of Liberal Arts. Undergraduate majors in SLHS obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, which includes a strong foundation of courses in the liberal arts. Students may choose any of three plans of study within the department: a Speech-Language-Hearing Science Concentration, an Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Major, or a Speech-Language-Hearing Pre-Professional Concentration. Courses at the undergraduate level are designed to introduce students to basic processes of communication, speech, language, and hearing, and to disorders of communication. Students who qualify have the opportunity to participate in clinical observation and practicum during the latter stages of their program. Our undergraduate programs provide a firm foundation for future graduate study in audiology, speech-language pathology, and in many other fields, as well as a well-rounded education that prepares students for life.
All students interested in communication disorders take courses in fundamental processes of normal speech, language, and hearing: anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism, linguistics, acoustics, speech perception, and speech and language development. Opportunities are available for students to become involved in research projects with department faculty and for individualized directed reading. Those students interested in careers as audiologists and speech language pathologists also take coursework related to evaluation and treatment of communication disorders, and obtain practical experience in providing clinical services to individuals with communication handicaps. Most career opportunities in this field require a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). To qualify for the CCC a student must complete a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology, nine months of supervised professional experience, and pass a national examination. Students with nonclinical interests who seek degrees in the communication sciences plan a program of coursework focused on the biological, cognitive, linguistic, and physical aspects of human communication. As with the clinical careers, advanced degrees may be necessary.