› Communication Sciences and Disorders
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
Habilitating and rehabilitating persons of all ages with a wide range of speech, language, and hearing problems
› Communication Sciences and Disorders
Helping One Person at a Time
› BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE
Penn State’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program is designed to help students prepare for a profession in speech-language pathology or audiology. The Communication Sciences and Disorders program includes coursework, observation, and experiences in normal and disordered aspects of speech, language, and hearing. If you are interested in helping others with a variety of disorders and delays, such as fluency and stuttering, hearing problems, language delay, or swallowing, then the Communication Sciences and Disorders program might be right for you. As an undergraduate student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program, you will learn how speechlanguage pathologists and audiologists provide intervention and services to children and adults with speech, language, and/or hearing disorders in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and public schools. The curriculum aims to help you develop fundamental knowledge based on scientific principles as well as skills and attitudes required for habilitating and rehabilitating persons of all ages with a wide range of speech, language, and hearing problems. During your time in the program, you will learn about normal and disordered aspects of speech, language, and hearing as well as professional management, concerns, and obligations.
› Program overview A bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders will help you learn about normal and disordered aspects of speech, language, and hearing. The curriculum follows standards set by the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA) for admission into a graduate program. Because most careers require advanced degrees, the program is specifically designed to prepare students for graduate study. All of the core courses equip students to enter graduate school. You will take supporting classes in addition to your Communication Sciences and Disorders core courses. Coursework can maintain a solid foundation in the sciences, including biology, physiology, and chemistry. You can also learn about the humanities and education, such as language learning, special education, and linguistics.
Minor
The Deafness and Hearing Studies Minor is designed for students who want to learn about individuals with hearing disabilities and deafness. The minor will assist students in recognizing relationships among hearing disability, deafness, and cultural differences and their impact on the individual in educational, social, and vocational settings. The minor is appropriate for students interested in clinical and health-related fields, business, social sciences, and education.
› Careers Overview The Communication Sciences and Disorders program is for those interested in pursuing a career as a speech-language pathologist or as an audiologist. There is a wide range of options within these career fields. Education
Medical
You may work in a school setting with students who have disabilities, helping them receive the best education possible. As an audiologist, you advocate for and work with students who have hearing loss. As a speech language pathologist, you may work with students who face challenges with speech and language, including autism. You may help develop curriculum or choose materials that will help students learn.
You may work in a health care setting, such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or private practice, where you are assisting people with different communication disorders. This can include individuals with disabilities or patients who have experienced strokes or traumatic brain injuries. Speech language pathologists may assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in patients.
Industry
Undergraduate Careers
As an audiologist, you may work within the industry, helping to plan and execute hearing conservation programs for workers. This may include using technology to evaluate hearing loss and educating employers and employees on best practices.
If a student does not go on to graduate school, the skills and education they receive in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program provide the foundation for other career opportunities including education, special education, counseling, and other health-related professions. Possible employment with an undergraduate degree can include para-educators and rehabilitation aides.
As a speech language pathologist, you may work with students who face challenges with speech and language, including autism
› Communication Sciences and Disorders
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders The Pennsylvania State University 308 Ford Building University Park, PA 16802 814-865-3584 csd.hhd.psu.edu
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html (UNDG16066) U.Ed. HHD 16-066