Overview

Why Study Communication Sciences and Disorders The College of Wooster? 

Wooster’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program combines hands-on learning, individualized mentoring, and a proven record of success.


Learn by Doing: Hands-On Clinical Experience

Students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders major at The College of Wooster gain real-world clinical experience. You’ll work directly with patients who have communication disorders in the Freedlander Speech and Hearing Clinic.

You’ll apply classroom knowledge to real therapy sessions, using the same materials that professionals use. Each step of the way, you’ll receive close mentoring and feedback from faculty and clinical supervisors.

You can also choose a prevention practicum, bringing language-enrichment activities to preschool classrooms and make an immediate difference in children’s lives.


Conduct Original Research with Expert Faculty at The College of Wooster

Every Communication Sciences and Disorders major completes a mentored research project, working one-on-one with a faculty mentor over three semesters. You’ll design and carry out your own study, gaining valuable skills in research design, data analysis, and scientific communication. You can also apply for campus funding to support your project, and have opportunities to present your work at conferences.

Prepare for Graduate School Success

Wooster’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program has an exceptional record of preparing students for graduate study. Over the past five years:

  • 100% of students who applied to clinical doctoral programs in audiology were accepted.
  • More than 90% of students who applied to master’s programs in speech-language pathology were accepted.

Wooster’s faculty mentors provide personalized guidance throughout the graduate school application process, helping students choose programs that match their goals and interests.

Explore Diverse Career Paths

A degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders opens doors to a wide range of careers. Wooster graduates are now pursuing careers as:

  • Audiologists
  • Elementary School Teachers
  • Lawyers
  • Nurses
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Physicians
  • Researchers
  • Speech-Language Pathologists
  • Teachers of the Deaf

Whether you pursue clinical practice, education, or research, a Communication Sciences and Disorders degree from The College of Wooster will prepare you to make a lasting impact.

Faculty & Staff

Joan Furey

Joan E. Furey

Associate Professor and Department Chair of Communication Sciences & Disorders

jfurey@wooster.edu

Cara Hammond

Cara Hammond

Clinical Supervisor in Communication Sciences & Disorders

chammond@wooster.edu

Head shot of Scott Schwarzwalder

Scott Schwarzwalder

Wishart Administrative Coordinator

sschwarzwldr@wooster.edu

Latest News

Sarah Wilds '97

Communication sciences and disorders alumna takes an unexpected journey from intern to CEO

When Sarah Wilds ’97 called the Prentke Romich Company (PRC) in the summer of 1995 to inquire about internship opportunities, she set in motion […]

Ollie Bream head shot

Ollie Bream ’25 receives NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

Make it 18 selections since 2018 for The College of Wooster, which was recently notified swimming and diving All-American Ollie Bream will be receiving the prestigious […]

David Roney '21

Psychology and communication sciences and disorders major takes multidisciplinary approach as speech-language pathologist to help clients with communication disorders

As a member of the men’s golf team at The College of Wooster, David Roney ’21 served as the team’s anchor and received two […]

Stacey Lim ’01

Stacey Lim ’01 has been breaking sound barriers throughout her life

Stacey Lim ’01 never let being born profoundly deaf get in the way of living a full life. The 2001 communication sciences and disorders […]

Major

The major requires eleven courses in the department, including Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders, Phonetic Transcription and Phonology, Language Development in Children, Audiology, Auditory Rehabilitation, and Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism, and two electives from within the department or in related disciplines.

View Courses

Minor

A minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders requires six courses in the department, including Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders, Phonetic Transcription and Phonology, Language Development in Children, and Audiology.

View Courses

Independent Study

Communication Sciences and Disorders I.S. Handbook

At Wooster, Independent Study (I.S.) provides all students the opportunity to engage in an activity both personally meaningful and appropriate to their individual fields and interests. Students work closely with their faculty advisors through regularly scheduled conferences and seminars that are designed to assist, encourage, and challenge the participants and to afford both students and advisors an opportunity to share the excitement of discovery and expression in areas of mutual interest.

Search the I.S. Database

Student Year I.S. Title Major 1 Major 2 Advisor
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Azad presented her research to members of the College community at the Senior Research Symposium.

Communication sciences and disorders major explores alternative approaches to support patients

Aspiring speech-language pathologist Sabrina Azad ’24 wanted to focus her Independent Study research on understanding how to support patients with brain diseases that can […]

Round yellow button featuring a white illustration of a campus building with black text reading "I DID IT! THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER"—given to students upon submitting their Independent Study.

Together Everyone Achieves More (T.E.A.M.): An Investigation of Recreational Sports Teams’ Coaches’ Knowledge of Best Practices for Working with Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Name: Abigail Johnson Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders and Education Advisor: Donald M. Goldberg, Ph.D. This study investigated community recreation sports teams’ coaches’ knowledge regarding working with […]

head shot for Mia Chen

An Investigation of the Clinical Considerations of Speech-Language Pathologists When Working With Spanish-English Bilingual Adults With Aphasia

Name: Mia Chen Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders Minors: Psychology and Spanish Advisors: Dr. Joan E. Furey; Dr. Grit Herzmann (second reader) The broad purpose of this […]

head shot of Rachel Semel

Help Wanted: An Investigation of Professionals’ Approaches to and Perceptions Regarding Vocational Development When Working with Young Adults with Autism or Down Syndrome

Name: Rachel Semel Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders Minor: Education Advisor: Joan E. Furey, Ph.D.; Cara Hammond (second reader) The purpose of this study was to investigate the […]

Alumni

The Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) major prepares students for graduate study or careers in speech-language pathology or audiology, education, nursing, social work, and more.

CSD graduates work as audiologists, speech-language pathologists, rehabilitation specialists, behavior therapists, special educators, early childhood intervention specialists, education directors, and teachers. Our majors also include graduates who have had successful careers as a social worker, a magazine editor, a pastry chef, and a director of college admissions, among other professions.

Sarah Wilds '97

Communication sciences and disorders alumna takes an unexpected journey from intern to CEO

When Sarah Wilds ’97 called the Prentke Romich Company (PRC) in the summer of 1995 to inquire about internship opportunities, she set in motion […]

Ollie Bream head shot

Ollie Bream ’25 receives NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

Make it 18 selections since 2018 for The College of Wooster, which was recently notified swimming and diving All-American Ollie Bream will be receiving the prestigious […]

David Roney '21

Psychology and communication sciences and disorders major takes multidisciplinary approach as speech-language pathologist to help clients with communication disorders

As a member of the men’s golf team at The College of Wooster, David Roney ’21 served as the team’s anchor and received two […]

Stacey Lim ’01

Stacey Lim ’01 has been breaking sound barriers throughout her life

Stacey Lim ’01 never let being born profoundly deaf get in the way of living a full life. The 2001 communication sciences and disorders […]

Honors & Prizes

Honors

Departmental Honors is conferred on students who meet the following criteria:

  • A grade of Honors on the Senior I.S. thesis or the unanimous vote of the Department
  • An average of 3.5 in all courses taken in the Department
  • An overall average of 3.2 for four years at Wooster

If students earned Honors on their I.S., the Department will automatically consider them for Departmental Honors. If students did not earn a grade of Honors, they may still be considered for Departmental Honors at the end of their last semester at Wooster.  Students earning a grade of Good and who meet the other two criteria will automatically have their names submitted to the Department by their advisor for consideration of Departmental Honors.  In the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, the unanimous vote of the faculty has typically gone to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Department.

Prizes

The Emerson Miller Memorial Prize in Speech

The Emerson Miller Memorial Prize in Speech is awarded annually at graduation to the senior who is judged by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders to have contributed the most to the Department’s program during their college career.

The Cummings-Rumbaugh Speech Prize

The Cummings-Rumbaugh Speech Prize is awarded to the graduating senior in Communication Sciences and Disorders who has the highest academic standing.

Clinic

Freedlander Speech and Hearing Clinic

The Freedlander Speech and Hearing Clinic, located on the ground floor in Wishart Hall, functions as an outpatient clinic for the Wooster community. Under the supervision of licensed, certified professionals, student clinicians assess and treat communication disorders that impact speech, language, and/or hearing. Currently, the staff is composed of two professionals (Clinic Supervisor Cara Hammond, M.A., CCC-SLP; and Associate Professor Joan Furey, Ph.D., CCC-SLP).

Clinic Experience for Students

For students majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Freedlander Clinic serves another important function: Student clinicians gain hands-on clinical experience, which few undergraduate programs offer. Indeed, these experiential learning opportunities in the Freedlander Clinic enable students to apply what they are learning in their coursework and often serve as a source of ideas for I.S. research. Student clinicians enroll in the Speech and Language Clinic Practicum course for three semesters and work under the guidance of state-licensed and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified supervisors. In the fourth semester, students may continue in the Speech and Language Clinic Practicum course, or they may elect to enroll in the Audiology Clinic Practicum course.

Services

The clients served at the Clinic are of any age, from infants through older adults, and the types of disorders managed are equally varied. Referrals come from numerous sources, including area physicians, local schools, and the College faculty, staff, and student body, in addition to self-referrals from the Wooster community. Clients are seen during the academic year, and there are no fees for clients.

The Freedlander Clinic is equipped with audiologic test equipment, a sound-treated audiology test booth, and a variety of tests, assessment protocols, and therapy materials for assessment and intervention.

In sum, the Freedlander Clinic serves as a catalyst for service, education, and research. The Clinic not only affords students the opportunity for rich educational experiences, but also provides individuals of the surrounding community with much-needed services, at no cost, that may significantly improve their quality of life.