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 […]
Wooster’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program combines hands-on learning, individualized mentoring, and a proven record of success.
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.
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.
Wooster’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program has an exceptional record of preparing students for graduate study. Over the past five years:
Wooster’s faculty mentors provide personalized guidance throughout the graduate school application process, helping students choose programs that match their goals and interests.
A degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders opens doors to a wide range of careers. Wooster graduates are now pursuing careers as:
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.
When Sarah Wilds ’97 called the Prentke Romich Company (PRC) in the summer of 1995 to inquire about internship opportunities, she set in motion […]
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 […]
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 never let being born profoundly deaf get in the way of living a full life. The 2001 communication sciences and disorders […]
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 CoursesA 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 CoursesAt 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.
| Student | Year | I.S. Title | Major 1 | Major 2 | Advisor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Please search to view results | |||||
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
When Sarah Wilds ’97 called the Prentke Romich Company (PRC) in the summer of 1995 to inquire about internship opportunities, she set in motion […]
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 […]
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 never let being born profoundly deaf get in the way of living a full life. The 2001 communication sciences and disorders […]
Departmental Honors is conferred on students who meet the following criteria:
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.