Program Overview
Communication Sciences & Disorders
Prepare for a career helping people communicate through hands-on clinical experience, faculty-mentored research, and exceptional preparation for graduate school.
Hands-On Clinical Experience
Work directly with clients in Wooster's on-campus Freedlander Speech and Hearing Clinic.
Faculty-Mentored Research
Complete an original three-semester Independent Study research project.
Outstanding Graduate Outcomes
More than 90% acceptance to speech-language pathology master's programs and 100% acceptance to audiology doctoral programs for applicants over the past five years.
Learn by doing.
Featured Experience
Freedlander Speech and Hearing Clinic
Located in Wishart Hall, the Freedlander Speech and Hearing Clinic serves both as a community clinic and as an undergraduate training center. Under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists, students assess and treat children and adults with communication disorders while gaining meaningful clinical experience long before graduate school.
Students may also complete a prevention practicum, bringing language-enrichment activities into local preschool classrooms while supporting early childhood development.
Build scientific knowledge and clinical expertise.
The Communication Sciences & Disorders major combines coursework in speech, language, hearing, anatomy, neuroscience, and clinical practice.
Students complete eleven courses covering topics such as:
- Introduction to Communication Sciences & Disorders
- Phonetics and Phonology
- Language Development
- Audiology
- Auditory Rehabilitation
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
- Advanced electives
Throughout the program, students connect classroom learning with supervised clinical experiences and original research.
Students interested in complementing another major may also complete a Communication Sciences & Disorders Minor, which introduces the scientific foundations of speech, language, and hearing through six core courses.
Every major also completes Wooster's signature Independent Study, conducting an original research project over three semesters with the guidance of a faculty mentor. Many projects grow directly from students' experiences in the Freedlander Clinic.
Ready to Help Others Find Their Voice?
Whether your goal is graduate school, clinical practice, healthcare, education, or research, Wooster provides the experience, mentoring, and preparation to help you succeed.
Career Opportunities
Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates pursue careers that improve communication and quality of life across every stage of life.
Many graduates also pursue careers in law, social work, higher education, nonprofit leadership, and other professions that benefit from strong communication and analytical skills.
Key Areas
Speech-Language Pathologists
Audiologists
Teachers of the Deaf
Occupational Therapists
Physicians
Nurses
Researchers
Elementary Educators
Rehabilitation Specialists
Behavior Therapists
Early Childhood Intervention Specialists
