Why Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
"It's basic. When you look at communication, it's the essential element of being human."
About Us
The Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences offers internationally-recognized programs in speech-language-hearing sciences, audiology, and speech-language pathology that provide outstanding opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to pursue rewarding and meaningful careers.
Our Undergraduate Program
The mission of the SLHS undergraduate program is to provide students with foundational knowledge in speech, language, hearing, and swallowing. This includes coursework on developmental, psychological, physical, neurobiological, socio-cultural, and cognitive processes involved in communication. Our coursework provides students with opportunities to build essential career competencies, including analytical and critical thinking; applied problem solving; and ethical reasoning and decision making. Across each course and non-course experience, students gain knowledge and skills needed to examine and understand the consequences that systemic injustices have upon human communicators.
Our major allows students to explore the discipline through classes, research laboratories, and clinical observations. The major project course offers students a service learning opportunity with hands-on experience and an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned to a real-world setting. Students will work with any of over 300 non-profit organizations in the community.
Our Graduate Programs
The mission of the MA program in Speech-language Pathology is to build on foundational knowledge and skills to prepare students for evidence-based, person-centered clinical excellence in speech-language pathology. Drawing from a research base, the program combines academic coursework and clinical education experiences. Students are equipped to recognize the impact of social identities on communication and to provide culturally responsive and inclusive care to all individuals. The program is designed to ensure that graduates have the opportunity to meet the academic clinical training standards for obtaining certification from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and licensing from the state of Minnesota.
The mission of the AuD in Audiology is to build on foundational knowledge and skills to prepare students for evidence-based, person-centered clinical excellence in audiology. Drawing from a research base, the program combines academic coursework and clinical education experiences across the full spectrum of audiology. Students are mentored to be culturally responsive and inclusive in their approach to providing hearing and balance health care for all individuals. The program is designed to ensure that graduates have the opportunity to meet the academic and clinical training standards for obtaining certification from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and licensing from the state of Minnesota.
The mission of the PhD in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences is to provide students with the highest quality of education to develop strong independent teaching, research, and scholarship skills that center principles of justice, equity, access, and diversity. Program faculty specialize in a variety of areas that cover theoretical, foundational, and translational studies of speech, language, hearing, swallowing and cognition alone and in relationship to one another. The program allows students to work in depth with an advisor and a team of other mentors to develop deep specialization in their topics of interest. The PhD prepares students for a variety of careers, including academia, clinical leadership, and industry.
Our graduate programs have many opportunities for both master’s and doctoral students to work closely with faculty in all aspects of research, teaching, and clinical service delivery. Our accredited professional degree programs in speech-language pathology (MA–SLP) and audiology (AuD) are highly ranked nationally, and the outlook for employment is outstanding. Our PhD programs prepare leaders in the field who are well-positioned for jobs in academia, industry, and clinical settings.
We believe that learning is best supported in a collaborative environment, which has assisted both our students and faculty in a high level of success in publication and grant activities. Our programs have affiliate agreements with a broad range of off-campus sites for clinical training.
Understanding the critical need to serve and partner with diverse populations, we have developed curricula aimed at providing graduate students multiple opportunities to develop a deep understanding of speech, language, and hearing across ages and abilities within the context of cultural, linguistic, and economic diversity.
Our Faculty and Clinical Professionals
Our award-winning faculty and clinical professionals excel in teaching, cutting-edge research, multidisciplinary and cross-departmental education, and research initiatives, partnering with industry, and providing service and outreach to local communities.
In all programs, we strive to serve scholars within the University and the broader community with interwoven coursework and opportunities for clinical and research experiences. These enable students to better understand the complexities of human communication across the lifespan and to be sensitive to the personal, social, academic, and vocational consequences of difficulties in communication.