Communication Degrees Online

Harding University has offered academic coursework in communication sciences and disorders since 1951, when Richard Walker introduced “speech therapy services” to Searcy. Since that time, the program has evolved through many changes and continues to be a service to Harding University students and to the community of Searcy. The Communication Disorders Program offers preprofessional degrees in Communication Disorders (Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology). In order to work as a Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist, students must continue their education at an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Educational Standards Board accredited graduate program upon completion of their undergraduate degrees from Harding. The Harding Program is a member of the National Academy of Preprofessional Programs in communication sciences and disorders and currently meets the advisements for undergraduate education suggested by ASHA. All professional staff hold ASHA’s Certificates of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology and hold Arkansas Licenses in Speech-Language Pathology.

The communication disorders major is preprofessional in nature and is strongly recommended for students planning to pursue a masters degree and certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Students receive their clinical experience under the supervision of ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists. The program follows the ASHA Advisements for Undergraduate Education and supports the ASHA position that the graduate degree should be the minimum requirement for professional certification.

A career as a Speech-Language Pathologist is demanding – and the entry-level degree for licensure and practice is the Master’s.

But the curriculum for the Master in Health Science in Communication Disorders (MHS) is demanding in itself – and students who enter a Master’s program need a comprehensive foundation to succeed.

The Bachelor of Health Science in Communication Disorders (BHS) builds that foundation. We take you from the very basics, from Phonetics to Language Development, and we build on your knowledge to bring you to more advanced concepts.

The range of subject matter is far-reaching because Speech-Language Pathologists must draw upon a wide knowledge base to understand their clients and help them improve. The BHS curriculum will prepare you to deal with issues of grammar, as well as psychology. You’ll learn anatomy, physiology, and neurosciences. And you’ll discover the foundations of education.

The BHS will give you everything you need to advance into a Master’s program and successfully complete your path to a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Communication is interwoven into nearly every aspect of daily life, so much so that we rarely think twice about what it takes to speak a sentence or hear the lyrics to a song.

The Nicholls communicative disorders bachelor’s degree program prepares students for the rewarding opportunity to help individuals overcome problems related to speech, language and hearing. The Jo Carol Nolen Speech, Language and Hearing Center provides students with an opportunity to obtain hands-on experience helping various community members.

Students study language, speech and hearing disorders as well as their treatment. They also earn course credits by working directly with clients at the Jo Carol Nolen Speech, Language and Hearing Center on campus and at affiliated off-site facilities.

Upon successful completion of the program, students can work as a speech-language pathology assistant or complete a master’s or doctorate program to become a fully certified speech-language pathologist or audiologist.

Career Opportunities:
Careers in Communication Disorders include: speech-language pathologist, audiologist, speech and hearing scientist, language scientist and NYS Education Department Teacher of Students with Speech-Language Disabilities (TSSLD). (Note: This certification requires a master’s degree in CD and additional academic and clinical experience, workshop attendance in education, and completion of a student teaching experience, prior to application to the New York State Education Department.)

“The Communication Disorders undergraduate program not only provides students with a quality education from knowledgeable professors, it also offers excellent clinical experience and promotes networking. My experience at Mercy has given me the background and confidence necessary to continue to their graduate program.”

Career Opportunities
A degree in Communication Disorders offers a wide variety of career choices. Graduates are considered speech/language pathologist and can work in schools, hospitals, special education institutions, rehabilitation centers, educational settings (colleges, universities, research laboratories), and private practice.

Degrees Offered
The Department of Communication Science and Languages offers:
Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders

Professionals practicing in Communication Disorders are concerned with impairments and disabilities of speech, language, cognition-communication, voice and swallowing as well as hearing processes and disorders. A certified speech-language pathologist is qualified to assess as well as plan and implement intervention programs for these disorders. A certified audiologist is qualified to provide diagnostic hearing assessment and rehabilitative services for individuals diagnosed with deafness and other less severe hearing losses. As well, they work with a number of other auditory processing problems and dysfunctions related to hearing and balance.

The department has a strong clinical orientation and addresses the medical, developmental and educational issues that impact being a competent speech-language pathologist. The general goal (through the Master’s degree) is to provide a sound academic background and to complement that instruction with clinical knowledge and experience sufficient to equip the student to diagnostically assess and offer professional services to individuals across a spectrum of communication disorders in a variety of employment settings.

The program is designed to begin in the junior year, typically following completion of general education requirements. Supervised clinical practicum is reserved for the graduate level. The baccalaureate degree is considered to be preprofessional; the master’s degree is required for certification at state and national levels. Those who already have obtained a Bachelors degree in another field can prepare for graduate training in Speech-Language Pathology by completing a post-baccalaureate year of selected junior and senior level courses in Communication Disorders. Employment opportunities include those in clinics, hospitals, private practice, and community agencies. The majority of the positions, however, are in the public schools and the placement outlook remains good.

The department has a strong clinical orientation that addresses the medical, developmental and educational issues that impact being a competent speech-language pathologist. The general goal (through the Master’s degree) is to provide a sound academic background and to complement that instruction with clinical knowledge and experience sufficient to equip the student to provide professional services to individuals across a spectrum of communication disorders in a variety of employment settings.

The program is designed to begin in the junior year, following completion of all general education requirements. Supervised clinical practicum is generally reserved for the graduate level. The baccalaureate degree is considered pre-professional; the master’s degree is required for licensure at the state and certification at the national level. Individuals who already have obtained a Bachelors degree in different discipline can prepare for graduate training in speech-language pathology by first completing a post-baccalaureate year of selected junior and senior level courses in Communication Disorders (click on the link to the PostBaccalaureate Program). Admission Information for High School Students: No specific courses are required. High school students may find it useful to take typing or computer course work, four years of English, and available speech and science courses.

A degree in communicative disorders prepares students for exciting careers in speech-language pathology and audiology. Certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists work with a wide variety of different-aged clients to address a broad spectrum of communication difficulties. This may include clients with language, articulation, fluency, voice, swallowing, and hearing disorders who range in age from infants to the elderly. In addition, speech pathologists and audiologists may also work in a variety of settings such as schools, private clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, state-agencies and private practice. A degree in communicative disorders may lead to careers in speech science, deaf education, or other related areas.

Degrees in Communication Disorders
Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders
Pre-professional instruction in the normal and disordered processes of speech, language and hearing.
Master of Science in Communicative Disorders
Advanced training and certification preparation in assessing and treating speech, language and hearing disorders.

Students, staff and clients of the Communicative Disorders Department are treated equitably without regard to gender, sexual orientation, age, race, creed, national origin or disability. The institution and program comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and executive orders. Our departments’s strategic plan and assessment plans are available for public review upon request.

Facts about Speech-Language Pathology

What are the job prospects for a speech-language pathologist? Where can I get more information? If interested, please visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 118,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Additional information about employment prospects can also be found at the U.S. Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics for speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

Pre-professional degree
Our curriculum melds practical learning with theory. You’ll experience strong academics, hands-on clinical experience and research opportunities that provide ideal preparation for graduate school in speech-language pathology, audiology, speech science, hearing science or a related allied health field. Over the past eight years, 100 percent of our students who have applied to graduate school have been accepted.

Extensive clinical opportunities
Whether it is through volunteer community outreach screenings or our on-campus Speech Clinic, you’ll have ample opportunities to gain practical experience. Through our newly renovated Speech Clinic, you can provide speech, language and hearing services under the supervision of a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. Upon graduation, our students have obtained an average of 70 clinical hours, an amount that is significantly higher than the national average of 44 hours obtained at the undergraduate level.

Research experience
Real-world learning, individual attention and faculty mentoring are at the forefront of our program. Through coursework and other initiatives, you’ll learn to critically evaluate research and to design and even conduct a clinically based research study. In addition, you can get involved in research conducted by the faculty and clinical staff.

Growing field
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (2005), employment in speech-language pathology and audiology is projected to increase 21-35 percent through 2012.

•speech-language pathologist
•audiologist

•speech scientist
•hearing scientist

Offered as a major and minor

You are choosing a quality program.

Our mission is to effectively prepare students to meet the challenges of our professions by providing quality instruction, modeling and mentoring, and curricular changes which reflect our diverse society in accordance with the accepted standards of our professions. Our curriculum is comprehensive and integrates academic knowledge and clinical competencies. It meets all undergraduate requirements for certification with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and all undergraduate requirements for New York State Licensure.
You will be prepared for graduate school.

The Communication Disorders and Sciences undergraduate major is a pre-professional track that prepares students for a career as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. Courses focus on the scientific basis and nature of human communication, its disorders, assessment, and remediation. Students study the normal processes of hearing, speech and language development, and their disorders such as articulation and phonological disorders, language-learning delays/disorders, aphasia, autism, hearing impairment, deafness, and others. Highly qualified faculty members, who have an extensive background in the evaluation and treatment of speech, language, and hearing disorders, teach all of the courses.
You will be prepared to work with clients with communication disorders.

The goal of the undergraduate program is to provide a solid foundation for the development of clinical expertise. Students interact with graduate students in the Speech and Hearing Center. There, they are introduced gradually to functioning as a student clinician by observing assessment and treatment sessions. Although you will perform the majority of your clinical work at the graduate level, some undergraduates are allowed to work with one client during their last year of study. They love it!

The Communication Disorders and Sciences (CDS) program specializes in the area of speech-language pathology. Speech-language pathologists are professionals educated in the study of human communication, its development, and its disorders. By evaluating the speech language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing skills of children and adults, the speech-language pathologist determines what communication problems exist and the best way to treat them. As a student in the CDS program. you would study normal communication as well as procedures for assessment and intervention of persons with communication disorders.