Speech and Hearing Sciences Advising Guide
Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology
What is Speech and Hearing Sciences?
Students in the Speech and Hearing Sciences undergraduate degree program will learn about communication across the lifespan, gain knowledge of communication and swallowing disorders, and have a basic understanding of how to interact with, assess, and treat individuals with communication disorders in educational, social, and employment settings. The undergraduate program in Speech and Hearing Sciences readies the graduate for a variety of career and educational options based on the knowledge gained from this degree and individual interests and skills.
Career Opportunities in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Those with a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences can operate in the following capacities (note that some occupations will require additional certifications):
- Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant
- Audiology Assistant
- Rehabilitation Aide
- Activity Coordinator in a nursing home
- English as a Second Language Teacher
- Fundraising/Volunteer Coordinator for Nonprofit Organizations
- Career opportunities with Special Olympics, Autism Society, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Multiple Sclerosis Society, etc.
- Develop, market, and sell therapy materials in the corporate environment
- Employment opportunities with technology companies, such as Super Duper Publications, Linguisystems, hearing aid manufacturers, Tobii DynaVox, Pearson Assessments, etc.
- Occupational Hearing Conservationist
- Medical sales and publications
- Research assistant in the university setting
- Hospital Unit Coordinator/Healthcare Administration
Educational Opportunities in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Speech-language pathologists evaluate, treat, and prevent disorders in speech, language,
fluency, cognition, voice, and swallowing. Audiologists identify, evaluate, and manage
hearing, balance, and auditory processing disorders. The Department offers a Bachelor
of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences that prepares students for entry into three
graduate degree programs offered through the department, the Master of Science in
Speech-Language Pathology degree program, Doctor of Audiology degree program, and
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication Sciences and Disorders degree program. Certification
for both Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology requires completion of
graduate-level degrees for the respective disciplines.
Salary Trends in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Students who do not wish to pursue a professional degree upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences may work in a variety of different fields that do not require a specific degree. Please refer to the Occupational Outlook Handbook through the Bureau for Labor Statistics for salary trends for the specific area that you may be interested in.
Following graduation from the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology degree program, the graduate is eligible for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology. The median salary for certified Speech-Language Pathologists in 2023 was $89,290 per the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Projected job growth through 2032 is 19% which is much faster than average.
Following graduation from the Doctor of Audiology program, the graduate is eligible for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in audiology. The median salary for certified Audiologists in 2023 was $87,740 per the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Projected job growth through 2032 is 11% which is much faster than average.
High School Preparation
High school students interested in Speech and Hearing Sciences should take courses in the social sciences field. Students should also take advantage of opportunities to shadow or observe speech pathologists and/or audiologists.
How to Major in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Though there is no application process to become a Speech and Hearing Sciences major, students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 before being allowed to take many of the upper–level courses. Students must complete the upper-level courses with a grade of “C” or better in order to progress to the next set of courses. Most of the major courses are only offered once per academic year, so it is important for students to practice good study strategies and effective time management in order to stay on track for timely graduation. There are also opportunities for departmental honors that interested students should discuss with their advisors sooner than later.
Graduation Plan
Following a graduation plan will help you stay on track to graduate in four years.
To see the BS SHS Degree Requirements and Graduation Plan, please click here. Graduation plans provide only a suggested schedule; make sure to meet with your academic advisor to find the actual schedule that is right for you.
For More Information
For more information on the minor in Speech and Hearing Sciences or the Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences, please contact your Speech and Hearing Sciences Advisor in AATS for students with less than 30 completed credit hours; or the College of Allied Health for students with more than 30 completed credit hours.
You can find us on campus at:
Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology
HAHN 1119
5721 USA Drive North
Mobile, AL 36688-0002
Phone: (251) 445-9596
Fax: (251) 445-9376
Website: https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/alliedhealth/speechandhearing/shs_program.html
*The information on this page should be considered general information only. For more specific information on this and other majors, please refer to the USA bulletin or contact the department/College directly.