The Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences offers an academic minor (minimum of 15 credit hours) in speech, language and hearing processes which may be of particular interest to students majoring in areas such as biology, chemistry, communication arts and sciences, engineering, linguistics, music therapy, vocal music, occupational therapy, nursing, psychology, social work, and others. Pre-professional studies in such curricula as pre-dentistry and pre-medicine also can be augmented meaningfully through inclusion of studies in human communication science and disorders, with particular reference to the study of anatomic, physiologic, neurologic, psycho-social and physical bases of speech, language and hearing.

In consultation with a departmental advisor, students may design minor options which emphasize speech-language-hearing science, communication disorders, or other individually-tailored areas complementary to the student’s educational and vocational goals. Ten hours of observation of speech, language and hearing therapy in the Charles Van Riper Language, Speech and Hearing Clinic are required, to provide exposure to the clinical aspects of the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. Suggested examples of SPPA course sequences follow: