Choose a career path with life-changing potential
Speech language and hearing science professionals can have a profound impact on people’s lives. From babies to adults, clinicians treat patients with disorders affecting their swallowing, speech, language, hearing, and cognition, helping to build critical skills and facilitate communication.
Bradley University’s online speech and hearing science bachelor’s program has been designed to give students the foundational knowledge and skills they need to embark on this rewarding career path. Read program overview.
What can I do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences?
Most bachelor’s degree holders will apply to graduate school to study the subject further.
Attaining a master’s (and/or doctoral degree if required) can unlock greater career opportunities and earning power, typically as speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or audiologists.
However, for those whose goal is to start working sooner, a bachelor’s degree can also open doors to assistant-level roles in the field.
SLPAs work under the direction of a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP), assisting with screening patients, carrying out treatment plans, and providing administrative and clerical support.
Please note, in addition to the bachelor’s degree, you may have to fulfill other requirements to become an SLPA. These are set by your state of residence and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
*(Source: Indeed)
For more than 60 years, we’ve been setting the standard for excellence in health education. Our graduates are transforming the way health care is delivered — and so can you.
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What’s the job outlook?
Those with advanced degrees in speech language and hearing sciences often become speech-language pathologists (SLP) or audiologists.
From 2022 to 2032, employment is projected to grow by 19% for speech-language pathologists and 11% for audiologists – much faster than the average rate for other professions.
(Source: BLS – Speech-Language Pathologists/Audiologists)
Where can you work?
Speech language and hearing science professionals are employed in both healthcare and educational settings. These include:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Public schools (K-12)
- Private schools (K-12)
- Specialty rehabilitation facilities
- Private practice
- Department of Defense accredited schools
What skills and qualities do you need?
- Communication skills: to clearly explain information, including test results and proposed treatments, so that patients understand their diagnosis and options.
- Empathy: to demonstrate compassion and understanding to patients who may be frustrated by their communication disorders.
- Analytical skills: clinicians must select appropriate diagnostic tools and evaluate results to identify goals and develop a treatment plan.
- Interpersonal skills: to build trusted relationships with patients, their families and other healthcare providers.
- Problem-solving skills: to determine the causes of swallowing, speech, language, hearing, or cognitive disorders and determine appropriate treatment plans. Clinicians must also be able to propose alternatives if patients don’t respond to initial treatment.
Explore Additional Career Paths
How To Become a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
Find out how to become a speech-language pathologist (SLP) with this guide covering education requirements, the praxis exam, SLP certifications, and more.
Read MoreSpeech-Language Pathology Specializations: What You Need to Know
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