Learn to help people communicate more effectively.

Communication is a human right, yet millions of people struggle with speech, language, voice, swallowing, or hearing disorders that affect their ability to fully express themselves. In many cases, these issues go untreated.

By earning an online Bachelor of Science in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences from Bradley University, you can embark on a rewarding career where you'll be working with patients across the lifespan to help them overcome these challenges.

Online Bachelor of Science in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences At a Glance

• Total Credits: 120 (including 45 credits of program core courses)
• Transfer Credits Accepted: Up to 66 from accredited 2-year colleges and unlimited from 4-year institutions
• Time to Completion: As few as 2.7 years (8 semesters) for core coursework and general education requirements

Why choose Bradley for your Bachelor’s in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences?

Bradley University has been shaping leaders and innovators since 1897. Continuously driven by our commitment to excellence in teaching, research and learning, we've designed our speech and language program to expertly combine rigorous academics with real-world practice.

A Bradley education is a rich culture of collaboration, support, and shared values, one that will challenge you to grow personally and professionally. We continue to earn high marks for our outstanding faculty and student-centered approach to learning.

When you choose Bradley's Speech Language and Hearing Sciences program, you'll have access to the resources and tools to help you attain your goals, including:

• Dedicated faculty members who have years of clinical and academic experience. These mentors will be there for you not only beyond office hours, but beyond graduation.
• Small class sizes and the personalized support to help you thrive.
• A collaborative environment where you can learn from and alongside like-minded professionals who share your vision for a brighter future.
• Learning beyond the classroom where you can hone your skills through supervised clinical experiences.

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.

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.

The 120-credit curriculum includes 15 required courses (45 credits) on topics related to speech-language pathology, audiology, and hearing sciences, as well as an additional required course on clinical neuroanatomy.

The program also includes two optional supervised clinical experiences which are geared toward students who plan to pursue graduate school and/or an entry-level position in the field. The remainder of the curriculum consists of general education courses and general electives.

The full breakdown is as follows:

• Required program core courses: 45 credits
• Required clinical neuroanatomy course: 3 credits
• General education course: 45 credits
• General electives: 21 credits
• Experimental learning courses: 6 credits

The time it takes to earn your degree will vary depending on how many credits you transfer and how many credits you take each semester. However, you can complete your core coursework and general education requirements in as few as eight semesters (less than three years).

To be considered for admission to the online Bachelor of Science in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences program, you must submit the following:

• Completed application form.
• Official copy of a high school transcript sent directly from your high school.
• Official transcripts from any colleges/universities attended (if applicable).
• One or two-page personal statement or essay. Be sure to include your full name on each page.
• For non-U.S. citizens who will not earn a U.S. high school diploma, scores from one of these standardized tests are required: TOEFL, IELTS, E3PT, PTE Academic, ACT or SAT.

In addition, submission of the following items is optional:

• Standardized test scores, including the SAT or ACT, are considered by the admission committee if they are provided. Students who elect to send official scores should request they be sent directly from the testing service or confirm with their high school that they are included on an official high school transcript.
• One letter of recommendation. You may elect to include a letter from a teacher, school counselor, coach, or school activity advisor. No specific form is required.

To be considered for admission to the online post-baccalaureate leveling courses, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and submit the following:

• A completed application form for graduate admission.
• A non-refundable $40 application fee.
• Official transcripts of academic credentials.