Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Post-Baccalaureate Leveling Certificate
Overview
Prepare for Your Future in Speech, Language and Hearing Science
Do you want to help people develop, retain, or rebuild their ability to communicate? Millions of people live with speech, language, voice, swallowing, or hearing disorders that interfere with their ability to connect with others through communication.
This is your chance to make a difference. Start with Bradley University. Regardless of your current educational background, our online Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Leveling Certificate can help you prepare to have a positive impact on people in need.
The Leveling Certificate program is designed to build on your undergraduate experience and help you develop speech, language and hearing sciences foundation to pursue your master’s-level education and become a speech-language pathologist.
You want to change lives. Bradley University is here to help.
CALENDAR
Application Deadline:
Fall 2026
7/15/2026
Upcoming Start Date:
May 20, 2026
Online Post-Baccalaureate Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Leveling Certificate at a glance
- Total Credits: 21 (7 courses)
- Time to Completion: As few as 9 months (2 semesters)
Build a strong foundation in speech, language and hearing sciences
If you hold a bachelor’s degree in an area unrelated to speech-language pathology or hearing sciences but would like to pursue a graduate degree in this field, the online SLHS Leveling Certificate that can prepare you for your next step.
Our seven-course leveling certificate program is designed to build on your previous education, allowing you to focus solely on skills, knowledge, and ethical considerations relevant to speech, language and hearing sciences. Through 100% online coursework, problem-based learning, simulation experience, and hands-on clinical opportunities, you can prepare to pursue master’s-level education that qualifies you for careers like audiologist or speech-language pathologist.
At Bradley University, our focus is on training the clinicians of tomorrow. In this program, you can work alongside expert faculty and student-colleagues who are as passionate as you are about making a difference in speech, language and hearing sciences.
This program is designed to be completed in about nine months (two semesters).
Note that the SLHS Leveling Certificate is intended solely as a bridge toward graduate-level study. It does not replace a bachelor’s degree or qualify you for assistant roles on its own. If you’re interested in pursuing these careers, check out our Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.
Why choose Bradley for your Post-Baccalaureate Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Leveling Certificate?
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 leveling certificate program, you’ll have access to the resources and tools to help you attain your goals, including:
- Dedicated faculty members: Learn from professors with strong clinical expertise and academic experience who serve as mentors and educators beyond office hours and beyond graduation.
- Small class sizes: Experience personalized support that fits your unique needs and helps you achieve your goals.
- A collaborative environment: Learn from and alongside like-minded professionals who are passionate about impacting lives.
- Learning beyond the classroom: Get real-world experience and hone your skills through supervised clinical experiences.
Why should you pursue your Post-Baccalaureate SLHS Leveling Certificate from Bradley?
Careers
The SLHS Leveling Certificate is designed to prepare students for graduate-level education related to speech, language and hearing sciences; it isn’t a career-focused credential. If you’re hoping to pursue assistant-level roles in this field, consider pursuing a bachelor’s degree instead.
If you’re hoping to bypass assistant roles and pursue higher-level positions, the leveling certificate provides the first step toward earning the credentials you’ll need to practice.
What can you do with an SLHS Leveling Certificate plus a master’s degree or doctorate?
By completing the SLHS Leveling Certificate program, you position yourself to pursue your graduate education in areas like speech-language pathology or audiology.
Note that the leveling certificate program is not designed to qualify you for assistant-level work (as our bachelor’s degree is), and the high-level careers listed below typically require a master’s degree or doctorate. The certificate helps build a foundation that prepares you for further study to earn those credentials.
Here are some career paths you can consider once you complete your advanced degree.
This position typically requires a master’s degree or doctorate. Once attained, you can pursue opportunities to assess and treat patients who have hearing disorders and related conditions, perform research, and educate patients.
*2024 median salary based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
This position typically requires a master’s degree or doctorate. Once attained, you can pursue opportunities to assess, treat, and educate people who have disorders related to speech, language, hearing, swallowing, and other vital communication functions.
*2024 median salary based on data compiled by the BLS
What's the job outlook?
Once you attain an advanced degree in the field, you can expect to enter a thriving field. According to the BLS, both audiologist and speech-language pathologist careers are projected to see growth that far exceeds the average of 3% between 2024 and 2034:
- Audiologist: 9%
- Speech-language pathologist: 15%
Where can you work?
As a speech, language and hearing sciences professional, you’ll have the opportunity to work across a variety of settings in which healthcare professionals are needed. These include the following:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Public and private schools
- Specialty rehabilitation facilities
- Private practice
- Government facilities
What skills and qualities do you need?
As a speech, language and hearing sciences professional, you’ll be expected to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds across a wide range of contexts. You’ll need to be able to communicate clearly, support with patience, and assess situations dynamically.
Here are some of the top skills you should aim to develop throughout your education and career:
- Communication
- Empathy
- Analytics
- Interpersonal dynamics
- Problem-solving
Explore additional career paths
How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Specializations
Curriculum
What can you learn in the SLHS Leveling Certificate program?
This program comprises seven courses (21 credit hours) and can be completed in about nine months of full-time study. There are no electives, and all courses are required to complete this credential.
The certificate features 100% online coursework that covers critical areas of speech, language and hearing sciences like phonetics, cultural considerations, ethics, audiology, rehabilitation, neuroscience, and linguistics. It includes hands-on opportunities and supervised, in-person experiences.
SLHS Leveling Certificate
Admission requirements
Here are the requirements to be considered for admission to the online Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Post-Baccalaureate Leveling Certificate.
- Bachelor’s degree (or international equivalent) from a regionally accredited college or university*
- Completed application form
- Unofficial transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended
- Statement of interest
- One letter of recommendation from a supervisor or professor (friends or coworkers are not acceptable)
- Non-refundable $40 application fee
* You must have completed and received your bachelor’s degree prior to beginning the SLHS Leveling Certificate program
Learn from leading professionals in communication sciences
Bradley University’s faculty are passionate educators who care as much about speech, language and hearing sciences as they do about helping you succeed. They are accomplished practitioners whose clinical research, field experiences, and professional interests inform their teaching in the classroom and their support beyond it.
Get to know some of the dedicated professionals with whom you’ll study at Bradley.
