Fact Sheets

Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences @ MSUM

The programs of study offered by this department are designed for students who are interested in the normal and disordered processes of human communication.  The title of the undergraduate major, Speech/Language/Hearing Sciences, indicates that the bachelor's degree is a pre-professional degree.  It is designed to prepare students for admission to graduate level study of speech-language pathology or audiology, but is also appropriate for those who will pursue careers in hearing conservation, education of the hearing impaired, and other areas.  Getting a minor or taking individual classes in Speech/Language Hearing Sciences are appropriate as electives for students with majors in  communication studies, elementary and early education, and secondary education, special education, reading, psychology, sociology, anthropology, or health.

Career Opportunities
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (www.asha.org) reports a tremendous national demand for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate of speech-language pathologists ranked 25th out of the fastest growing 700 occupations through the year 2010. Typical employment settings are hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long term care facilities, and private practice. In 2004 ASHA reported mean salaries of full-time speech-language pathologists to be $53,000 and audiologists $55,000.

Program Benefits

  • The graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology at MSUM is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation, ASHA.
  • The SLHS department has an excellent faculty to graduate student ratio of 1:3.8 and faculty to undergraduate student ratio of 1:18.
  • Admissions for the graduate program range from 12-15 students annually.
  • The SLHS faculty has diversified expertise and experience.
  • The departmental classroom, clinic and faculty offices are all housed together within Grier Hall.
  • Site of the Regional Assistive Technology Center for Augmentative Communication.
  • The SLHS department has state of the art acoustic and physiological analysis lab equipment used for evaluation and treatment of clients.
  • Students and faculty collaborate on research in the areas of Child Language, Articulation/Phonology, Neurogenics, Augmentative & Alternative Communication, Fluency, Voice and Audiology.