What is Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences?
Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) at Mizzou focuses on understanding, diagnosing, and treating communication and hearing disorders. This interdisciplinary field blends biology, linguistics, psychology, and audiology to help individuals of all ages improve their ability to communicate effectively and process sound.
What classes will I take?
SLHS students gain a broad understanding of the scientific basis of speech, language and hearing; the different types of communication disorders; and the various kinds of diagnostic and therapeutic methods used by speech-language pathologists and audiologists. This includes classes such as:
- Human Language
- American Phonetics
- Language Disorders in Children
- Stuttering, Cluttering and Fluency Disorders
- Voice Disorders
View a full list of required classes.
Are there experiential learning opportunities?
Yes! The University of Missouri believes in learning by doing. The BHS in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences program incorporates hands-on learning through clinical apprenticeship opportunities. Here are a few ways that Mizzou SLHS students gain valuable experience.
At the Combs Language Preschool, students serve as clinicians in-training under the guidance of certified and licensed speech-language pathologists. Students provide direct support to children with speech and language challenges, helping to foster their development in a real-world preschool environment.
The Accent Expansion Program is a nationally recognized program focusing on interactive, effective communication techniques with non-native English speakers to improve their pronunciation and intonation of English. Students are supervised by certified and licensed professionals throughout their training and serve participants individually, in pairs, or in small groups.
In addition to the onsite Combs Language Preschool, undergraduate students have the opportunity to serve the greater Columbia community through the Nora Stewart Early Learning Center experience. Students visit the preschool once a week as a group and provide preventative services to children at risk for speech, language and literacy concerns. This experience is a great way to gain experience collaborating with teachers in the classroom.
Become a Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences major
You can declare Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences as your major at any point during your career at Mizzou without a separate application.
- New students: Apply to Mizzou and choose Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences as your major.
- Current students: Declare or change your major.
Frequently asked questions
This major is ideal for students who are passionate about communication, health care, and helping others overcome challenges in speaking, understanding or hearing. If you have a passion for communication, enjoy science and working with people, and want a career that combines health care, education, and research, SLHS could be a great fit for you!
A bachelor’s degree in speech, language and hearing sciences prepares you to start working right away as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA), working under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists (SLP). Demand for SLPAs is particularly high in public schools. Many schools, especially in rural and underserved areas, are experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals to serve students with communication problems.
A master’s degree is required for professional practice in speech-language pathology, and a doctorate is required for practice in audiology. Graduates of our program are well-prepared for graduate studies and have high acceptance rates at top universities across the nation. Mizzou offers an accredited master’s program in speech-language pathology that will prepare graduates for licensure. Learn more about our master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
Mizzou’s Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences degree prepares you for your future by providing many opportunities to gain hands-on experience. You can get experience at the Combs Language Preschool, the Accent Expansion Program, by participating in faculty research labs, and more!
This program does not require a secondary application. However, to officially declare the SLHS major, students must meet certain requirements. These include completing at least 30 credit hours of course work, maintaining a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, and earning a grade of C or higher in all program prerequisite courses.
Yes! Students can join one of the many faculty labs as a research apprentice, gaining hands-on experience with data collection, running experiments and research methods. The Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences houses several labs across a wide variety of specialties. Learn more about SLHS faculty research. Interested and motivated students are encouraged to reach out directly to lab directors to inquire about apprenticeships.