Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional)
Helping people with communication and swallowing disorders.
Speech-language pathology (often studied as Communication Sciences and Disorders at the undergraduate level) focuses on how speech, language, and swallowing work, and what happens when they don't, due to developmental delay, stroke, injury, or other conditions. Clinical practice as an SLP requires a master's degree, so undergrad is preparatory.
Coursework covers the anatomy and science of speech and hearing alongside child language development and communication disorders, often including observation hours in clinical or school settings.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing
- ✓Language Development
- ✓Phonetics
- ✓Introduction to Communication Disorders
- ✓Audiology Fundamentals
- ✓Neuroscience of Communication
- ✓Statistics
- ✓Clinical Observation Hours
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing
- +General education requirement
- ✓Language Development
- +General education requirement
- ✓Phonetics
- +General education requirement
- ✓Introduction to Communication Disorders
- +Free elective
- ✓Audiology Fundamentals
- +Free elective
- ✓Neuroscience of Communication
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Statistics
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Clinical Observation Hours
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Interested in language, linguistics, and how communication develops
- ★Wants a hands-on, people-focused health career
- ★Patient and comfortable working one-on-one
- ★Willing to plan toward a required graduate degree
Common minors & double-major pairings
Linguistics · Psychology · Education
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional) major?
Helping people with communication and swallowing disorders.
What courses do Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional) majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing, Language Development, Phonetics, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional) program?
Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional) coursework typically builds skills like Understanding speech, language, and hearing science, Observing and documenting communication behaviors, Patient and family communication, Foundational research and statistics literacy.
Is Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional) a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Interested in language, linguistics, and how communication develops" or "Wants a hands-on, people-focused health career" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional) degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Speech-Language Pathologist. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional)?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Linguistics, Psychology, Education.
How is Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional) different from Linguistics?
They're related but distinct. Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional): Helping people with communication and swallowing disorders. Linguistics: The scientific study of language structure and use. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Speech-Language Pathology (Pre-Professional) degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/speech-language-pathology