Bachelor of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Science

The Bachelor of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Science at Temple’s College of Public Health is a degree program for students interested in becoming speech-language pathologists or audiologists. Graduates will have developed the skills to work with a variety of individuals to assess and treat speech, language and/or hearing challenges. These may include developmental delays and disorders such as autism, specific language impairment, developmental apraxia of speech, dyslexia and stuttering. They may also include acquired disorders such as age-related hearing loss and aphasia (a language disorder that can affect someone’s ability to produce and understand language).

As a student in this degree program, you will learn

• the sciences of speech, language and hearing;
• the course of typical language development as well as delayed and disordered development;
• the types of acquired speech, language and hearing disorders; and
• methods for preventing, assessing and treating those disorders.

When you graduate, you will be prepared to pursue advanced study in speech-language pathology or audiology, satisfying Standard IV-B (Basic Communication Processes) of the Knowledge and Skills Assessment required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Alternatively, you will have developed a foundation for graduate work in special education, early childhood education, teaching of English as a second language and foreign language education, as well as various other health- and education-related professions.

You will need a master’s degree in order to apply for certification as a speech-language pathologist; a professional doctorate is required to become an audiologist.

What sets apart our BA in Speech, Language and Hearing Science?

• Renowned faculty: Temple’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is recognized across the country for its top-tier education. Our faculty are experts in speech and language development and disorders and in their remediation, among other areas of research.
• Opportunities for research: You will have opportunities to participate in research and observe clinical services in the department’s Speech-Language-Hearing Center for the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders.
• Optional certificates: Students can supplement their major with certificates in Linguistics and American Sign Language.

Program Format

In addition to the 39 required credits in the department, students take foreign language or ASL; statistics; biology; chemistry or physics; and psychology courses.

See a full list of program courses.

Transfer Students

Students entering the Speech, Language and Hearing Science Major program in their junior year can complete the major in two academic years if they have already completed the required GenEd courses. If transfer students have completed one or more equivalents of the required courses, they can take electives inside or outside of the major.

See a sample schedule for a transfer student beginning the program in their junior year.