Communication Sciences and Disorders

Communication Sciences and Disorders

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This degree will prepare you to help people communicate, hear, and balance. After completing a graduate degree, students become a speech-language pathologist (SLP, speech therapist) or audiologist and help patients in medical and educational settings communicate. The field has a 100% employment rate and both careers are projected to grow 10-20% from 2021-2031. If you do not want to pursue a graduate degree, you can become an SLPA or audiology assistant with some additional training.

The Nebraska Difference

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Scholarships

CEHS awards more than $200,000 annually in scholarships to incoming students.

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1-to-1 Advising

Your assigned advisor will support you with academic planning throughout your time at Nebraska.

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State-of-the-Art Facilities

We have some of the newest and best facilities and equipment in the country.

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Career Coaching

Career coaches can help you plan for a meaningful career built upon your degree program.

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Program Features

Undergraduate Research

You could conduct research alongside expert faculty in the field with potential for UNL, state, or national research presentations. Some current opportunities include research on augmentative and alternative communication, hearing aid amplification, reading comprehension, developmental disabilities, and brain activation in cochlear implant candidates. Students are often funded via grants such as UCARE.

Global Experiences 

Help patients develop speech and language in Thailand through a two-week faculty-led global experience or take courses that count for your undergraduate degree while spending a semester at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.

State-of-the-Art Facilities and Equipment

Large, diverse clinic space with in-house clients, including a gym, kitchen for therapeutic use, and new and innovative equipment in augmentative and alternative communication, balance, therapy, observation, and hearing equipment. Undergraduate students can observe, as well as volunteer, in clinic and resource room activities. Take advantage of renovated student lounges where you can sip free coffee and interact with peers.

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Notable Courses

Hearing and Balance (SLPA 271)

Explore the etiologies and pathologies of hearing impairment and learn basic testing techniques of pure tone and speech audiometry.

Speech Sound Disorders (SLPA 464)

Discover how children develop speech and learn how to evaluate and treat speech sound disorders. Apply concepts learned during hands-on lab experiences.

Normal Language Development (SLPA 251)

Study the acquisition of language in children. Review theories of language development and factors that influence language acquisition.

Linguistic Needs of Bilingual and Multicultural Students (SLPA 488)

Learn how individual differences of gender, race, abilities, socio-economic status, and cultural-ethnic background contribute to communication patterns.

American Sign Language (SLPA 101, 102, 201, 202)

Learn to express and understand American Sign Language (ASL) from a Deaf native ASL instructor. Content includes grammar, vocabulary, pragmatics, morphology and deaf culture.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (SLPA 486/886)

Students learn how to utilize augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) techniques to help individuals needing additional communication supports. This course includes hands-on experiences.

Explore the 4-Year Plan

Huskers Do Big Things

Internships

  • Nebraska Stroke Association, Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Speech-language pathology clinical fellow, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, D.C.

Careers

  • Senior audiology research associate, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska
  • Speech-language pathologist, Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Clinical audiologists and speech pathologists, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
  • Speech-language pathologist, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Professional support advisor, Speech Pathology Australia, Melbourne, Australia
  • Postdoctoral research fellow, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland

Graduate Schools

  • Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  • Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology, Vanderbilt University
  • Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology, University of Kansas
  • Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology, University of Texas-Dallas
  • M.S. Special Education, Deaf Education Endorsement, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  • Ph.D. Human Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Have Questions? We're Here to Help

If you have questions about the Communication Sciences and Disorders major or navigating the application process, contact us.

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Contact Name
Dijon DeLaPorte
Contact Title
Director of Recruitment
Phone
Phone
402-472-0695
Email
Envelope
ddelaporte2@unl.edu