The Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) offers an introductory class that is most appropriate for those exploring the majors at IU. This is SLHS-S 104 “Human Communication and Its Disorders”. S104 is a survey course that cover a range of topics within the speech, language and hearing fields, including audiology and speech-language pathology. SLHS-S 111 “Introduction to Phonetics for SLHS” is another introductory course that covers the science of speech production.

The Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) offers Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelors of Science (B.S.) degrees depending on the coursework taken. These degrees can be tailored for preparation for entry to graduate programs or can be more general for those students not wishing to pursue graduate school in clinical speech-language pathology or audiology. The undergraduate bulletin explains the specific course requirements for each program.

Advisors within the University Division will help you select your courses if you are not a declared SLHS major. S104 (as mentioned above) is a good place to start. Once you declare Speech and Hearing Sciences as your major, you will be in contact with the SLHS advisor who, with you, will design a course of study.

If you enjoy one of our introductory classes, like S104, S111, or “What’s Special about Human Speech?”, then you are likely to enjoy Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. You may also want to observe in the Speech-Language or Hearing Clinic to determine if a career as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist is a good choice for you.

Indiana University offers many resources to help students choose their major. You might want to:

• Check out the Explore Majors at IU website.
• Chat with a Career Coach to discover the paths you can take to achieve your goals.
• Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your options.

Students in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences are primarily in training for one of two professions: speech-language pathology or audiology. These professions are specifically concerned with the evaluation, treatment, and investigation of human communication and its disorders.

The program in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences is also a good choice for students interested in the processes of normal and atypical speech and language and hearing across the lifespan, but who are not necessarily interested in pursuing a clinical degree. Our degree options provide flexibility for students interested in other career paths, including both clinical and research orientations.

Learn about career preparation