A bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing sciences at PSU is your first step toward a rewarding career helping children and adults with speech, language, swallowing, and hearing disorders.
PSU’s program prepares you to make a difference in the growing fields of speech-language pathology, audiology, health, and education.
As a speech and hearing sciences major, you will learn how we speak, hear, swallow, and process language — and how disorders of those systems can affect communication, education, and daily life.
Our alumni are accepted to top graduate programs and are in high demand for a range of educational, professional, and clinical jobs, such as supporting children with developmental disorders and adults with traumatic brain injuries.
We offer:
- Hands-on experience in Portland’s only on-campus speech and hearing clinic.
- Opportunities participate in leading-edge research in our faculty labs.
- Engaging electives on topics such as bilingualism, disabilities, and multicultural communication.
- Post-baccalaureate paths to prepare you for graduate study.
Join our caring community and launch a career you’ll love in speech and hearing sciences.
In speech and hearing sciences, we believe in learning by doing. That’s why we offer you unmatched opportunities to gain valuable, real-world clinical experience as an undergraduate.
At PSU, you can work, volunteer or observe in our on-campus speech and hearing clinic, faculty research labs, and schools and private clinics throughout the Portland area. These clinical experiences are important for graduate school admission and can lead to jobs after graduation.
Our excellent faculty is committed to your success. They are leading researchers and experienced, practicing professionals who bring the best evidence-based clinical practice to your classes.
You’ll find a close, diverse community with active student groups, peer mentors, and lots of activities and events.
And you’ll graduate with the knowledge, skills, and experience you need to help people with speech and hearing disorders in your community.
Most of our alumni go to graduate and professional schools to become speech-language pathologists, audiologists, physical and occupational therapists, special educators, rehabilitation counselors, and other health-care providers.
Recent graduates have been accepted to graduate programs at Portland State, Pacific University, University of Oregon, New York University, University of Arizona, University of New Mexico, University of Michigan, and other universities in California and across the country.
With a bachelor’s degree, you can work in support and administrative jobs in schools, hospitals, businesses, and organizations, including:
- Speech-language pathology assistant
- Audiology assistant
- Classroom assistant
- Special education aide
- Early childhood teachers
- Rehabilitation or health aide
- Health-care administrator
- Social service coordinator or manager
- Research assistant or administrator
PSU’s chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) provides opportunities to learn more about speech therapist and hearing professions. Our chapter organizes seminars, volunteer opportunities, team-building outings, community advocacy, fundraising, and networking events.