About the Undergraduate Communication Disorders Major
People can need help with a variety of communication challenges: they may be adapting to life after injury or they may need to overcome learning disabilities. Seniors may need to learn to speak again after a stroke. Adults may need to be trained to do a job no one thought they could do. Providing this type of assistance improves people’s daily lives.
As a student in Emerson College’s undergraduate Communication Disorders BS program, you will prepare for such a meaningful and rewarding career. Housed in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the School of Communication, the program provides you with foundational knowledge of typical and impaired speech, language, and hearing among children and adults, both in structure and function. Courses in psychology, American Sign Language, statistics, and science will provide a broad perspective on the social and scientific dimensions of communication. Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a paraprofessional role in audiology and speech pathology, or you may choose to pursue graduate study in audiology, speech-language pathology, education, or psychology.
I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities Emerson has to offer CSD majors beyond the classroom. As an undergraduate I've been able to participate in important research in the Lab for Infant + Toddler Language (LI+TLE) and serve as the president of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA). These experiences have deepened my passion for the field and created lifelong relationships.
Real-Life Experience As a Specialist in Communication Disorders
Communication Disorders majors have ample opportunity to gain real-world learning experience. Here are a few examples:
- Emerson’s clinic for children and adults, the Robbins Speech, Language, and Hearing Center, provides an opportunity for students to observe sessions right on campus.
- Through coursework, students can participate in field experience and clinical case rounds at local schools, medical facilities, and private practices.
- Students can intern for credit at one of many schools, hospitals, or clinics right in the Boston area—and beyond.
- Students can also collaborate on research with faculty and graduate students.
Careers for Communication Disorders Majors
Our Communication Disorders graduates seek careers in healthcare and nonprofit settings. Examples of careers include:
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)
- Accessibility Specialist
- Early Intervention Specialist
- Educator
Notable Communication Disorders Alumni
- Ana María Jaramillo, Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist, Founder and Owner of Voz Speech Therapy
- Robin Miller Ungar, Speech-Language Pathologist, Award-Winning Documentary producer of Soy Cubana and As We Are
...There is so much unique and hands-on learning that we get to experience due to having our own clinic, the Robbins Center. Our professors are extremely knowledgeable in the field, which highly contributes to our success. I am so appreciative of the strong CSD community that we have at Emerson!
