Certificate in Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics
The Certificate in Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics provides guidance and coursework for undergraduate majors in Linguistics preparing to pursue graduate study in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. Students who complete the certificate will supplement a strong foundation in modern linguistic theory with coursework required for graduate study in the speech and hearing sciences. Note that is not necessary to complete the Certificate in order to take courses in Speech and Hearing through Linguistics.
Core required courses for the certificate introduce students to the study of communication disorders and the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology, while building across courses a knowledge of how the anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms and the physical characteristics of speech sounds affect communication. Elective courses enable students to gain further expertise in language, science, and mathematics relevant for graduate study and certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
In addition to coursework, the certificate includes a portfolio of professional experiences related to linguistics and the speech and hearing sciences. The portfolio content will reflect the student’s understanding of how knowledge about the human language capacity and linguistics can inform and enrich the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology, while the experiences gained in assembling the portfolio will help students become familiar with career opportunities in these fields and make them aware of how their training has prepared them to enter these fields as a professional.
Who to contact with questions
Prospective students
NOTE: Please familiarize yourself with the information on this page before sending an email with additional questions.
If you have questions about the Linguistics Major or Minor, including coursework and completing the Certificate alongside your major, please contact the Undergraduate Program Director.
Current students
NOTE: ALL questions about coursework or graduation requirements should be directed to the Undergraduate Program Director.
If you are a current Linguistics student and have questions about the Major or Minor, including questions about the completing the Certificate, please contact the Undergraduate Program Director.
If you are a current Linguistics major+Certificate student with specific questions about the portfolio, or careers in the Speech and Hearing Sciences in general, please contact the Speech and Hearing Advisor.
In 2022-2023, the contact for both is Prof. Crystal Akers (cakers at rutgers.edu).
Certificate Requirements
Credits
- The Certificate consists of 21 credits of coursework (5 required courses and 2 electives, 3 credits each), and a Portfolio.
- 6 of the course credits / 2 courses (Language Development (440) and Phonetics (451)) overlap with the Major, and are automatically counted as 2 of the C electives in the Major and 2 of the required core courses for the Certificate.
- Note that if you are a Linguistics Major (615), the 39x courses count as D electives (R3). If you are a 615C Major+Certificate, they do not satisfy your D elective requirements in R3, because they are S&H required courses (R5).
Requirement R1: 201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory (1 course, 3 credits, same as Major)
You must start here! 201 is a prerequisite for further coursework in Linguistics.
Requirement R2: B-level Theoretical Subfield courses (4 courses, 12 credits, same as Major)
We recommend that you begin with your B courses after you complete 201.
Do NOT wait to declare your 615 or 615C major! Declare as soon as you are able.
Requirement R3: C/D Linguistics Electives (6 courses, 18 credits)
- 01:615:440 Language Development (also in R5)
- 01:615:451 Phonetics (also in R5)
- At least one other C-level course
- 3 C or D courses (could be all C!)
Requirement R4: Capstone
You take this course one semester, as a senior.
Requirement R5: S&H Required Courses
We recommend that you take these courses after your first 1-1.5 years in the program. We do NOT recommend that you take these immediately after 201.
- 01:615:440 Language Development (also counted toward R3)
- 01:615:451 Phonetics (also counted toward R3)
- 01:615:391 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism (online)
- 01:615:392 Introduction to Communication Disorders (online)
- 01:615:393 Audiology (online)
- 01:615:394 Speech and Hearing Science (online) (introduced Spring 2022, not required yet, but highly recommended!)
Requirement R6: S&H Elective Courses (2 courses, 6 credits, 2 sets of electives) and Portfolio
Elective Set I (3)
A total of 1 course/3 credits from {Cognitive Science, Education, Psychology, Statistics Electives}
- 01:615:435 Experimental Methodologies in Language Acquisition
- 01:830:200 Quantitative Methods in Psychology
- 01:830:271 Principles of Developmental Psychology
- 01:830:310 Neuropsychology
- 01:830:331 Infant and Child Development
- 01:960:211 Statistics I (NB) View
- 01:960:379 Basic Probability and Statistics
- 01:960:401 Basic Statistics for Research
- 05:300:383 Introduction to Special Education
Elective Set II (3)
A total of 1 course/3 credits from {Biology, Chemistry, Physics Electives}
- 01:119:103 Principles of Biology
- 01:119:115 General Biology
- 01:119:150 Biology, Society, and Biomedical Issues
- 01:119:154 Genetics, Law, and Social Policy
- 01:119:199 Preparation for General Biology
- 01:160:127 Impact of Chemistry
- 01:160:128 Chemistry of Life
- 01:160:134 Introduction to Chemistry
- 01:160:161 General Chemistry
- 01:160:163 Honors General Chemistry
- 01:750:101 Concepts of Physics for Humanities and Social Science Students
- 01:750:161 Elements of Physics
- 01:750:193 Physics for the Sciences
- 01:750:203 General Physics
- 01:750:204 General Physics
- 01:750:301 Physics of Sound
Portfolio
- A 500- to 750-word personal statement appropriate for application to graduate studies.
- Attendance at 4 pre-approved events related to language and/or Speech and Hearing Sciences.
- A 4- to 5-page report (double-spaced, 1" margins, 11- or 12-point font) making a connection between linguistic training and speech-language pathology or audiology experience outside of course-work. This experiential requirement could be fulfilled in a number of ways:
- In-person observations (arranged independently)
- Online observation programs (which may be part of the required courses)
- Attendance at the pre-approved events related to language and/or Speech and Hearing Sciences (see (2) above)
Grade Requirements
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in courses counting towards the Major and the Certificate.
- Minimum grade of C+ in each of the elective courses for the certificate.
Want to know about the benefits of the Certificate and a core training in Linguistics?
Read testimonials from previous Certificate holders
"My observations for speech therapy have been enhanced as a result of the skills I’ve gained in phonology, research in language acquisition and phonetics. These skills have enriched my understanding of diagnostic and treatment approaches in speech therapy."
-Aida Bahrami
"In my phonetics class I learned about all of the places and manners of articulation. This allows me to easily pinpoint exactly what is causing the articulation difficulty and what articulation structures are causing the speech issue. Being able to classify and clearly document exactly what is going on is an important skill. Instead of saying that someone says their Fs funny, I can say that they voice all of their labiodental fricatives. A description like this helps practitioners pinpoint the issue and know exactly what is going on, instead of trying to guess and form a subjective description."
-Megan Kenny
"My experiences as a Research Assistant have helped me further understand the fascinating process of language development. In the lab, we develop experiments based on current linguistic phenomena in order to investigate how adults and children interpret language... Having insight on the typical developmental patterns of child language becomes especially important when aiming to detect language delays in children, which can be very controversial if the therapist does not have the proper background knowledge of language acquisition."
-Zehra Husnain
"Professionals must be careful with discerning between a language disorder and a language difference. If the Speech Language Pathologist has little familiarity with the patient’s L1 (first language), perceived differences in the patient’s grammar might be interpreted as speech errors. As a result, this could lead to an incorrect differential diagnosis. For instance, the presence of systematic errors might be wrongfully attributed to a phonological disorder. Thus, it is imperative that experts in speech and hearing make explicit connections between linguistic studies of second-language acquisition and their own work."
-Helen Rubio
