Linguistics and the Speech and Hearing Sciences
Our department offers the following options for students interested in going into the Speech and Hearing Sciences as a Career:
- The Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major (a fully comprehensive option that include a solid Linguistics Foundation and a full suit of courses satisfying ASHA prereqs and professional development in S&H)
- The Linguistics Major or Linguistics Minor (both of which allow students to take S&H courses as electives)
- The Post-Bacc Certificate available ONLY to non-matriculating students (a fully online, great option for non-Rutgers students!)
Linguistics explores how natural languages are learned, understood, represented, and used by humans. The focus of Speech and Hearing Sciences is on how to prevent, diagnose, and treat speech, language, and communication disorders. A degree in Linguistics at Rutgers University – New Brunswick serve as an excellent foundation to the study of language and speech disorders, because the research opportunities, familiarization with core linguistic theory, and related coursework in the speech and hearing sciences help to prepare students for diverse graduate and career opportunities.
Careers in the Speech and Hearing Sciences may include clinical practice, research, or education in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) focus on speech, language, and swallowing disorders, including disorders of voice, fluency, social communication, and cognitive communication. Audiologists focus on auditory and balance disorders. Employment settings for clinical practice include K-12 schools, hospitals, or private practice. A Masters degree for SLPs or the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) for audiologists is required for clinical practice. Many students pursue a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Sciences, allowing them to conduct important research in this area and take on future leadership roles in the field. SLPs and Audiologists with a Ph.D. conduct research or teach at colleges or universities. Some also maintain a clinical practice. Students interested in participating in independent research while at Rutgers may wish to apply for opportunities through the Aresty Research Center and McNair Program. Priority is typically given to students in their first or second year; it can be very challenging to find research opportunities as a rising senior.
For general information about Speech and Hearing Sciences, please visit any of the following online resources:
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
- Information for undergraduates
- Planning your graduate education
- Speech Pathology resources
For more information about funding for Speech and Hearing graduate programs, please visit
Department Speech and Hearing Advisor
Please contact our Speech and Hearing Advisor, Prof. Mazumdar, at speechandhearing (at) linguistics (dot) rutgers (dot) edu to learn more about the career paths in the Speech and Hearing Sciences, recommended coursework, or preparing for graduate school. The S&H Advisor also the faculty advisor to the Rutgers Speech and Hearing Club.
All academic advising for either the Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguisics major or the Linguistics major/minor are conducted by our Undergraduate Program Director: undergrad (at) linguistics (dot) rutgers (dot) edu.
Majors and Courses for the Speech and Hearing Sciences
Students interested in applying to graduate programs in the Speech and Hearing Sciences are strongly recommended enroll in our Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major, or to take the following courses in the Department of Linguistics as part of the Linguistics Major or Minor:
- 01:615:391 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
- 01:615:392 Introduction to Communication Disorders
- 01:615:393 Audiology
- 01:615:394 Speech and Hearing Science
- 01:615:440 Language Development
- 01:615:451 Phonetics
The courses above can be used to partially fulfill the requirements for the Linguistics Major, and are required for the Speech and Hearing Sciences in Linguistics Major. It may be extremely difficult to get into these courses without being a student in either Major or the Post-Bacc certificate, given their popularity and high demand for enrollment.
Please note that because graduate programs differ in their required prerequisites, students are encouraged to contact specific graduate programs directly with any questions about these requirements and the application process.
Rutgers Speech and Hearing Club
The Rutgers Speech and Hearing Club is an active organization for students interested in pursuing careers in the speech and hearing sciences. The Club is a chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) which is recognized by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). It has been recognized by the NSSLHA Executive Council with Bronze Chapter Honors.
The Rutgers Speech and Hearing Club meets regularly. The club organizes guest speakers representing different career paths in the Speech and Hearing Sciences, as well as other events, such as attending graduate school open houses or volunteering. The Club's faculty advisor is the Speech and Hearing advisor, who can be contacted at speechandhearing (at) linguistics (dot) rutgers (dot) edu.