Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences

The Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine offers courses of study leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Sciences and Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences. Training in speech and hearing sciences through the bachelor's degree prepares students for a range of careers in health professions, education, and social services, among others. State and national clinical and educational licensure and certification require completion of the master's degree. The graduate program in speech-language pathology is accredited nationally by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and recognized at the state level by the Washington State Board of Education.

Graduate students are prepared as speech-language pathologists to provide evidence-based, direct and consultative services in education and medical settings to meet the diagnostic and treatment needs of individuals across the life span evidencing a wide variety of speech, language, swallowing, voice and hearing problems. The course of study emphasizes the physiological, neurological, psychological, and behavioral processes of normal development, the fundamental communication process, and the disorders of communication.

The undergraduate and graduate programs are located in the Health Sciences Building on the Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane campus. WSU students enroll through and receive their degrees from Washington State University. The Speech and Language Clinic is the Spokane campus graduate training facility in affiliation with Range Health. Opportunities to work with special populations and in medical settings are readily available for graduate students in the Spokane area. A capstone graduate internship program provides intensive practical experience in many clinical and educational settings across the state and the region. Contact: speechhearing@wsu.edu and speech.hear.grad@wsu.edu

Student Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the bachelor's Speech and Hearing Sciences program will be able to: 1) identify needs or issues in clinical service delivery; 2) identify contextual factors to consider in addressing clinical service delivery needs/issues; 3) identify and consider various perspectives important to analysis of the needs/issues and underlying assumptions associated with each; 4) identify and assess the quality of evidence supporting particular service delivery practices; 5) identify and assess conclusions, implications, and consequences associated with examination of the needs/issues; 6) Provide informed leadership to achieve desired social outcomes.

Learning outcomes for students in Speech and Hearing Sciences master's program reflect the knowledge and skills competencies required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Students earning a master's degree will be able to demonstrate: 1) knowledge of the basic human communication and swallowing processes; 2) knowledge of the nature of speech, language, hearing, and communication disorders and differences, and swallowing disorders; 3) knowledge of the principles and methods of prevention, assessment, and intervention for people with communication and swallowing disorders; 4) knowledge of standards of ethical conduct; 5) knowledge of the processes used in research and the integration of research principles into evidence-based clinical practice; 6) knowledge of contemporary professional issues; 7) skills in screening, evaluation and prevention procedures; 8) skills in developing, implementing, and monitoring appropriate intervention plans with measurable and achievable goals that meet clients'/patients' needs.

Preparation for Graduate Study

Students with undergraduate majors in human development, linguistics, education, psychology, and other social and behavioral sciences, as well as those with undergraduate majors in speech and hearing sciences, may be accepted for graduate study in this department. Those with majors in areas other than speech and hearing sciences are required to complete undergraduate prerequisite coursework prior to applying to the graduate program.