communicationsciences & disorders
The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is home to undergraduate, professional, and doctoral research programs that explore the science of human hearing, speech, language, learning, and swallowing and seek new and more effective ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat related communication disorders.
The department’s faculty are renowned for discoveries that have changed our understanding of human communication. They explore the processes that underlie hearing, speech, language, learning, and swallowing, including sensation, perception, cognition, and motor control. They investigate social, familial, and cultural issues that impair communication. And they delve into the molecular and epidemiological bases of normal and disordered human communication.
Our professional audiology and speech and language pathology programs are consistently ranked among the top ten programs in the nation by US News & World Report. Students, faculty and staff work together to provide patients of all ages a full range of diagnostic and treatment services for hearing, speech, learning, language, voice, and swallowing disorders in clinics on the Evanston and Chicago campuses.
What can you do with a career in Communication Sciences and Disorders?
Our graduates go on to careers in clinical practice, research, advocacy, academia, and more. CSD alumni excel in medical and allied health fields, having benefited from our focus on collaborative innovation, state-of-the-art facilities and clinical research opportunities, a celebration of diversity and inclusion, and the SoC’s culture of improving the communicative experience for all.
Student Experience
Students profit from the real-world experiences of clinical practice and research, working collaboratively with faculty to address pressing communication problems. Small cohort sizes combined with robust research opportunities ensure a challenging but highly fulfilling course of study. 
Why Northwestern? Olivia Zimmerman
The major's small cohort size allowed CSD major Olivia Zimmerman to build a supportive community. She also tried new things, like working in a research lab her freshman year.
“It's amazing because it's very small and focused. It's a very tight-knit community.”
Courses in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Human Communication Sciences (HCS) majors are passionate about making a difference in people’s lives and enjoy learning about how to help children and adults to overcome difficulties in hearing, speech, language, and learning. The major requirements give you the flexibility to choose courses that best fit your academic and career goals and reflect and enhance the department’s ample on-campus research opportunities.
Featured Course
Neurobiology of Communication
How does human anatomy, physiology and neurology relate to communicative behavior? This class introduces students to neurophysiological principles related to human communication, as well as the auditory, visual and somatosensory systems.
Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty
The department’s faculty are renowned for discoveries that have changed our understanding of human communication. They explore the processes that underlie hearing, speech, language, learning and swallowing, including sensation, perception, cognition and motor control. They investigate social, familial and cultural issues that impair communication. And they delve into the molecular and epidemiological bases of normal and disordered human communication.