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Northwestern School of Communication

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.

Female speech therapist works with 7-year old boy at table with colorful block toy while pointing at flash cards with
Female practitioner in white coat uses an otoscope to examine the inner ear of an older man in red shirt

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. 

More on career paths

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.”

Olivia Zimmerman

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. 

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.

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