Change lives — one word at a time.
Communication is essential for human connection. It fuels conversation, prompts interaction, and sets the foundation for strong relationships. And yet, the ability to communicate doesn’t always come easy. For many, it may not even come at all. But you can change that.
Learn to hear what isn’t said. Earn your bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders online with Maryville University. Develop the specialized skills in speech science, language development, and audiology you need to break through communication barriers. And prepare to take a critical step forward on your path to a master’s degree in the field.
This is your moment. Your chance to help someone find their voice and make meaningful connections — perhaps for the first time. And we can help you do it. Let’s be brave together.
Get Curriculum Details
Prepare for graduate studies in Speech-Language Pathology.
Apply with no application fee or entrance exams.
Explore financial aid and eligible transfer credit options.
Complete clinical-observation experiences and simulated case-study activities.
Why earn your bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders online?
Communication-based impairments in the United States are far more common than you think. In fact, an estimated 40 million Americans struggle with speech, language, and/or hearing disorders.* The numbers speak volumes: Expertise in communication sciences is needed now more than ever.
Earn your bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders online from Maryville, and you can build your foundation in speech science, language development, and audiology. From there, you can pursue a master’s degree or qualify to work as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA)**. Whatever path you choose, we’re here to make sure you gain the specialized knowledge and clinical skills to help patients of all ages develop, or regain, the ability to communicate.
When you pursue an online bachelor’s degree from Maryville, you earn a highly respected credential from a private, four-year institution that’s ranked as one of America’s best colleges by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.
More importantly, we designed our online bachelor’s programs to work around your schedule so you can change your life — without disrupting it.
*American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “Identify the Signs”
**Obtaining SLPA licensure or certification in any state is not guaranteed, students need to research their state’s specific licensing requirements
Flexible, affordable, and highly personalized
Benefit from streamlined admissions. Apply with no application fee or entrance exams, and choose from three start dates.
Get the support you need. Apply to be considered for financial aid and get transfer credits for eligible courses.
Professional and practical. Complete clinical observation experiences and test your skills with virtual patients using innovative programs such as Simucase.
Learn from industry leaders. Discuss your goals with our dedicated faculty, who help you connect the curriculum to your career vision.
What can you do with an online bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders?
Your bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders is the first step toward communication science expertise — but it’s not the only step. While an online degree from Maryville University can qualify you for work as an assistant in various healthcare systems, it’s ultimately designed to prepare you for a master’s degree in the field.
Once you earn your master’s in communication sciences and disorders, your options expand. All you have to do is set the goal — and we’ll help you reach it.
You can work in a variety of settings, including:
- Hospitals and health clinics
- Schools and childcare settings
- Early intervention centers
- Rehabilitation centers
- Skilled-nursing centers
- Nursing homes
- Research centers
- Private practices
- Communications-based corporations
Career paths in communication sciences and disorders
Your career opportunities with a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders will vary depending on the path you choose to take. As a program graduate, you’re positioned for growth in two primary areas:
Graduate school.
Pursue a master’s in speech-language pathology or audiology.
Future employment.
Work as a speech-language assistant (SLPA)
*Obtaining SLPA licensure or certification in any state is not guaranteed, students need to research their specific state licensing requirements
Ultimately, with a master’s degree in the field you can:
- Qualify to sit for the national examination (Praxis)
- Complete your clinical fellowship year (CFY) and obtain your Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP or CCC-A)
- Apply for state licensure
This can position you for careers like:
- Speech-language pathologist
- Speech-language pathology director
- Speech and hearing scientist
- Audiologist
High growth potential
While salaries vary depending on factors like setting, experience, and which field you pursue, employees in the communication sciences industry report higher-than-average salaries in careers like speech-language pathology assistant ($39,115),* speech-language pathologist ($59,423),* and audiologist ($75,920).**
Additionally, with the right blend of education and experience in SLP, you can ultimately qualify for roles like speech-language pathology director — where average salaries can range between $79,000 and $110,000.†
Rising industry demand
Demand for professionals with expertise in language disorders is on the rise. One reason is the country’s aging population. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the number of people 65 and older will reach 98.2 million by 2060, and increased age can mean more hearing and speech issues. Additionally, advancements in technology and patient care have improved early detection of hearing and speech disorders — especially in infants and children.
It’s easy to see why jobs in speech, hearing, and language development are projected to grow between 2019 to 2029, including for speech-language pathologists (25%) and audiologists (13%).**
Diverse career paths
The field of communication sciences and disorders is extremely interdisciplinary in nature. It demands that you have a broad-based understanding of everything from anatomy and physiology to psychology and special education. It’s this expanse of knowledge that can give you the flexibility to move between multiple areas of focus — and even across workplace settings. Combine that level of freedom with specialized education, and your job opportunities can expand significantly.
It’s a career path with incredible potential — and this is your chance to make a lasting impact in the lives of others.
*Salaries based on data compiled by PayScale.com.
**Salary and growth data based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
†National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, “Statistics on Voice, Speech, and Language” (2016).
Why choose Maryville University’s online communications sciences and disorders degree?
We’re here to help you evolve and grow as a communication sciences and disorders professional — and bring your career goals within reach. It’s the reason we put the focus on clinical experience, case-based learning, and real-world application.
Go beyond the books. Learn by doing.
As one of our online communication sciences and disorders students, you’ll complete clinical observations and have the opportunity to assist a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. You’ll also have the chance to test your clinical abilities using an innovative technology called Simucase (simulated case study). It’s an online program that allows you to assess speech and language disorders with virtual patients presented through avatars or videos.
Put our reputation to work.
Maryville University has been empowering brave students like you since 1872. We’re proud of our reputation for quality academics and affordability, because it demonstrates our commitment to excellence and accessibility. Choose Maryville and know you’ll receive an education held to the highest possible standards — especially when it comes to speech-language pathology.
Faculty Spotlight
Meaghan Goodman, PhD, CCC-SLP
Program Director and Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathology and Communication Sciences and Disorders
Communication disorders require the knowledge of an expert. Learn from one.
When you earn your online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Maryville, you’ll work with award-winning educators and seasoned speech-language pathologists such as Dr. Meaghan Goodman, program director of our speech-language pathology and communication sciences and disorders programs.
Dr. Goodman’s expertise spans a variety of specializations such as evaluation, pediatric dysphagia, language development and disorders of children, augmentative and alternative communication, voice, and fluency disorders.
Additionally, Dr. Goodman has extensively studied special populations in speech-language pathology including cleft lip/palate and craniofacial anomalies, autism spectrum disorders, and chromosomal syndromes, as well as professional issues and evidence-based practice.
With more than 10 years of clinical experience in speech-language pathology, Dr. Goodman understands how to make an impact as a language and communications professional. And this is your opportunity to learn from her experience as you build your own.
With her instruction, you can gain the knowledge and confidence to move forward in the field of communication sciences and disorders. And we’ll be with you every step of the way. Let’s be brave together.
We’re distinguished by our dedication to your success
I am proud that I chose Maryville. I was looking for an online program that was also a brick and mortar school. Maryville has been around since 1872, and they take pride in their heritage and their future legacy!
— Andrea Williamson, Maryville Grad
Already have your bachelor’s degree in a different subject?
Earn your online certificate in communication sciences and disorders instead.
If you’re hoping to pursue a career in speech-language pathology or audiology, you’ll need to earn a master’s degree. But graduate programs in the field require a bachelor’s-level understanding of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing disorders.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another subject, we can help you bridge the gap between undergraduate and graduate studies. With your 100% online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders, you can build the foundational knowledge to qualify you for a graduate degree in this rewarding and growing field.
In this 47-credit certificate program, you’ll have the opportunity to work with industry-experienced professors in a practical, project-based curriculum, so you can build the real-world skills and experience to hit the ground running when you begin your master’s program. Participate in guided observation and build your clinical skills in speech-language pathology through coursework in areas like anatomy and physiology, speech and hearing science, speech development and disorders, speech pathology, audiology, and neurological causes of communication disorders.
At Maryville, we’re focused on your future. With this streamlined certificate program in communication sciences and disorders, we can help you get there quicker.
Find out More about our Online Certificate in Communication Sciences and DisordersOnline bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders curriculum
Your online communication sciences and disorders degree can set the foundation for your career in speech pathology, audiology, and other communications-based fields. The program’s curriculum covers every aspect of the field — with courses designed to broaden your understanding of voice, speech, language fluency, swallowing, and hearing disorders.
Most importantly, the program is structured to prepare you for highly competitive master’s programs in speech-language pathology and audiology.
The program requires that you complete a total of 128 credit hours:
- Communication sciences and disorders major courses
- General education courses
- General elective courses
Broaden your understanding of communication disorders.
Prepare to help patients of all ages develop or regain the ability to communicate as you take courses such as anatomy and physiology of speech mechanisms, language development and disorders, advanced speech pathology, and education/psychology of exceptional children.
Advance your clinical observation and assessment skills.
Benefit from a highly specialized program that delivers the case-based learning opportunities and clinical exposure you need to prepare for graduate-level study. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to use innovative tools such as Simucase — an online simulation program that allows you to practice the assessment process with virtual patients using patented technology.
To ensure the best possible educational experience for our students, we may update our curriculum to reflect emerging and changing employer and industry trends. Professional licensure and certification regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Students are encouraged to visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for the state in which they intend to practice to verify specific licensure requirements which include ensuring the program meets the licensure requirements prior to enrolling. Students may visit the professional licensure page or reach out to our team of enrollment advisors for guidance.
Students are required to complete two consecutive capstone courses, which must incorporate direct (in-person) clinical fieldwork. For more information about clinical fieldwork requirements, talk to an advisor.
Online master’s in speech-language pathology from Maryville
Your communication sciences and disorders bachelor’s degree is the first step toward beginning your career in speech-language pathology or audiology. But to maximize your career potential, you’ll need to earn your master’s degree.
We have you covered. Maryville University offers an online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, so you can take what you learned in your bachelor’s program and seamlessly push forward toward your graduate degree.
Reach out to an enrollment advisor to learn more about how your online bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for graduate-level study — and a rewarding career.