Stronger bonds start with stronger communication
Communication is essential for human connection. It fuels conversation, prompts interaction, and sets the foundation for strong relationships. But the ability to communicate doesn’t always come easily. For many, it may not come at all.
You can help change that. When you earn your 100% online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Maryville University, you can begin building the essential skills to help people who live with a communication disorder. If you already have your bachelor’s degree in a different field, this certificate is designed to help you develop your foundation in specialized skills like speech science, language development, and audiology. Then, you can pursue your graduate education in an area like speech-language pathology or audiology to prepare for a rewarding career.
This is your chance to help someone find their voice and make meaningful connections — and we can help you do it. Let’s be brave together.
Get Curriculum Details
Prepare for graduate studies in speech-language pathology and audiology.
Apply with no application fee or entrance exams.
Benefit from transfer credit friendly admission.
Choose from 6 start dates, and complete classes part time or full time.
Access 100% online coursework with no campus visits needed.
Participate in guided observation and build your clinical skills in speech-language pathology.
Why earn your professional certificate in communication sciences and disorders online?
Communication-based impairments in the United States are far more common than you might think. In fact, a recent study suggests as many as 10% of Americans could have speech, language, and/or hearing disorders — which may result in a staggering economic impact of $186 billion each year.* The numbers speak volumes: Expertise in communication sciences is needed now more than ever.
Earn your professional certificate in communication sciences and disorders online from Maryville, and you can build your foundation in areas like speech science, language development, and audiology. Our program is designed to help students who have a bachelor’s degree in another subject bridge the gap and prepare to pursue a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or a clinical doctorate degree in audiology. 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.
We know our students have busy lives. Our online professional certificate program is designed to work around your schedule, so you can pursue your education without compromising on your personal or professional obligations.
*Robert J. Ruben, “Redefining the Survival of the Fittest: Communication Disorders in the 21st Century”
Dynamic, affordable, and highly streamlined.
Study on your schedule. Access 100% online coursework with no campus visits required, and take classes full time or part time.
Benefit from streamlined admissions. Apply with no application fee or entrance exams, and choose from six start dates.
Get the support you need. Whether you need advising, tutoring, counseling, financial aid, or tech support, we’re with you the whole way — from application through graduation.
Enjoy a dynamic, project-based curriculum. Participate in guided observation and build your clinical skills using Master Clinician Network.
Learn from industry leaders. Discuss your goals with our dedicated faculty, who help you connect the curriculum to your career vision.
Experience a streamlined curriculum. Full-time students can complete this 47-credit program in about two years, but you can shorten your time to completion with transfer credits.
What can you do with an online professional certificate in communication sciences and disorders?
Your online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders is the first step toward communication science expertise — but it’s not the only step. This program is designed to bridge the gap between your bachelor’s studies and beginning a graduate education in an area like speech-language pathology or audiology.
Once you earn your master’s in speech-language pathology or clinical doctorate in audiology, your options expand. All you have to do is set the goal — and we’ll help you reach it.
With your certificate plus your graduate education, 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 professional certificate in communication sciences and disorders will vary depending on the path you choose. After completing your professional certificate, you can pursue graduate-level education in a relevant area like speech-language pathology or audiology to qualify for a career in your chosen field.
With a master’s degree in speech-language pathology 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
With your doctorate degree in audiology, you can:
- Qualify to sit for the national examination (Praxis)
- Earn your Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and pursue certification through the American Board of Audiology
- Apply for state licensure
What’s the market outlook for communication sciences and disorders professionals?
Rewarding career outcomes
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists enjoy a high level of satisfaction with the work they do. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), that’s because they work across a variety of settings and interact directly with individuals in the community to make a real, tangible difference in their lives.
These careers can also be financially rewarding. After you complete your certificate program and graduate education, you can qualify for careers like speech-language pathologist ($80,480)* and audiologist ($81,030).*
*Median salaries based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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 94.7 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 and 2029, including for speech-language pathologists (25%) and audiologists (13%) — much faster than the average for all careers, which stands at 4%.*
*Growth projections based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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.
Why choose Maryville University’s online communications sciences and disorders certificate?
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 practical, project-based coursework. You’ll also have the chance to get real-world speech-language pathology experience through Master Clinician Network. It’s an online resource that allows you to develop your clinical skills and participate in guided observation exercises.
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.
Online certificate in communication sciences and disorders curriculum
Your online communication sciences and disorders certificate can set the foundation for your career in speech pathology, audiology, and other communications-based fields. The program comprises 47 credit hours, including 30 credit hours specifically focused on communication sciences and disorders. The curriculum covers crucial aspects 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 doctoral programs in audiology.
Broaden your understanding of communication disorders and treatments
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, language development disorders, advanced speech pathology, and neurological basis of communication disorders.
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 Master Clinician Network — a resource that provides opportunities to participate in guided observation and build your clinical skills in speech-language pathology.
General Education Courses
| BIOL 101 | Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 Credits |
| BIOL 102 | Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 Credits |
| SOSC 341 | Understanding Statistical Inference | 3 Credits |
| SOCL SCI | Choose any social science elective from the following areas: psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health | 3 Credits |
| PHYS 120* | The Physics of Light and Sound Waves | 3 Credits |
| CHEM 120* | General, Organic and Biological Chemistry | 3 Credits |
CMSD Courses
| CMSD 210 | Phonetics | 3 Credits |
| CMSD 220 | Speech and Hearing Science | 3 Credits |
| CMSD 310** | Anatomy and Physiology of Speech | 3 Credits |
| CMSD 330 | Language and Speech Acquisition | 3 Credits |
| CMSD 350 | Speech Development and Disorders | 3 Credits |
| CMSD 360 | Language Development and Disorders | 3 Credits |
| CMSD 410** | Clinical Methods and Management | 3 Credits |
| CMSD 440 | Audiology | 3 Credits |
| CMSD 480** | Neurological Basis of Communication Disorders | 3 Credits |
| CMSD 485 | Advanced Speech Pathology | 3 Credits |
*Choose either PHYS 120 or CHEM 120.
**While most courses are designed to be completed in half of a semester (8 weeks), CMSD 310, CMSD 410, and CMSD 480 take a full semester (16 weeks) to complete.
To ensure the best possible educational experience for our students, we may update our curriculum to reflect emerging and changing employer and industry trends. Undergraduate programs and certificates are designed to be taken at a part-time pace. Please speak to your advisor for more details.
Ready for your next step?
Coming soon: Online master’s in speech-language pathology from Maryville
Your communication sciences and disorders certificate is the first step toward a rewarding career in this field, but if you want to maximize your career potential, you’ll need a master’s degree.
Starting in 2022, Maryville University will offer an online master’s in speech-language pathology, so you can take what you learned in your certificate program and seamlessly push forward toward your graduate degree.
Be sure to check back soon for more information on this brand-new program. Until then, reach out to an enrollment advisor to learn more about how your professional certificate in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for graduate-level study.
Ready for the next step with Maryville University’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders?