Getting Started

School: PHHS

Information below is meant to guide first-year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.

How to Explore the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

All undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.

Students should take General Education courses in Human Biology, Psychology, Statistics, College Writing, etc.

SLHS 100: Intro to Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences (DU, SB)
BIOLOGY 151 (BS) or KIN 100 (BS)
PSYCH 100 (SB)
ENGLWRIT 112 (CW)
SPHHS 150 (DU SB)
STATISTICS 111 or 240 (R1 and R2)
HUMANDEV 270 (SB) or PSYCH 350

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

There are no pre-requisite courses for the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences major.

How to Declare the Major

For current & admitted students: This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major. Please meet with SLHS peer advising for an Intro to the Major presentation. Afterwards, students will meet with the SLHS academic advisor.

For Exploratory Track students and students transferring from another major: Students are asked to attend an Introduction to the Major session run by departmental advising, after which they may be signed in to the major as a Primary or Secondary major. Students should determine whether they want Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences to be their primary or secondary major in discussion with departmental advising.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 55-56

This is a pre-professional major for students who want to continue to graduate study to become speech-language pathologists or audiologists. Graduate school is essential for professional employment as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist.

40 credits of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences courses
15-16 credits of specific background courses in Public Health, Physics, Child Development, and Statistics.

Is there a minor?
Yes! A minor is available. Please contact the SLHS Academic Advisor to enroll in the minor.

For further information, contact:

Dr. Katherine Hanson, Senior Academic Advisor
Office: SPHHS HUB, Room 321
Phone: (413) 545-1232
E-mail: khanson@umass.edu

Dr. Jennifer Mack
Undergraduate Program Director
Office: 358 N. Pleasant Street, Room 316
Phone: 413-545-8468
Email: jemack@umass.edu