About the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences

Fundamentals are the focus of our teaching in the Speech, Language & Hearing (SLHS) Department at BU College of Health & Rehabilitation: Sargent College. In any of our degree programs, you’ll gain an understanding and appreciation of scientific inquiry combined with deep knowledge of the processes related to communication, cognition, and swallowing.

Starting with undergraduate degrees in Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences or a combined major with Linguistics, we offer academic programs for students at every level – including advanced research training in our PhD program. If your interest is in clinical speech-language pathology, our MS-SLP program, Ranked #5 in the Nation in the nation is an excellent choice. Two accelerated combined degree programs, the BS/MS-SLP and MS-SLP/PhD are also innovative options for you to consider.

Dynamic classes and outstanding faculty contribute to excellence. Our location in a renowned urban center of science and medicine provides rich opportunities for clinical training and research. Our graduate students stand out for their high rate of program completion, employment, and subsequent leadership in the field as practitioners, researchers, and educators.

And our undergraduates? Besides assisting in the Sargent College clinic, they gain valuable experience and unforgettable experiences in dozens of volunteer programs on campus and in Boston. With a strong liberal arts foundation and solid professional education, most go on to be accepted into top graduate programs, both at BU and elsewhere.

Mission and Strategic Plan

Our mission is to provide high-quality pre-professional education in the field of communication sciences and disorders, to provide state of the art preparation for professional practice in speech-language pathology, and to offer rigorous doctoral level preparation for those who wish to assume leadership positions in the realms of teaching, research, or clinical practice. Our Department focus is both the dissemination of knowledge and the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge relevant to the discipline. You can read more about our vision for SLHS education and strategic priorities around research, scholarship, DEI, and more in our department’s Strategic Plan.

Commitment to Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism

The Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences Department condemns racism in all forms and recognizes our role in providing an inclusive educational experience while working to dismantle racism in the field of communication sciences and disorders. Read our full statement and action plan for equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

Non-discrimination Policy

The Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences is committed to maintaining an environment that is welcoming and respectful to all including students, faculty, staff and clients. We are committed to upholding Boston University’s Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action policy which prohibits discrimination against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status and which acts in conformity with all applicable state and federal laws. This policy extends to all rights, privileges, programs and activities, including admissions, financial assistance, educational and athletic programs, housing, employment, compensation, employee benefits, and the providing of, or access to, University services or facilities.

In addition, the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences adheres to the Code of Ethics of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) which states, “Individuals shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional services or in the conduct of research and scholarly activities on the basis of age; citizenship; disability; ethnicity; gender; gender expression; gender identity; genetic information; national origin, including culture, language, dialect, and accent; race; religion; sex; sexual orientation; or veteran status.”