WHAT YOU CAN DO AT USC

The Speech-Language and Hearing Professions minor is offered through the USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. This minor is designed to introduce undergraduate students from any major to the field of communication sciences and disorders. Those who are interested in Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and other service and/or healthcare professions (such as Pre-Medicine, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Education, etc.) can benefit from this minor and its focus on collaborative practices in health care through interprofessional practice. This minor also delves deep on language and hearing development, disorders pertaining to speech, language, and hearing, public policy, and the medical and educational sectors of the field. It is a 16 unit minor, which will add about 1 semester of coursework to an existing major in a course plan. More information on the minor and the classes listed below can be found on the USC minor catalogue.

Required Course (best to take this class first if possible)

OHNS 200 Communication Development and Disorders Across the Life Span (Units: 4)

Introduction to speech, language and hearing issues across the lifespan; examination of how issues of communication relate to social, medical and educational services needed.

Electives (pick at least 3 of the 4 classes to complete the minor)

OHNS 301 The Practice of Educational Speech-Language Pathology (Units: 4)

Examination of the interprofessional practice of educational speech-language pathologists and the multiple professionals working in the pediatric arena to serve children in schools.

OHNS 302 Hearing Science and Technology (Units: 4)

Examination of emerging trends in the protection of hearing and treatment of hearing loss, explored across disciplines, including biology, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, arts, neuroscience and psychology.

OHNS 401 The Practice of Medical Speech-Language Pathology (Units: 4)

Introduction to the practice of medical speech language pathology; examination of the role of the speech language pathologist as a member of the medical speech pathology team.

OHNS 402 The Dynamic Profession of Audiology (Units: 4)

Exploration of how our understanding of hearing and balance disorders continues to evolve with advances in science and technology, with opportunities for interprofessional practice and collaboration.

USC does not offer a major in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) or Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS), but you can choose a course of study that will give you a solid foundation in some of the things you will learn in graduate school. Choosing a major can be difficult, especially with all of the options available at USC, but some majors come to mind that will undoubtedly aid in the study of language, communication, related disorders, healthcare, and human anatomy/physiology to support your learning of the SLP field in both your undergraduate and graduate studies.

• Cognitive Science (BA)

• Communication (BA)

• Health and Humanity (BA)

• Health and Human Sciences (BA)

• Human Development and Aging (BS)

• Linguistics (BA)

• Linguistics and Cognitive Science (BA)

• Linguistics and East Asian Languages and Cultures (BA)

• Psychology (BA)

ASHA Prerequisites

In order to reach the SLP Standards for Certification, there are certain requirements that need to be met in academic coursework before receiving a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). These requirements must be met by all applicants, whether educated in the United States or internationally. The Certification Department at ASHA ensures that all standards are equally applied to, and met by, all applicants. Some graduate programs require that these classes are already completed before applying, but some programs allow for these courses to be completed during or after the graduate program. In either case, completing these requirements at the undergraduate level is convenient as you are working to complete your major.

The prerequisite courses include one class in each of the following content areas:

• Biological Sciences

  • General biology, Cellular and molecular biology, Microbiology, Genetics, Ecology, Neurobiology, and more

• Physical Sciences

  • Physical sciences must be based in General Physics or Chemistry

• Social Sciences and Behavioral Sciences

  • Possible classes include Anthropology, Ethnic and cultural studies, Economics, Gender and sexuality studies, Political science, Psychology, Cognitive Science, and more

• Statistics

  • A stand-alone course in Statistics is required.

More information about these prerequisites can be found here.