Experiential Pre-Professional Training
Our minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders is designed for students who are interested in all aspects of human and animal sound production and perception related to communication. You will find this program can be tailored to complement various areas with the option of selecting courses in acoustics, anatomy and physiology, linguistics, and speech-language and hearing development and disorders. UNC’s Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences program has a widespread reputation for excellence.
Your Future in Communication Sciences and Disorders
US News & World Report recently listed both audiologist and speech-language pathologist among its 25 best career opportunities. The growth of America's elderly population, coupled with new technologies and treatment options for hearing loss and speech-language disorders, has led to an increasing demand for trained professionals in these fields.
Consider UNC's Minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders if you are:
- Interested in science or a medical based profession
- Passionate about helping people
- Skilled at using advanced technology
- Someone who enjoys working with diverse populations, including children, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities
You'll learn about:
- Physiological and biological components of speech, language, hearing and balance
- Normal speech and language development
- Basics of clinical practice and instrumentation
- Disorders, treatment/rehabilitation approaches and prevention strategies
Sample courses:
- Intro to Human Communication and Disorders
- Basic Audiology
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
- Language Development
- Fundamentals of Physiological and Biological Acoustics
Current Research in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Kathryn Bright, Ph.D., Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Julie Hanks, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders
The Interdisciplinary Patient Simulation Academy (IPSA) lets you try your hand at working with "patients" in the classroom. Developed by UNC faculty members Bright and Hanks along with faculty in other health-related majors this groundbreaking program enables students to evaluate the symptoms of patients who are portrayed by actors from UNC's award-winning theatre department. The IPSA employs medical school teaching concepts and techniques, enabling undergraduate and graduate students to improve their diagnostic accuracy, patient-practitioner communication and interprofessional collaboration.
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