What Can You Study in Speech and Hearing Science at ASU?

Speech and hearing science at ASU's College of Health Solutions is the area of study focused on helping people communicate better. It sits alongside other health fields in the college — such as nutrition, exercise and movement sciences, and population health — and is designed for students who want to understand communication and the professionals who support it. The college frames this work within a broader idea: that health goes beyond treating wounds and disease, and includes the people who help others get and stay healthy.

Where it fits in the College of Health Solutions

The college organizes its programs around what students are interested in. Speech and hearing science appears as one of several interest areas:

• The science and technology of diagnosing disease — biomedical diagnostics
• Using data to improve health — biomedical informatics
• The systems and processes involved in providing health care — health care systems
• Working with patients to improve health and manage disease — health sciences and medical studies
• Helping people get in shape and improve their mobility — exercise and movement sciences
• The impact of food on the human body — nutrition
• Reducing health disparities among groups of people — population health
• Helping people to communicate better — speech and hearing science

The college also houses three schools: the School of Clinical Health Sciences, the School of Health Systems Transformation, and the School of Human Performance and Lifespan Health.

What the program is about

The stated focus of this interest area is helping people communicate better. That places it in the same family of work as speech and occupational therapy, which the college names alongside personal training, physical therapy, dietitians, social workers, and counselors as the professionals people turn to when they want to optimize their health rather than only treat illness.

If you are considering this path, the relevant question is whether you want to work with people on communication — and whether you want the clinical, research, or support side of that work.

How you would study it

The college describes its educational approach as combining an educational and practical foundation. Two features are worth noting if you are evaluating the program:

• Hands-on training is built into coursework. The college states that your coursework will include hands-on training.
• Beyond the classroom, you can engage in community projects, research, internships, and student clubs. These are listed under "Opportunities for students," along with the note that employers want to hire graduates who have practical experience.

Student advising is also available: whether you know exactly what you want to do or are still figuring it out, an advisor can help you choose classes.

Who this is for

This area is a reasonable fit if you are interested in:

• Communication difficulties and how people overcome them
• Speech-language pathology or audiology as a future direction
• A health career that is not centered on medicine or nursing
• A program where practical experience is part of the coursework

It is one option among many in the college, so it can also serve as a starting point if you are broadly interested in health but not yet sure which specific field you want.

What to check before deciding

The source material describes the interest area and the college's general approach, but it does not list specific courses, degree names, admission requirements, or costs. To make a decision, confirm those details directly with the program and an advisor. The college's own advice applies here: an advisor can help you choose classes whether your direction is settled or still forming.