Scholarships
Current students within all SHS degree programs are invited by faculty to apply for several department scholarships. Funds are distributed through the WSU Financial Aid office.
WSU Tuition Information
Community Outreach and Education
National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association
Speech and Hearing Sciences students take the lead in community outreach efforts as members of our local chapter of National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), the pre-professional student organization affiliated with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA). NSSLHA provides students at the undergraduate and graduate levels with opportunities for engaging in educational experiences outside of their coursework. Membership in NSSLHA guides preparation for entering the disciplines of audiology and speech-language pathology.
Led by a faculty advisor, NSSLHA offers community panel-based educational sessions known as “Ed Nights”, open to all students on the WSU Health Sciences Spokane campus, which address a variety of topics related to communication disorders and various health conditions. These sessions are supported by participating interdisciplinary healthcare professionals sharing their experiences in clinical practice. As part of their philanthropy efforts supporting the community, NSSLHA holds fundraisers to support organizations serving individuals with communication disorders across the lifespan. NSSLHA has donated funds to organizations such as the HOPE School, the Stuttering Foundation of America, the Isaac Foundation, the Northwest Autism Center, Vanessa Beehan Crisis Nursery, Ogden Hall, and many other community partners.
Careers in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Audiologists
Audiologists specialize in prevention, identification, assessment, and rehabilitation of hearing disorders, including:
- Perform diagnostic evaluations of hearing and function of the hearing mechanisms
- Prescribe hearing aids
- Develop and implement hearing conservation programs for employees in their workplaces
- Use computer technology developed to assist those with severe communication disabilities
- Participate as part of the implant team for cochlear implants
- Provide aural rehabilitation for individuals learning to use hearing aids and cochlear implants
- Participate in research and development of products
- Teach and supervise future audiologists
WSU does not offer advanced education toward becoming a licensed clinical audiologist. The B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences is a foundation for those seeking advanced education and a degree in audiology.
Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-language pathologists assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in patients, including:
- Train with alternative/augmentative communication devices for those with limited ability to verbally communicate
- Provide aural rehabilitation for individuals who are hearing impaired
- Provide treatment for articulation errors
- Provide therapy to individuals with delayed language development
- Provide early intervention among preschoolers
- Work with children to improve language skills and academic performance
- Treat people who have experienced a stroke or brain trauma to regain language and speech functions
- Assist individuals who are experiencing swallowing difficulties
- Assist individuals in developing proper control of the vocal and respiratory systems for correct voice production
- Counsel individuals and families to better cope with speech and language disorders
- Help those who stutter to increase fluency
- Participate in clinical (applied) and/or basic research related to speech-language disorders and their effects
- Teach and supervise future speech-language pathologists
Career Opportunities
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects faster than average growth for speech-language pathologists and audiologists through 2022. Approximately 26,000 new jobs are anticipated for speech-language pathologists, an increase of 19 percent; and openings for audiologists are expected to grow by 34 percent or 4,300 new jobs.
Areas of employment include:
- Hospitals and rehabilitation centers
- Nursing care facilities and community clinics
- Colleges and universities
- Private practice offices
- State and local health departments
- State and federal government agencies
- Home health agencies (home care)
- Long-term facilities
- Adult day care centers
- Research laboratories and institutes
- Private industry
- Nonprofit clinics
- Public and private schools