Career Options for Individuals with a
Bachelor of Arts in Speech & Hearing Sciences
The speech and hearing sciences (SHS) undergraduate major provides a versatile background for a variety of careers. Graduates are qualified for a wide range of entry-level jobs.
Marketable Skills
Because of their specialized pre-professional education grounded in the liberal arts, SHS graduates possess a number of skills in the following areas:
- Understanding human behavior
Recognizing normal emotional and psychological growth and behavior; analyzing and comparing the behavior of individuals and groups; recognizing factors that influence behavior; gathering, analyzing, and interpreting historical data. - Critical thinking and problem solving
Observing, comparing, and contrasting; analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating; generalizing, summarizing, and synthesizing; leading listeners, readers, or viewers logically from one point to another; knowing historical perspectives. - Oral and written communication
Active listening; reading and interpreting technical descriptions, articles, policies, and rules; listening and recording information; observing, reporting, and analyzing nonverbal messages and voice tones; controlling emotions; sharing emotions; leading discussions; providing verbal and nonverbal feedback; interpreting and summarizing research reports; reporting and editing; writing technical reports. - Organization
Collecting, retaining, and organizing information; classifying and assessing materials; defining problems; producing on time. - Human services
Providing support; assessing individual special needs; interviewing clients. - Research
Asking questions; using libraries, abstracts, indexes, and references. - Computer literacy
Using a variety of software, including word processing, on-line databases, and the Internet.
Related Job Titles
The following are examples of occupations that utilize the knowledge and skills developed by this major. Some may require additional specialized education or training beyond the bachelor's degree.
- Case aide.
- Child welfare caseworker.
- Clinical intake specialist.
- Community service agency worker.
- Counselor.
- Day care specialist.
- Fundraiser.
- Group home staff.
- Human resource technician.
- Interpreter.
- Medical assistant.
- Peace Corps/VISTA worker.
- Personnel manager.
- Public relations representative.
- Rehabilitation counselor.
- Residence counselor.
- Sales representative.
- School counselor.
- Specification writer.
- Speech-language pathology aide.
- Summer camp director.
- Teacher aide.
- Teacher of English as a Second Language.
- Technical writer.
- Technology support staff.
- Youth organization worker.
Enhancing Employability
In addition to your college major, specialized course work and/or experience can greatly enhance your employability.
Increasingly, a wide array of occupations demand some familiarity with computer applications and technology.
Depending on your area of interest, course work in technical writing, statistics, business, foreign language, mathematics, or other specialty area can complement the skills of your academic major.
An internship or summer job provides applied learning, work experience, references, and potential mentors and contacts for your job search.
Membership in student organizations and professional associations also provides valuable experience and networking opportunities.