Communication Sciences & Disorders
A program that focuses on the application of biomedical, psychological, and physical principles to the study of the scientific bases, development, and treatment of speech, language, hearing, and cognitive communication problems caused by disease, injury, or disability. Includes instruction in language science, hearing science, speech and voice science, biology of communication, behavioral linguistics, psychology, and applications to the development of diagnostic and rehabilitative strategies and technologies. Examples: [Communication Disorders]
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Types of Degrees Communication Sciences & Disorders Majors Are Earning
Students pursuing Communication Sciences & Disorders have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.
| Award Level | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Certificate | 53 |
| Associate’s Degree | 21 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4,806 |
| Master’s Degree | 2,143 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 74 |
What Communication Sciences & Disorders Majors Need to Know
Coursework for Communication Sciences & Disorders develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates commonly enter.
Knowledge Areas
According to O*NET, a major in Communication Sciences & Disorders emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
- English Language — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
- Education and Training — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.5 / 7.
- Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
- Psychology — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
- Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*
Skills
Skills built by a Communication Sciences & Disorders program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
- Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5 / 7.
- Active Listening — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
- Speaking — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
- Critical Thinking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
- Writing — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
Abilities
Innate abilities most relevant to Communication Sciences & Disorders careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:
- Oral Expression — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
- Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
- Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
- Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
- Speech Clarity — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
Common Job Activities
Day-to-day, Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates report doing:
| Activity | Frequency / Importance |
|---|---|
| Getting Information | 4.6 / 7 |
| Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge | 4.6 / 7 |
| Working with Computers | 4.5 / 7 |
| Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships | 4.5 / 7 |
| Documenting/Recording Information | 4.3 / 7 |
| Making Decisions and Solving Problems | 4.3 / 7 |
| Training and Teaching Others | 4.3 / 7 |
| Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others | 4.1 / 7 |
| Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work | 4.1 / 7 |
| Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates | 4.1 / 7 |
Technology Skills Used on the Job
Most frequently-cited tools used by Communication Sciences & Disorders professionals:
| Tool / Software | Category | In-Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | — |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | — |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | — |
| Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS | Medical software | — |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | — |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | — |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | — |
| Web browser software | Internet browser software | — |
| eClinicalWorks EHR software | Medical software | — |
| Articulate Rapid E-Learning Studio | Computer based training software | — |
| Learning management system LMS | Computer based training software | — |
| Adobe Presenter | Computer based training software | — |
Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*
Sample Job Titles
Real job postings for Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates include:
- Health Assessment and Treatment Teacher
- Roentgenology Teacher
- Pathology Teacher
- Professor
- Hearing Therapy Teacher
- Clinical Sciences Professor
- Pharmacology Teacher
- Occupational Therapy Teacher
- Infant Care Teacher
- Health Teacher
- Physiology Teacher
- Nutrition Educator
- Surgery Teacher
- Public Health Professor
- Optometry Teacher
What Can You Do With a Communication Sciences & Disorders Degree?
Graduates with a degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders commonly enter the following occupations:
| Occupation | Job Growth | Median Salary | 25th–75th Pctile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 10.7% | $46,663 | $40,304–$53,022 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | 4.4% | $47,305 | $38,220–$56,389 |
Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*
Education Typically Required
Across the occupations open to Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:
| Education Level | Share of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.3% |
| Master’s degree | 32.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.4% |
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Who Is Earning a Degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders?
Gender Distribution
This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 95.5% of Communication Sciences & Disorders degrees.
| Gender | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 6,777 | 95.5% |
| Men | 320 | 4.5% |
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates is as follows:
| Race / Ethnicity | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| White | 4,365 | 61.5% |
| Asian | 387 | 5.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,614 | 22.7% |
| Black or African American | 218 | 3.1% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 21 | 0.3% |
| Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander | 8 | 0.1% |
| Two or More Races | 227 | 3.2% |
| Race Unknown | 160 | 2.3% |
| International Students | 97 | 1.4% |
See minority definition below.
How Much Do Communication Sciences & Disorders Graduates Earn?
College Scorecard reports median earnings of Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $53,106 |
| 4 years | $57,878 |
| 5 years | $63,177 |
By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $63,177 — roughly 19% above the 1-year mark.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Online Communication Sciences & Disorders Programs
Fully online options is reported by IPEDS for Communication Sciences & Disorders. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).
| Award Level | Distance-Ed Available | Distance-Ed Only |
|---|---|---|
| Associate’s | 2 | 1 |
| Bachelor’s | 5 | 6 |
| Master’s | 3 | 5 |
| Doctoral (Research) | 1 | 0 |
Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.
Is a Degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders Worth It?
Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates earn a median of $57,878 four years after completion — roughly 52% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).
ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.
Related Programs
You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:
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References
The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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