Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Columbian College seal. Speech and Hearing student Jordan Sender seated at a computer conducting research.

 

understanding human
communication
and offering a full range of speech, language and hearing services to the community.

 

Who We Are

 

The most human of all attributes is the ability to communicate. GW’s Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences is dedicated to understanding human communication in all of its dimensions — while addressing the conditions that hinder it.

The department offers a highly customizable undergraduate program and a nearly 100 percent graduate student employment rate. In state-of-the-art research labs, students work alongside faculty and clinicians to understand the pressing topics of the day, including teaching children with autism spectrum disorder how to develop healthy eating habits, finding ways to help people with aphasia communicate and helping transgender people find their voice.

The department is also home to GW’s Speech and Hearing Center, a full-service community clinic where graduate students gain hands-on experience with a diverse set of clients.

During an exercise in autism treatment, a woman's hand pointing at a board printed with letters of the alphabet

 

 

 

Statement of Anti-Racism

The Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences is in solidarity with all Black people, Indigenous people, and all People of Color, as well as others who have been marginalized for far too long. We recognize our position of privilege and affirm our commitment to combat systemic racism, discrimination and injustice within the academy and the communication disorders professions.

We commit to doing the work to dismantle and eradicate racism, bigotry, and hatred of all kinds through research, education, and engagement with our broader community. We continue to value linguistic diversity and strive to empower all people to develop their communication to the fullest potential.

We strive to find new ways to establish equity, challenge systemic oppression, and continually educate ourselves to produce an anti-racist community.

It is by our actions that we ultimately affect the world. As activist Angela Davis once said, “In a racist society, it’s not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.”

 

Learn more about our anti-racism information.

 

Prospective Student Open Houses

To learn more about our post-baccalaureate and/or graduate programs in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, our department offers 2 in person and 2 virtual open house experiences. During the open houses, you will learn more about the program's academic and clinical schedule, the admissions process, applying for scholarships, summative assessment and/or completing a thesis, and research opportunities. In addition, you will have the opportunity to interact with both faculty and current graduate students. 

 

 

Our Department by the Numbers

#32 in U.S., Speech-Pathology Program Ranking, According to U.S. News and World Report

 

~98% Graduate Student Employment Rate Within Six Months of Graduation

 

"2,500 Annual Speech and Language Appointments at the Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic" with a graphic of a clipboard with a medical cross on it.

 

 

Katie Winters

Katie Winters, BA '13, MA '15

PhD Candidate, UT Austin

“With each passing year, I am more grateful for having earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at GW. The Speech and Hearing Department’s individualized mentorship supported me through multiple independent research projects and ultimately my acceptance to a doctoral program.”