• The CSD program at Penn State Harrisburg has a strong relationship with Hershey Medical Center (HMC) and the Penn State College of Medicine, both located less than 10 miles from campus. These collaborations provide students access to one of the nation’s premier medical centers. Students will spend class time at HMC observing speech-language pathology and/or audiology services first-hand as part of the undergraduate curriculum. 
  • All program faculty and instructors have earned their Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in either speech-language pathology or audiology. This means that all of the instructors have actual experience diagnosing and treating people with a variety of disorders and have worked in the content areas in which they teach.
  • The CSD program offers one of the first undergraduate courses in dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) in the U.S. This is an important factor for those interested in working in the medical world, where nearly 90% of the work may be devoted to people with dysphagia. Most programs only offer one course at the graduate level for this extremely important and complex area. Because of this, the CSD program at Harrisburg will better prepare you for that content area in a graduate program - as well as in clinical practice.
  • The student to faculty ratio at Penn State Harrisburg is 15-1. Our small class sizes allow for more faculty interaction and experiential learning. Additionally, our faculty are actively engaged in clinical research and interested students may have the opportunity to assist with a variety of research studies.

Career Paths

Nearly all students who complete the undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD) continue on to graduate school in either speech-language pathology (SLP) or audiology. Master’s degree programs in SLP are typically completed in two years while students interested in audiology need to complete a clinical doctorate (Au.D.) which typically takes an additional year. To date, there are over 300 SLP graduate programs and 80 Au.D. programs in the U.S. A complete list of programs can be found on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) website. 

Students who complete an advanced degree in speech-language pathology evaluate, diagnose and provide treatment for people of all ages who have communication disabilities and differences as well as swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologists with master’s degrees work in hospital and rehabilitation centers, schools, community clinics, nursing homes, and private practice.

Audiology students who complete the Au.D. evaluate, diagnose and treat people of all ages with hearing loss and vestibular (balance) problems. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists who earn doctorate (Ph.D.) degrees typically teach and conduct research in a university setting.

Professional Resources