Communication Sciences is the study of human speech, language, and hearing. It also examines methods and tools used to treat communication disorders, such as language impairment, hearing impairment, dyslexia, stuttering, and many others.
Communication Sciences seeks to answer questions like: What are the most efficient ways of communicating? Which are the leading causes of communication disorders? Are there any external factors which could decrease the number of people suffering from speech, language, and hearing impairments? Which are the most efficient tools and approaches to integrate and support people with communication disorders?
Communication Sciences is often confused with Communication Studies like Digital Communication, Business or Corporate Communication, and Strategic Communication. These disciplines focus on mediums of communication and proper ways to send a message in different contexts — e.g. business, politics, public speaking — and don’t study communication disorders or the development of speech and language.
A typical Communication Sciences curriculum includes subjects such as Hearing Mechanism, Phonetics, Physiology of Speech, Speech Science, Hearing Science, Language Pathology, Psycholinguistics, Communication Disorders in Childhood, etc.
Universities often list Communication Sciences programmes as “Communication Sciences and Disorders”, but you can also encounter alternative titles, like “Speech and Language Pathology” or “Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences”.
Communication Science graduates can find high paid jobs in public relations, online media, journalism and other publishing institutions, as well as in the advertising industry.
Read moreView all PhDs in Communication Studies. Keep in mind you can also study an online PhDs in Communication Studies.