Communicative Disorders at NIU
Bachelor of Science
Your career as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist starts here.
A communicative disorders degree is your first step to becoming an audiologist, rehabilitation counselor or speech-language pathologist. The knowledge you gain about speech, language and hearing development will prepare you for the graduate study needed for these professions. Or, you can choose to begin a rewarding career in human services, education or another health care field.
My major was communicative disorders, with a minor in family and child studies. I am now completing the graduate program in speech-language pathology. I decided to pursue this course of study after I spent a year helping in the life skills classroom at my high school and saw the impact that the speech-language pathologist had on the students.
What Can I Do With a Communicative Disorders Degree From NIU?
Your degree will prepare you for graduate study to become an audiologist, rehabilitation counselor or speech-language pathologist. It will also prepare you to launch a fulfilling career in areas such as patient care and advocacy, insurance and administration.
Top skills reported by alumni:
- Customer service
- Health care
- Interpersonal communication
- Time management
- Team-building
Top fields alumni work in:
- Health care
- Education
- Services
- Human resources
- Life sciences
Other Programs to Consider
Career Potential for NIU Communicative Disorders Majors
Average mid-career salary:
$67,544
Top employers include:
- Abbott Laboratories
- Advocate Healthcare
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Northwestern Medicine
- T-Mobile
Job titles include:
- Analyst
- Audiologist
- Behavioral technician
- Hearing instrument specialist
- Speech pathology assistant
- Teacher
Source: Steppingblocks, 2023
What to Expect as a Communicative Disorders Major at NIU
Our expert faculty members will help you learn about speech, language and hearing development. You'll have many opportunities to get involved, from joining student organizations to studying abroad in places like Mexico and Australia. You can even live with people with similar interests in the Health Professions House.
How We’ll Help You Succeed
Apply for free and we’ll automatically consider you for a renewable merit scholarship.
Earn your bachelor’s degree fast with our affordable tuition and fees. Any credit hours you take over 12 are free (per semester).
Prepare to thrive after graduation with personalized support from Career Services.
With our truth-in-tuition policy, you’ll get the same fixed tuition rate for four continuous years, whether you live in Illinois or another state.
Apply to NIU
First-year Students
(Freshman)
High School GPA
3.0 or higher?
You're guaranteed general NIU admission.
ACT/SAT SCORES
Not considered.
We think your high school GPA is a better predictor of your success.
Transfer Students
ALL COLLEGES GPA
2.0 or higher?
You're guaranteed general NIU admission.
ALL COLLEGES GPA
3.0 or higher?
You're guaranteed a
renewable merit scholarship.