Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Faculty of Arts website to learn more about Speech Sciences.
View full program detailsProgram information
Speech Sciences is an interdisciplinary program with courses from Linguistics, Psychology, and the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences. You’ll study research methods, language structure, child development and language acquisition, anatomy and physiology, experimental psychology, and instrumental phonetics.
Program overview
- Campus
- Vancouver
- Program length
- 4 years
- Honours This option has additional requirements compared to those required in a Major specialization. Students must maintain high academic standing and may have to write a graduating thesis.
- No
- Co-op Co-op is an optional program where students alternate between academic terms and paid work terms. It’s an opportunity to gain relevant job experience while completing your degree.
- Yes
- Faculty
- Faculty of Arts
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts
What you'll learn
The Speech Sciences program is designed to prepare you for graduate work in speech-language pathology or audiology. The program has an interdisciplinary structure administered by the Linguistics Department, with courses from Linguistics, Psychology, and the School of Audiology and Speech Sciences.
You will study research methods, language structure, child development and language acquisition, anatomy and physiology, experimental psychology, and instrumental phonetics. Coursework focusses on normal language. Work on language disorders is not generally undertaken until the graduate program.
As an undergraduate student in the Speech Sciences program, you’ll have an opportunity to explore and gain experience in various research labs housed at the Faculty of Medicine’s School of Audiology and Speech Sciences, including the Adult Language Processing and Disorders Lab and the Child Language Lab.
Courses
There are hundreds of courses you can take within Speech Sciences. Here are a few you might like.
Study of language as a universal and uniquely human cognitive system: What universals do all languages share and how do languages differ? An investigation of sound systems, word-building, grammatical principles, language change, dialect variation, language acquisition, and neurolinguistics. Recommended but not required for an honours, major, or minor in linquistics or speech sciences.
Introduction to speech and hearing sciences, with emphasis on the clinical perspectives of audiology and speech pathology.
Research methods used in linguistics and speech science. Emphasis on scientific reasoning, critical thinking, experimental design, and the ethics and methods of linguistic data-collection.
A capstone course for Linguistics and Speech Sciences majors, normally taken after three years of study. Individual sections will differ substantially; see online Course List for detailed descriptions and prerequisites.
Outcomes
Career opportunities vary widely across a range of fields including audiology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, public health, computational linguistics, communications, education, and others.
There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests, including:
- Art or Music therapist
- Artificial intelligence designer
- Audiologist
- Audiometric technician
- Communication disorders assistant
- Communications manager
- Education consultant
- English-as-a-second-language teacher
- Human resources specialist
- Speech pathologist
Take action & plan
Program requirements
Choose application type:
English-language requirements
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
IB Diploma Programme
- Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.
IB Certificate Courses
- IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
- IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.
Degree-specific requirements: Arts
- No specific courses required beyond those needed for general admission
Related courses
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.
- Language Arts
- Mathematics and Computation
- Second Languages
- Social Studies
- Visual and Performing Arts
Want to get a feel for campus?
If you’re unable to visit UBC in person, or you just want to get a sneak peek at your new home campus before you arrive, take one of our virtual tours. Current UBC students walk you through UBC’s residences, study spots, recreational facilities, lecture halls, academic buildings, and more.
Related programs
Want to learn more?
Visit the Faculty of Arts website to learn more about Speech Sciences.
View full program detailsGet a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Faculty of Arts website to learn more about Speech Sciences.
View full program details