If you're drawn to helping others find their voice — literally and figuratively — the speech communications major offers a meaningful and hands-on path. At Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, this major prepares you to work with children and adults who face communication challenges ranging from speech delays and language disorders to hearing loss and swallowing difficulties.
Whether you’re aiming for a career in speech-language pathology, audiology, or a related field, you’ll graduate from LAS with the knowledge, preparation, and confidence to take the next step.
Why Choose Speech at LAS?
Students come to LAS for a speech major that works with their lives. Class sizes are small, mentorship is personal, and the advising is hands-on from start to finish. Professors learn your name, listen to your goals, and help you build a plan — not just for graduation, but for your future.
Classes are primarily in person in the evening with opportunities for Zoom and hybrid study, which creates space for flexibility alongside hands-on learning and real relationships with faculty.
Plus, if you enter the program with seminary or transfer credit, you can opt for an accelerated summer-to-summer track designed to help you complete your undergraduate degree quickly. It's a challenging and rigorous option, but for motivated students, it’s an efficient way to reach graduate school faster.
“At Touro, we know our students by name, and that makes it easier to meet their individual needs and make adjustments as needed. You don’t always get that kind of personal support at other institutions.”
— Dr. Esther Hurley, Speech Department Chair
Meet the Speech Faculty
Our faculty are more than lecturers. They’re active clinicians, mentors, and student advocates who bring real-world experience into every class. They write recommendation letters, adjust plans when life changes, and stay in touch long after graduation. Here are some of our faculty you’ll get to know as a student:
- Dr. Esther Hurley is the department chair and has a doctorate in audiology and dual certification in audiology and speech-language pathology. She brings decades of clinical experience into the classroom. Dr. Hurley specializes in auditory rehabilitation and supports undergraduates with pre-professional advising.
- Professor Patti Bottino-Bravo (MA, CCC-SLP) has extensive experience with voice disorders and narrative language development and joined Touro in 2007. With over 17 years of experience, she has worked across clinical, educational, and home-care settings.
- Professor Rita Roitman (MA, CCC-SLP, TSHH) is a seasoned clinician and educator in pediatric speech-language pathology who has been at Touro since 1999. She teaches undergraduate courses, advises students, and brings clinical expertise in pediatric and adult language disorders, dysphagia, and accent modification.
- Professor Elky Feivish is an expert in deafness and American Sign Language and offers students a deep dive into Deaf culture, communication accessibility, and language acquisition. Her classes are known for being interactive and immersive.
- Dr. Alexandra Lewery (AuD, CCC-A) is a practicing audiologist who teaches about hearing aids, adult audiology, and clinical diagnostics. She brings in current tools, case studies, and hands-on insights from the field.
“It was nice being in a place where everyone was trying to go in the same direction. You’re with other girls who are serious about their future, but also living their lives and juggling a lot. There’s an understanding built into the program.”
— Tali (Milstein) Zoldan (BS Speech ’24, CUNY AuD ‘28)
Course Spotlight: Senior Speech Seminar
In your final semester, you’ll take Senior Speech Seminar, which is a capstone course that ties everything together. It offers a structured review of major topics while diving into advanced material through case-based discussions.
Students explore complex disorders linked to syndromes such as Down syndrome, Fragile X, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. They also gain hands-on experience assessing narrative and literacy skills and analyzing real-world clinical materials. This course helps prepare you for graduate-level work by reinforcing both clinical reasoning and applied knowledge.
“The senior seminar was one of my favorite courses because it was very case-based. We went through a lot of syndromes and speech issues that come along with those syndromes. That was super interesting and also very applicable to what I'm doing now in graduate school.”
— Tali (Milstein) Zoldan (BS Speech ’24, CUNY AuD ‘28)
As a speech major, you'll explore how communication works, and what happens when it doesn't. The curriculum includes courses on the anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing, speech and language development, audiology, articulation, and communication disorders. You’ll also gain hands-on and real-world exposure to the field, such as:
- Completing 25 hours of supervised observation concurrently with coursework
- Gaining exposure to assistive technologies like hearing aids and cochlear implants
- Learning how to support families and children with speech and hearing challenges
- Taking an elective like American Sign Language (ASL) for a more well-rounded education
This is a program built to be professional from day one, preparing students for graduate-level rigor and workforce readiness. Although internships aren't available at the undergrad level because of licensure laws, students often gain experience through volunteer work, one-on-one work with children, jobs at summer camps, and other roles that align with their long-term goals.
Student tip: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I had a baby during undergrad, and everyone was so helpful with figuring out how I could finish my work and exams. They didn’t lower the standards — they worked with me. - Tali (Milstein) Zoldan (BS Speech ’24, CUNY AuD ‘28)
After Your Bachelor’s: What Comes Next
A bachelor’s degree is just the first step toward a career in speech or audiology. To practice as a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP), you’ll need to complete a graduate degree followed by a clinical fellowship year. Similarly, audiology requires a clinical doctorate (AuD).
That might sound like a long road, but it’s a focused one, and LAS thoroughly prepares you for it from start to finish, with graduates receiving priority consideration for admission for the MS in Speech-Language Pathology at the Touro School of Health Sciences.
Students who take the MS path gain the knowledge and skills needed to pass the Praxis exam, apply for ASHA certification CCC-SLP and NYS Professional licensure, find a job, and practice their passion.
Once licensed, speech-language pathologists work in a range of settings, including:
- Public and private schools
- Hospitals and rehabilitation centers
- Early intervention programs
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Private clinics or home-based care
Many choose to specialize in voice therapy, swallowing, and feeding disorders, AAC (augmentative and alternative communication), or language development. Some graduates structure their careers around family life through home-based or flexible part-time roles.
An undergraduate degree in speech communication also prepares you to pursue a clinical doctorate (AuD) at audiology programs at CUNY or Montclair State. With a clinical doctorate, you could work in private practice, otolaryngology offices, cochlear implant programs, hospitals, and schools.
Your bachelor’s degree leads you to the next stage of a professional, impactful career — and we’re here to help you get there.
“While getting my degree, I was working at a preschool for kids with hearing aids and cochlear implants. Taking auditory rehab and audiology helped me understand what was going on with the kids, what the devices did, and what their audiograms meant.”
— Carly Ester Newmark (BS Speech, ’25)
What to Expect at LAS
What makes LAS different isn’t just the curriculum — it’s the way students are supported throughout their journey. Here’s what you can expect when you study here:
A Supportive Environment
Faculty, advisors, and administrators truly meet you where you are. You’re not just a number. You’ll be known, seen, and guided at every step.
Values-Aligned Education
This isn’t just a degree. It’s a step toward a successful career where you don’t have to compromise your values or beliefs to succeed.
Accelerated Options
For those who are ready to move quickly, the accelerated summer-to-summer all-women’s cohort offers a fast and focused track.
Tuesdays at Touro
Join weekly on-campus sessions featuring expert speakers, graduate program reps, career advisors, and more.
Start Helping Others Find Their Voice
Your journey starts here. Apply to the LAS speech communications major and build the foundation for a future in communication, care, and clinical impact.
