The Department of Biobehavioral Sciences offers programs that focus on the application of the biological, physiological, behavioral, and sociocultural sciences underlying human communication, movement, and their disorders to clinical, educational, and community settings. An understanding of the normal and abnormal biobehavioral processes is applied to clinical practice. The scientific knowledge obtained from studying each of these specialized fields is used to enhance the educational, adaptive, and communicative capabilities of individuals with normal and impaired abilities across the lifespan.
Graduates of our master’s programs assume professional roles in educational, health-related, and community agency settings as speech-language pathologists, exercise physiologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and research coordinators. As these professionals often work in interdisciplinary teams, the department facilitates opportunities for students to interact across professional boundaries.
Our doctoral graduates are prepared for university faculty positions and administrative positions in clinical, educational, and organizational field-based settings. They may also pursue careers in research.
The department maintains clinics and laboratories to support the teaching and research components of the programs. These facilities include the Edward D. Mysak Speech and Hearing Center, as well as laboratories in applied physiology, motor learning, kinematics, language and cognition, and adaptive communication technologies.
The master’s degree program in Communication Sciences and Disorders is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
If you plan to work in a state other than New York, Teachers College has not made a determination if our programs meet the educational requirements for certification or professional licensure in any other state, Washington DC, or Puerto Rico. We recommend that you review the state’s licensing board or teacher certification website for that state’s qualifications. The Office of Teacher Education will complete any necessary forms and/or letters for out-of-state certification on the completion of your approved teacher preparation program.