Program Overview

Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders

The Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders is designed for students interested in understanding and supporting individuals with speech, language, and hearing challenges. Graduates develop expertise in speech and language development, audiology, and communication therapies, preparing them for careers as speech-language pathology assistants, audiology technicians, or rehabilitation aides, and for advanced study toward becoming licensed speech-language pathologists or audiologists.

Program Overview

The program provides a strong foundation in the science of human communication, exploring topics such as speech, language, and hearing development, as well as the challenges that impact them. Through hands-on learning and research opportunities, students gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers in speech-language pathology, audiology, or related healthcare fields.

Mission

The mission of the program is to serve the citizens of Kentucky and beyond by preparing undergraduate students with the knowledge and skills needed to become pre-professionals in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Program Goals

The program strives to:

• Prepare students to become outstanding pre-professionals in speech-language pathology and audiology and successful applicants to clinical graduate programs.
• Educate students in the diagnosis, evaluation, and care of individuals across the lifespan who have disorders related to speech sound production, voice, stuttering, comprehension and production of language, communication modalities, hearing, balance, feeding, and swallowing.

Related Careers

Career paths that require graduate education:

• Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
• Audiologist
• Speech Scientist or Researcher
• Clinical Supervisor in Communication Disorders
• University Faculty Member (in Speech and Hearing Sciences)

Career paths with a bachelor's degree:

• Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA)
• Audiology Assistant
• Rehabilitation Aide or Support Staff
• Early Intervention or Special Education Support Staff
• Case Manager in Health or Human Services
• Patient Advocate or Care Coordinator
• Healthcare Administrator (entry-level roles)
• Nonprofit Program Coordinator (focused on disabilities or communication services)

Program Details

• Offered by: College of Health Sciences
• Credit Hours: 120
• Credential: BHS

Admission Requirements

• Official High School Transcript with Pre-College Curriculum
• Test Scores (optional): ACT or SAT scores can be submitted but are not required for university admission.

Application Requirements

• Completed applications include an official high school transcript, application fee ($50 domestic/$60 international) and optional official ACT/SAT score.

Program Specific Requirements

• Students apply and enter this program as "Pre-Communication Sciences and Disorders" majors.
• Entry to the CSD major is a selective and competitive process.
• Students apply to the program during their sophomore year.
• Applicants are required to have completed prior to application to the major:
  • A minimum of 42 college credit hours
  • PSY 100 (or similar introductory psychology course)
  • CSD 277 - Intro to Com Disorders

Curriculum

The Bachelor of Health Sciences in Communication Sciences and Disorders program provides students with a foundational understanding of human communication, its development, and disorders that can affect speech, language, and hearing. Students study topics such as anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing mechanisms, language development, audiology, and communication disorders across the lifespan.

Sample Curriculum Plan

• Freshman Year: 30-32 credit hours
  • Fall Semester: 15-16 credit hours
    • UKCRCC1: UK Core - Comp. & Comm. I
    • CSD-UKC-NPM: Choose BIO 102 -or- BIO 103
    • UK 101: ACADEMIC ORIENTATION
    • CSD 120: CAREERS IN SP-LANG PATH & AUD
    • UKCRHUM: UK Core - Humanities
    • PSY 100: INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY
  • Spring Semester: 15-16 credit hours
    • UKCRCC2: UK Core - Comp. & Comm. II
    • UKCRCCC: UK Core - Community, Culture and Citizen
    • UKCRQFO: UK Core - Quantitative Foundations
    • CSD-NS-PHY: Addtl Science - PHY or CHE course
    • UKCRACR: UK Core - Arts and Creativity
• Sophomore Year: 30 credit hours
  • Fall Semester: 15 credit hours
    • CSD 277: INTRO TO COM DISORDERS
    • UKCRGDY: UK Core - Global Dynamics
    • EDS 375: INTRO TO EDUC OF EXCEPTN CHILDREN
    • UKCRSIR: UK Core - Statistical Inferential Reason
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
  • Spring Semester: 15 credit hours
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
    • EDS 516: SUPPORTIVE & RESPECTFUL LEARNING ENV
    • LIN 221: INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
• Junior Year: 30 credit hours
  • Fall Semester: 15 credit hours
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
    • CSD 590: AUDIOLOGY
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
    • CSD 578: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF SPEECH
  • Spring Semester: 15 credit hours
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
    • HHS 454: RESEARCH IN HUMAN HEALTH SCIENCES
    • CSD 502: SPEECH AND HEARING SCIENCE
    • CSD 591: AURAL REHABILITATION
• Senior Year: 29 credit hours
  • Fall Semester: 14 credit hours
    • CSD 571: NEURAL BASES OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE/HEARING
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
    • CSD 509: ENGLISH SYNTAX FOR CSD
    • CSD 585: CLINICAL PHONETICS
    • CSD 581: CLIN EXP IN COM DISORDER
  • Spring Semester: 15 credit hours
    • CSD 510: LANG DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE LIFESPAN
    • CSD 584: INTR DIAG PROCEDURES IN SPEECH-LANG PATH
    • CSD 482: INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL MANAGEMENT
    • CSD-ELE-MNR: Free Elective or Class for Minor
    • CSD 581: CLIN EXP IN COM DISORDER

Application Deadlines

• Freshman:
  • Early Action: 12/01/2025
  • Regular Decision: 02/15/2026
• Transfer:
  • Fall Scholarship: 06/15/2026
  • Fall: 08/01/2026
  • Spring: 11/15/2025
  • Summer: 04/15/2026

Degree Requirements

The program requires 120 credit hours for completion, including UK Core courses, major-specific courses, and electives. Students must also complete a minimum of 42 college credit hours, PSY 100, and CSD 277 prior to application to the major. The program is designed to provide a strong foundation in the science of human communication and prepare students for careers in speech-language pathology, audiology, or related healthcare fields.