Program Overview

Academic Program Guide

Communication Science & Disorders (Audiology & Speech Pathology)

The curriculum leading to the baccalaureate degree offers general education in human communication and its disorders. Students learn about anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms; sound and its perception; the development of language and communication systems; the components of the English sound system; the neurological bases of speech, language and hearing; and strategies used in the management and evaluation of speech, language and hearing impairments.

Program Details

Admission Criteria

• The Communication Science & Disorders Major is a 'Specialized Admission' major.
• Meeting the minimum requirements for application does not guarantee admission.
• Successful applicants often have much higher GPA's.
• Acceptance occurs once a year in the spring semester to begin the following summer or fall semester.

Program Requirements

• A list of recommended courses to satisfy the General Education requirements is available from the Academic Advisor in Communication Disorders.
• Students are recommended to include MAC 1105 College Algebra and STA 2122 Applied Statistics in their pre-major coursework.

Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term

Term 1

• Sample Schedule:
  • ENC1101 Freshman Composition (3 hours)
  • 1st GE Core Mathematics (MAC1105 College Algebra) (3 hours)
  • GE Core Social Science (PSY2012 General Psychology) (3 hours)
  • GE Core Natural Science with Lab (Biology) (4 hours)
  • Elective (1 hour)
• Required Milestones:
  • Complete ENC1101 ( C minus)
  • Overall GPA 2.8

Term 2

• Sample Schedule:
  • ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context (3 hours)
  • 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics (STA 1013 Statistics through Example, 2023 Business Statistics or 2122 Applied Statistics) (3 hours)
  • GE Core Humanities/Cultural Practice (3 hours)
  • GE Natural Science (Physical) (3 hours)
  • 1st Language course (graded) (4 hours)
• Required Milestones:
  • Complete ENC2135 ( C minus)
  • Complete 1st GE Mathematics course ( C minus)
  • Overall GPA 2.9

Term 3

• Sample Schedule:
  • GE History (3 hours)
  • Certificate Course/Elective (3 hours)
  • Ethics course (3 hours)
  • 2nd Language course (graded) (4 hours)
  • Oral Communication Competency (3 hours)
• Required Milestones:
  • Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics course ( C minus)
  • Overall GPA 3.0

Term 4

• Sample Schedule:
  • GE Social Science (3 hours)
  • GE Humanities/Cultural Practice (3 hours)
  • Certificate Course/Elective (3 hours)
  • Digital Literacy course (3 hours)
  • 3rd Language course (graded) (4 hours)
• Required Milestones:
  • Complete General Education, statewide Core and minimum 52 hours
  • Overall GPA 3.0
  • Apply online by 1st business day in Feb, no later than 5pm, to the School of Communication Science and Disorders.

Term 5

• Sample Schedule:
  • SPA4930 Undergraduate Seminar in Clinical Observation (1 hour)
  • SPA2001 Communication Science and Disorders (3 hours)
  • SPA4004 Normal Communication Development (4 hours)
  • SPA4101C Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism (4 hours)
  • Certificate Course/Elective(s) (3 hours)
• Required Milestones:
  • Civic Literacy requirement

Term 6

• Sample Schedule:
  • SPA4112 Clinical Phonetics (4 hours)
  • SPA4011C Acoustics for Speech and Hearing (4 hours)
  • SPA4302 Introduction to Clinical Audiology (3 hours)
  • SPA4302L Introduction to Clinical Audiology Laboratory (1 hour)
• Required Milestones:
  • Complete Scholarship In Practice Course
  • Complete Pre-Graduation Checks

Term 7

• Sample Schedule:
  • SPA4104 Neurological Bases of Communication (3 hours)
  • SPA4255 Developmental Communication Disorders (3 hours)
  • SPA4321 Aural Rehabilitation I (3 hours)
  • Certificate Course/Elective(s) (7 hours)
• Required Milestones:
  • (no milestones)

Term 8

• Sample Schedule:
  • SPA4056 Clinical Methods (3 hours)
  • SPA4257 Acquired Communication Disorders (3 hours)
  • SPA4800 Research Evaluation (3 hours)
  • Certificate Course/Elective(s) (6 hours)
• Required Milestones:
  • Apply for graduation 1st two weeks of semester

Employment Information

• Salary Information: Available from the National Association of Colleges and Employers or the Occupational Outlook Handbook provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Audiologist, Audiology Assistant, Consultant (speech, language, and/or hearing disorders), Speech Language Pathologist (speech therapist), Speech Language Pathology Assistant, Researcher, Speech Therapy Product Developer.
• Representative Employers: Hospitals, Community Health Centers, Public Schools, Private Practice, Business and Industry (limited), Universities, Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.