Communication Sciences and Disorders Major

The undergraduate program immerses students in an academically rigorous and challenging course of study. Students learn about the normal development and processes of speech, language, and hearing, as well as its disorders across the lifespan. In addition to the courses offered within the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, students are required to take courses in biological sciences, physical sciences, behavioral sciences, and mathematics. 

The undergraduate curriculum allows the opportunity for students who may be interested to study abroad or be part of the National Student Exchange. The second semester of year one or the first semester of year two or three are good choices for these pursuits. Students must plan their semester away with their department advisor at least one year in advance to assure that they complete their major requirements in a timely manner. The curriculum also allows students to declare a minor in an area of interest.

Overall, the Communication Sciences and Disorders major provides students with knowledge and skills that enable them to do well in either graduate school or in the work place. Students will have an excellent liberal arts education with a strong basis of normal and disordered communication. Students acquire interpersonal, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, as well as scientific reasoning, strong writing ability, and strong presentation skills.

The Communication Sciences and Disorders Department’s Program Goals ensure that students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills of the science underlying human communication, including anatomy and physiology, speech science, phonetics, language science, and hearing science. Students will also be able to demonstrate knowledge of the etiology, characteristics, assessment, prevention, and intervention of communication disorders. In addition, students will demonstrate written language, oral language, and critical thinking skills pertaining to normal and disordered communication.

Requirements for Major in Communication Sciences and Disorders

CD-100Introduction to Human Communication and its Disorders3
CD-103Language Science3
CD-110Anatomy and Physiology of Speech And Hearing3
CD-115Normal Development of Speech and Language3
CD-201Hearing Science3
CD-202Speech Science3
CD-205Phonetics3
CD-230Neuroscience for Communication Sciences and Disorders3
CD-301Directed Observations2
CD-305Introduction to Audiology3
CD-310Language Disorders3
CD-320Speech Disorders3
CD-400Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation3
CD-401Advanced Directed Observations2
CD-410Professional Guidelines and Skills3
CD-475Selected Topics in Communication Sciences and Disorders3
Total Credits46

Students must obtain a minimum grade of a C in any prerequisite major course. In addition, a major course may be repeated only once to obtain a passing grade.

Out of department requirements include the following courses: one biological science (human or animal based), one physical science (introductory physics or chemistry course), MA-180, one statistics, and two behavioral sciences of which one must be in developmental psychology. These requirements cannot be taken pass/fail. Advisors in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will help students choose appropriate courses in these areas.

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Sample Timeline for Completion of Degree

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
LASCFirst-Year Seminar LASC FYS 3
EN-101 College Writing I (LASC WRI) 3
CD-100 Introduction to Human Communication and its Disorders 3
MA-180 Introduction to Functions (LASC QR) 1 3
Biological Science (LASC NSP & Lab)
Select one of the following 4
The Human Animal
and The Human Animal Laboratory
Concepts of Biology
 Credits16
Semester Two
EN-102 College Writing II (LASC WRII) 3
CD-103 Language Science 3
CD-110 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech And Hearing 3
LASCLASC Elective (USW) 2 3
Statistics
MA-150
Statistics I (LASC QR) 1
or Psychological Statistics
3
 Credits15
Year Two
Semester Three
CD-201 Hearing Science 4 3
CD-205 Phonetics 3
LASCLASC Elective (GP) 2 3
LASCLASC Elective (CA) 2 3
PS-101 General Psychology (LASC HBS) 3
 Credits15
Semester Four
CD-115 Normal Development of Speech and Language 3
CD-202 Speech Science 3
PS-210 Developmental Psychology 3
Physical Science
Select one of the following: (LASC NSP) 3 4
Concepts in Physics I
Physics of Waves
Survey of Chemistry
LASCLASC Elective (TLC) 2 3
 Credits16
Year Three
Semester Five
CD-230 Neuroscience for Communication Sciences and Disorders 3
LASCLASC Elective (NSP) 2 3
LASCLASC Elective (ICW) 2 3
LASCLASC Elective (CON) 2 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester Six
CD-301 Directed Observations 6 2
CD-310 Language Disorders 6 3
CD-320 Speech Disorders 6 3
CD-305 Introduction to Audiology 6 3
LASCDistribution Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits17
Year Four
Semester Seven
CD-401 Advanced Directed Observations 2
CD-400 Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation 3
CD-410 Professional Guidelines and Skills 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits14
Semester Eight
CD-475 Selected Topics in Communication Sciences and Disorders 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits123
1

MA-180 requires a math placement code of 5 or higher. MA-150 requires and a math placement code of 4 or higher.  PS-275 requires a math placement code of 3 or higher.

2

LASC courses indicated with 2 are suggestions and serve as a reminder that LASC Distribution Electives must be taken to satisfy the LASC requirements.

3

See advisor for a full list of approved courses.

4

CD-201 requires a math placement code of 3 or higher.

5

CD-202 requires a math placement code of 3 or higher.

6

CD-301, CD-305, CD-310 and CD-320 are corequisite courses.

Note:

  1. Most major courses have prerequisites that must be completed before enrolling into the subsequent course.
  2. Once major and LASC requirements are satisfied, students may elect any courses of interest to fulfill a minimum of 120 credits for graduation.

Students are required to meet with their academic advisor to review their courses for the upcoming semester. A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation.  First-year and transfer students with 45 or fewer credits at the time of admission shall complete two academic programs (a major/major or major/minor) to qualify for graduation.  For more information, please view the MajorPlus section of this catalog.