Communication Sciences and Disorders, BA

The major in communication sciences and disorders provides students with opportunities for study in the areas of speech–language pathology, audiology, and the normal aspects of speech, hearing, and language. Most students pursue this major because they hope to practice as licensed and/or certified clinicians in educational and medical/allied-health settings, assisting clients with communicative impairments arising from disease, trauma, predisposition, maladaptive learning, or unknown causes. Professional clinical practice follows completion of a master's degree in speech–language pathology, or a doctor of audiology degree, and involves evaluation and treatment based upon a firm theoretical understanding of normal processes of hearing, and of speech and language formulation, production, and perception. Some students pursue the undergraduate major as a foundation for a research career in speech, language or hearing sciences. Others pursue the major as a preliminary step toward advanced training in other professional fields (e.g., law, medicine, nursing, special education), or as a liberal arts degree that could lead to a variety of different career paths (Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) assistant, educational assistant, line therapist).The major in communication sciences and disorders can be completed through the College of Letters & Science, or through the School of Education. Students select one program to follow, and should be aware that the two programs differ somewhat in their requirements for the major. Moreover, each program (L&S and Education) has its own general liberal studies requirements involving, for example, sciences, math, foreign language, social studies, and humanities. Students should plan to complete many of these general requirements as well as some courses in communication sciences and disorders during their first and second years on this campus.The department is accredited in speech–language pathology and in audiology by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA). Therefore, academic courses and clinical practica in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders may be applied toward clinical certification by ASHA (speech language pathology or audiology), and toward state licensure.