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).
Students are urged to consult with an undergraduate academic advisor in the department as soon as they have decided to major in this field. Course sequencing in the major is not flexible. Certain courses are prerequisites to others. Many of the courses are offered only once a year. To declare the major, students must earn a grade point average of 3.000 or better for the three courses CS&D 201 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Production, CS&D 202 Hearing Science, and CS&D 240 Language Development in Children and Adolescents, the first time these courses are attempted. Prospective majors typically begin taking this three-course "gateway" sequence as sophomores. Major declaration forms may be obtained from an advisor after the gateway criterion has been satisfied, and should be returned to the advisor for processing.
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.
People
Professors Connor, Ellis Weismer, Fowler, Hustad, Kaushanskaya, Litovsky, Thibeault
Associate Professor Ciucci
Assistant Professors Boothalingam, Parrell, Niziolek, Sterling
Visiting Assistant Professors Easwar, Finney, Rountrey
Clinical Professor Quinn
Clinical Associate Professors Buhr-Lawler, Caul, Cohen, Douglas, Eith, Hartman, Kroll, Krug, Lee, Seidel
Lecturer Johnson