The Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders is a pre-professional degree designed primarily for students who anticipate earning a master's or doctoral degree, state licensure, and national certification as speech-language pathologists or audiologists. Through exposure to state-of-the-art instructional techniques that embrace questioning, interaction, formative and summative assessments, and communication, students are prepared for immediate entry into positions such as speech assistant, paraprofessional, or aide in public and private school systems, as well as other academic programs, human services professions, or special education.
Students study a comprehensive range of subjects, including language development, audiology, the anatomy and physiology of speech, and phonetics and phonological systems. Small classes and renowned faculty with ample clinical experience help students understand the key clinical and professional aspects of the field.
This program prepares graduates for entrance into an advanced study in communication disorders. The degree may also be helpful for entrance into other academic programs, human services professions, or special education. Students who complete the degree requirements and do not intend to pursue a graduate degree may find immediate entry into positions such as speech assistant, paraprofessional, or aide in public and private school systems.
Vision
The SCSU Dept of CMD will be the leader in attracting and preparing an exemplary, diverse student body who will be competent in using innovative, evidence-based practices responsive to the culture and unique needs of all individuals with communication disorders and differences across the life span.
Mission
Through its unwavering commitment to current, innovative academic and clinical curriculum, and equity-minded policies, the Department of Communication Disorders will prepare future Speech-Language Pathologists with the knowledge and skills needed to enrich the lives of the people they serve and the wider community in which they live.
To accomplish this mission, the Department will:
- Listen to all voices and experiences to create an inclusive culture dedicated to upholding the basic human rights of equality, freedom, and justice for all our students, faculty, staff, and the clients we serve.
- Support, conduct and disseminate essential, impactful clinical research
- Engage in interprofessional education and practice to foster collaboration and provision of comprehensive client services.
- Embrace innovative, effective clinical practice and service delivery models in our state-of-the art clinic and our myriad clinical practicum opportunities.
- Utilize dynamic teaching approaches to deliver curriculum that reflects the profession’s evolving scope of practice and prepares students to become life-long learners and evidence-based practitioners
- Advance our discipline by educating the general public about our mission and available services
- Foster leadership and advocacy in our students and faculty to effectively engage in culturally responsive practice
Program Goals
- Expand program offerings to align with student and stakeholder needs such as shortage of SLP, SLP assistants, Multilingual SLPs, doctoral level SLPs
- Increase enrollment and retention of students who identify as Black, African-American, Latinx, Native American, Asian, Male, and/or LGBTQ in our undergraduate and graduate programs to foster increased representation across the fields of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
- Increase breadth of clinical learning /service opportunities for students to meet current and imminent changes within the profession and community
- Increase student capacity to engage in interprofessional practice, to use culturally responsive approaches, and to serve clients with specialized needs
- Revise all CMD policies and procedures to reflect equity, access, diversity, and inclusion to result in a more diverse student body in both undergraduate and graduate programs
- To expand and enhance research experiences for faculty and students to result in greater contribution to the profession and community
- Increase CMD faculty understanding of the processes of anti-bias and anti-racism work and their role to support equity, access, diversity, and inclusion in the CMD program.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic human communication and swallowing processes, including the appropriate biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, linguistic, and cultural bases.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate information pertaining to normal and abnormal human development across the lifespan.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate and synthesize current research in communication sciences and disorders and related disciplines.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of standards of ethical conduct in communication sciences and disorders.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to synthesize and evaluate current disciplinary information and communicate this knowledge orally and in writing.
- Students will participate in a minimum of 25 hours of guided clinical observation in speech-language pathology and audiology.
A student declares Communication Disorders as a major and must meet the following criteria to continue in the program:
Minimum GPA of 3.0 (taking into account grades from all universities attended).
Completion of the following courses with a grade of “B” or higher in each class:
- CMD 200 — Introduction to Developmental Communication Disorders
- CMD 201 — Introduction to Communication Disorders in Medical Settings
- ENG 112— Writing Arguments
Following completion of CMD 200 or CMD 201 with a grade of B or better, the student will be eligible to take the second introductory course. Transfer students with at least 45 credits may be allowed to take both CMD 200 and CMD 201 in the same semester. A minimum grade of B in both of these courses must be achieved in order to continue with CMD course work.
After declaring a CMD major, the student must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA both within the major and overall each semester. A student who fails to meet these criteria will not be eligible to continue taking CMD courses until they meet the GPA requirement. If they do not meet the GPA requirement the subsequent semester they will need to meet with an adviser in Academic Advisement to select another major. A student may return to the CMD major in a subsequent semester if both the department and overall GPAs are brought up to the requisite 3.0.
Students who do not maintain this GPA will no longer be considered as CMD majors and will not be able to register for classes in the major. Students who have registered for CMD courses in an upcoming semester will be required to drop those courses if they fail to achieve the required 3.0 GPA in the previous semester.
Students who are further along in their studies when they apply may not be able to complete their undergraduate degree in four years.
How many Communication Disorders courses are required for the undergraduate degree?
Twelve (12) courses in the Communication Disorders major are required to complete the undergraduate degree.
Is there a required Grade Point Average (GPA) to be an undergraduate student of Communication Disorders?
Students must have a GPA of at least 3.0 to become Communication Disorders majors. A 3.0 GPA must be maintained departmentally and overall throughout the program.
Can I find employment with a bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders?
Students who complete the Communication Disorders degree requirements and do not intend to pursue a graduate degree may find employment as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA), Audiology Assistant, Special Education Paraprofessional, Rehabilitation Aid, or Research Assistant.
Will I do "hands-on" clinical work as an undergraduate student?
Undergraduate students in Communication Disorders have several opportunities to gain experiences that build an understanding of real-world applications from observing in the SCSU Center for Communication Disorders Clinic, to volunteering with community partners such as Yale New Haven Hospital. We do not provide supervised practicum experiences for undergraduate students who major in Communication Disorders.
How are the required 25 undergraduate observation hours obtained?
Students will obtain many of the 25 observation hours as part of their course work requirements. Observation hours may take place within the SCSU Center for Communication Disorders Clinic, through the Master Clinician Network, or at an outside site. The guided therapy session must be conducted or supervised by a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
How many students are accepted into the SCSU Communication Disorders master's program each year? Where are other master's programs located?
The SCSU Department of Communication Disorders Master of Science program in Speech-Language Pathology has an incoming annual class of approximately 40-45 students. There are many programs throughout the United States that offer master's degrees in Communication Disorders. For a complete listing of accredited programs, consult the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) website.
I am a transfer student. Will I be able to graduate on time if I major in Communication Disorders?
Whether a student graduates "on time" (defined here as within four years after entering college) depends on many factors. The earlier a student begins the communication disorders program, the greater the chances of finishing on time. Transferring sophomores can usually complete the program and graduate within four years of starting college (taking at least 15 credits per semester), while juniors and seniors may typically need an additional semester or more to complete all requirements. However, if students are willing to take additional courses during the summer and/or spring or winter breaks, it is usually possible to accelerate completion of the program. Students with prior undergraduate degrees also have the opportunity to seek a second bachelor’s degree to obtain the Communication Disorders prerequisite courses needed to apply to a Master’s program.
What is the role of the academic advisor in the Department of Communication Disorders?
The Department of Communication Disorders undergraduate academic advisor works closely with the Department of Academic Advising for incoming students to develop a plan of study based on Liberal Education Program requirements, Major and Cognate requirements and other areas of interest. The academic advisor also provides mentorship and guidance with course selection. Students are required to formally meet with their academic advisor each semester when planning courses for the following semester and to review their progress towards their degree completion.
Careers
The personnel who work in the field of communication disorders are speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. These professionals evaluate, treat, and conduct research into human communication and its disorders. The practice and work of these individuals may take place in many types of settings: hospitals, schools, universities, private practice, research laboratories and industry. These individuals may collaborate with medical specialists, educators, engineers, scientists, and other allied health professionals and technicians.
Jobs in speech, hearing, and language development are projected to grow through 2026, including for speech-language pathologists (18%) and audiologists (21%), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are many rewarding careers you can pursue with a degree in Communication Disorders. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Speech-Language Pathologists as no. 11 in Best Health Care Jobs.
- Evaluate and treat children and adults who are having difficulty speaking, understanding, reading, or writing.
- Evaluate the cognitive skills of adults or children to determine their ability to remember, concentrate, and solve problems. Provide therapy when indicated. These problems may be developmental or acquired.
- Evaluate swallowing problems in both children and adults. Provide therapy programs and recommend strategies to help improve swallow function.
- Evaluate and treat children and adults with social communication difficulties.
- Provide assistance with communication using alternative and augmentative communication devices.
- Advocate for people with communication disorders and differences.
- Educate others on the prevention of communication disorders.
- Evaluate hearing and/or balance ability of children and adults
- Provide aural rehabilitation, including counseling, to reduce the effects of hearing loss on communication
- Assess hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other hearing assistive technology and instruct in their use and care
- Initiate public and private hearing conservation programs
- Administer and interpret advanced diagnostic tests such as auditory electrophysiology, electronystagmography, and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials
- Initiate clinical and basic research related to hearing loss and its effects
- Serve as consultants to industry on environmental and noise-induced hearing loss
- Provide speech and language treatment following a plan developed by the supervising SLP and document treatment progress
- Assist the SLP with speech, language, and hearing screenings without clinical interpretation
- Assist the SLP during the assessment of children and adults without clinical administration and/or interpretation
- Program and provide instruction in the use of augmentative and alternative communication devices
- Provide services under SLP supervision in another language for individuals who do not speak English and English-language learners
- Advocate for people with communication disorders and differences
- Educate others on the prevention of communication disorders
- Investigate processes underlying human communication
- Explore psychological, social, and psychophysiological aspects of communication
- Collaborate with physicians, dentists, engineers, and educators to develop new treatment approaches
- Apply newly discovered basic knowledge and emerging technology to issues of clinical practice
School / College
College of Health & Human Services
Department
Communication Disorders
Contact
Kelly Mabry, Ph.D., CCC-SLP