Communication Sciences and Disorders, B.A.

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Myrita Wilhite, PhD/AuD, CCC-A
Chair, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Description

Communication Sciences and Disorders focuses on the study of normal and disordered communication and swallowing across the lifespan. It is a diverse field that includes studying the functioning of the auditory system, the speech mechanism, language processing, cognitive communication, social and cultural aspects of communication, and the clinical processes involved in identification, prevention, and remediation of associated disorders. The major draws upon several other disciplines including psychology, anatomy, physiology, psychology, linguistics, physics, engineering, medicine, and education.

What careers can this major prepare you for?

The undergraduate major provides the foundation for future study in Communication Sciences and Disorders. You must earn a Master’s degree to work as a Speech-Language Pathologist or a Doctor of Audiology degree to work as an Audiologist. However, because of the strong critical thinking and analytical skills that are acquired by majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders, you could go on to accomplish the following career goals: School District (Classroom assistants, Substitute teacher, Speech therapy assistant); Hospitals/Outpatient Clinics (Rehabilitation Aide, Administrative Support staff, Activities Director, Patient/family advocate); or you may work in Hearing aid companies, Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device Companies, Hospice care, Respite care, Home health aid/Personal care worker, Aide or manager in home for developmentally disabled adults, Teaching English as a second language, Research assistant.

What skills are developed within this major?

Skills developed within this major include: Strong analytical and critical thinking, Ability to link theory with practical applications, Research and critical evaluation skills, Strong verbal and written communication skills, Leadership and team-building abilities, Listening, clarifying, questioning and responding skills, Ability to work well with diverse groups.

Hours Required for Degree

Minimum hours required for the degree: 120

Minimum hours required for major: 43

College Requirements

See college page for college requirements.

Major Requirements

At the undergraduate level, students majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders are required to take the following 43 credit hours.

Required Courses (16 Courses)

Honors Program and University Scholars

The Communication Sciences and Disorders Upper Division Honors Program is designed for the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) major who seeks engaged learning opportunities in research, clinical experience, or cultural competency tracks. Application for admission to the Honors Program must be made at least 30 days before the semester in which the applicant wishes to enter, typically the spring or summer semester before their senior year. The CSD Honors Committee will review these applications. A minimum overall GPA of 3.5 is required for admission.

University Honors/Scholars students majoring in CSD who meet the minimum 3.5 GPA requirement (Honors) and 3.25 GPA (Scholars) may enter the program and must maintain the GPA requirement throughout the program.

Upon entering the Honors Program the CSD student must select an honors adviser from among the CSD faculty or professional staff. The honors adviser will be responsible for coordinating the student’s honors experience. This person will be the CSD 495 - Speech Seminar instructor of record and will supervise the student’s honors experience.

CSD majors in the Honors/Scholars Program will complete all of the requirements of the major. Honors/Scholars work completed by CSD students will be in addition to the courses required for the major. However, CSD students may coordinate their Honors/Scholars assignments with the requirements for their Senior Capstone Portfolio (with permission of the honors adviser and the instructor for the CSD 497 - Senior Capstone Portfolio ).

The successful completion of the Honors/Scholars requirements leads to recommendation by the CSD Honors Committee for graduation with honors/scholars. Achievement of this goal is indicated on the student’s transcript.

I. Research Track Requirements (9 credits)

1) HSC 484 - Advanced Research and Writing in Health Sciences (5 credits) PRIOR TO 2) CSD 495 - Speech Seminar (1 to 3 credits) for 2 semesters for a total of 4 credits.

Students enroll in HSC 484 (WAC approved by UCC) to (a) become familiar with current faculty research as well as published research in the student’s area of interest, (b) gain advanced knowledge and skill in research methodology, and (c) design a research project under faculty mentorship. Students should begin consulting with CSD faculty or professional staff while enrolled in HSC 484 to coordinate the HSC 484 course material with the research areas under study by the faculty or professional staff or to discuss research in the student’s area of interest.

Research proposed during HSC 484 is then conducted while CSD majors are enrolled in CSD 495 - Speech Seminar . Enrollment in CSD 495 results in completion of an honors research project under the direction of the Honors/Scholars adviser. Research projects can involve basic or applied research using a variety of methodologies.

The Honors/Scholars research project will be presented as a poster to students, faculty, and professional staff during Health Sciences Honors Research Day or during the College of Health Research Day.

II. Clinical Track Requirements (6 credits minimum to 8 credits maximum)

ONE graduate level course in Communication Sciences and Disorders (3 credits). The course must be approved by the student’s honors/scholars adviser.
As a prerequisite to the cooperative education experience, students are required to take CSC 321 - Employment Strategies (1 credit) , which is a web-based course.
An approved cooperative education experience (2 credit minimum to 4 credits maximum). Ongoing enrollment in CSD 495 for 2 semesters during this experience for at least 1 credit hour per semester in order to meet the 2 credit minimum to 4 credit maximum.

Graduate Level Course

The student will take 1 graduate level course. Students may not use these credits towards the CSU graduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders if the credits count toward the bachelor’s degree, per CSU policy. Note: Students may enroll in graduate courses in CSD only by permission of the instructor and the CSD Program Director because these courses are generally only open to students accepted into the CSD graduate program.

Cooperative Education Experience (2 credit minimum - 4 credit Maximum) (Note: 1 credit=15 hours of contact time)

Students must complete a 2 to 4 credit Cooperative Education Experience for 2 semesters. This experience will be supervised by the student’s honors/scholars adviser. Students will enroll in CSD 495 in order to receive credit and supervision by the honors/scholars adviser.

The focus of the cooperative education experience is to provide the honors/scholars student with an opportunity to participate in an engaged learning experience that will enhance knowledge and expertise in an area relevant to a career focus, e.g., speech-language pathology or audiology. The student will prepare a response to the experience that will connect theory and practice. This response will include an analysis of research literature relevant to the student’s cooperative experience.

Suggestions for Cooperative Education Experiences

Working as a teaching assistant to the honors/scholars adviser in order to assist in the delivery of an undergraduate course (after having completed the course with a B+ or higher). The student will complete a teaching assignment to be determined by the faculty or professional staff member. Examples include developing teaching aids, developing tutorials for students, or teaching a unit in a course.
Completing a clinical career experience by working with a practicing speech-language pathologist or audiologist. If this practitioner is not a CSU employee, they will collaborate with the honors/scholars adviser.
Working as a research assistant for the honors adviser on a clinical research project.

Examples of Literature Analysis Supporting Clinical Track Experiences

Analysis of literature on a disorder of speech, language, or hearing
A review of the evidence-based literature supporting clinical practice or clinical research
An overview of research focused on supporting a particular clinical intervention

The outcomes of the Cooperative Education Experience will be presented as a poster to students, faculty, and professional staff during Health Sciences Honors/Scholars Research Day or during the College of Health Research Day.

III. Cultural Competency Track Requirements (8 credits minimum to 10 credits minimum)

HSC 505 Culture and Health Care (3 credits)
Students must complete a 300-400 level course in anthropology, sociology, communications, or psychology associated with the pending interdisciplinary Culture, Communication, and Health Certificate Program offered through HSC (3 credits). (This course may serve to complete another requirement, such as WAC or upper division coursework.)
The above requirements must be completed PRIOR TO enrollment in CSD 495 - Speech Seminar . Ongoing enrollment in CSD 495 for 2 semesters for at least 1 credit hour per semester in order to meet the 2 credit minimum to 4 credit maximum. (Note: 1 credit = 15 hours of contact time)

Enrollment in CSD 495 results in completion of a cultural competency project. The focus of the project is for the students to apply principles of cultural competency to an engaged learning experience and to develop a response to the experience connecting theory and practice. The project must include both an engaged cultural experience and an analysis of research literature relevant to the student’s cultural experience.

Examples of a Cultural Competency Project

Completing a service learning or community experience such as volunteering at the Free Clinic or with a health advocacy agency for persons in economic need
Working as a research assistant for the honors adviser on a research project that explores issues relevant to culture and health
Participating in an international program offered through CSU and focusing the analysis of relevant literature on culture and health in this location

The cultural competency project will be presented as a poster to students, faculty, and professional staff during Health Sciences Honors/Scholars Research Day or during the College of Health Research Day.

Notes:

*Contract Courses: The honors contract course compromises the community of an honors course, but it permits both students and faculty to pursue the creativity, uniqueness, independence, and academically enhanced standards of honors in a special setting. Students must initiate an Honors Contract Course Petition in writing by consulting with the adviser and faculty member, proposing a course of study, identifying appropriate outcomes or experiences, and specifying criteria for evaluation. A form, available on the University Honors Program website, is provided to help students and instructors formalize the honors contract course. The petition for honors contract course should be submitted at the time of pre-registration, with final proposal due prior to the end of the semester before the term in which the honors contract course will be taken. Scholars students may not take a contract course.