The Major

The curriculum leading to a Bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders is designed to provide the undergraduate student with a broad introductory background to the normal processes of speech, hearing, language, and related functions, as well as a basic understanding of communicative pathologies and a familiarization with various approaches to their assessment and treatment. The Bachelor's program does not provide (nor is it designed to provide) the student with all of the necessary competencies that allow for employment within the professions of Speech/Language Pathology or Audiology. The curriculum does provide the necessary academic preparation for graduate study in Speech/Language Pathology or Audiology which is the level of preparation where the achievement of professional competencies are the primary goal of course study and supervised practicum.

Students are strongly advised to consult the academic advisor about the content and sequence of their curriculum, especially where the choice and sequencing of electives are concerned.

Requirements (if declared summer 2021 or later)

Departmental Requirements

  • COMM-DIS 100 Introduction to Communication Disorders – (DU SB)
  • COMM-DIS 211 Anatomy and Physiology I: The Speech and Hearing Mechanism
  • COMM-DIS 212 Anatomy and Physiology II: Neurological Bases of Speech, Language, and Hearing
  • COMM-DIS 213 Phonetic Processing
  • COMM-DIS 214 Introduction to Hearing Science
  • COMM-DIS 290A Introduction to Language Science
  • COMM-DIS 301 Speech and Language Development - (IE)
  • COMM-DIS 312 Introduction to Speech Science
  • COMM-DIS 313 Introduction to Audiology
  • COMM-DIS 330 Junior Year Writing
  • COMM-DIS 316 Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation
  • COMM-DIS 415 Speech and Language Disorders

one 3-credit elective numbered 398 or above from Departmental offerings (excluding 496 Independent Study)

Extra-Departmental Requirements

  • SPHHS 150 Great Challenges in Public Health and Health Science (DU SB)
  • PHYSICS 114 Theory of Sound
  • PSYCH 350 Developmental Psychology or HUMANDEV 270 Child Development
  • Statistics course (see advisor)

Electives

  • COMM-DIS 398 Practicum
  • COMM-DIS 416 Clinical Procedures
  • COMM-DIS 490A Hearing Health and Society
  • COMM-DIS 496K Clinical Observation - 1 cr. (Strongly suggested but not required)
  • COMM-DIS 520 Counseling in Communication Disorders
  • COMM-DIS 530 Neurological Substrates and Neuropathologies of Language, Speech and Hearing
  • COMM-DIS 540 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • COMM-DIS 580 Cognitive Bases of Language Functions
  • COMM-DIS 591D S-Treatment Technology in Communication Disorders
  • COMM-DIS 591E S-SLP Assistants in the School

Total number of credits required for the major in Communication Disorders is 54.

Suggested Schedule

Freshmen
Fall or Spring
COMM-DIS 100 Introduction to Communication Disorders
SPHHS 150 Great Challenges in Public Health and Health Science
PSYCH 100 Introductory Psychology
PSYCH 350 Developmental Psychology or HUMANDEV 270 Child Development
Statistics
General Education Requirements

Sophomores
Fall
COMM-DIS 211 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
COMM-DIS 290A Introduction to Language Science
PHYSICS 114 Theory of Sound
Non-departmental electives (2)

Spring
COMM-DIS 211 Anatomy and Physiology II: Neurological Bases of Speech, Language, and Hearing
COMM-DIS 213 Phonetic Processing
COMM-DIS 214 Introduction to Hearing Science
Non-departmental electives (2)

Juniors
Fall
COMM-DIS 301 Speech and Language Development
COMM-DIS 313 Introduction to Audiology
COMM-DIS 330 Writing in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
Non-departmental electives

Spring
COMM-DIS 312 Introduction to Speech Science
COMM-DIS 314 Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation 
COMM-DIS 330 Writing in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (if not taken in the fall)
Non-departmental electives
Statistics course

Seniors
Fall
COMM-DIS 330 Writing in Com Dis (if not taken in the Junior year)
Comm-Dis 415 Speech and Language Disorders
COMM-DIS 496K Clinical Observation
Departmental electives
Non-departmental electives

Spring
COMM-DIS 496K Clinical Observation (if not taken previously)
Departmental electives
Non-departmental electives

Requirements (if declared summer 2019-spring 2021)

Departmental Requirements

  • COMM-DIS 100 Introduction to Communication Disorders – (DU SB)
  • COMM-DIS 211 Anatomy and Physiology I: The Speech and Hearing Mechanism
  • COMM-DIS 212 Anatomy and Physiology II: Neurological Bases of Speech, Language, and Hearing
  • COMM-DIS 213 Phonetic Processing
  • COMM-DIS 214 Introduction to Hearing Science
  • COMM-DIS 290A Introduction to Language Science
  • COMM-DIS 301 Speech and Language Development - (IE)
  • COMM-DIS 312 Introduction to Speech Science
  • COMM-DIS 313 Introduction to Audiology
  • COMM-DIS 330 Junior Year Writing
  • COMM-DIS 316 Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation
  • COMM-DIS 415 Speech and Language Disorders

one 3-credit elective numbered 398 or above from Departmental offerings (excluding 496 Independent Study)

Extra-Departmental Requirements

  • PHYSICS 114 Theory of Sound
  • PSYCH 350 Developmental Psychology or HUMANDEV 270 Child Development
  • Statistics course (see advisor)

Electives

  • COMM-DIS 398 Practicum
  • COMM-DIS 416 Clinical Procedures
  • COMM-DIS 490A Hearing Health and Society
  • COMM-DIS 496K Clinical Observation - 1 cr. (Strongly suggested but not required)
  • COMM-DIS 520 Counseling in Communication Disorders
  • COMM-DIS 530 Neurological Substrates and Neuropathologies of Language, Speech and Hearing
  • COMM-DIS 540 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • COMM-DIS 580 Cognitive Bases of Language Functions
  • COMM-DIS 591D S-Treatment Technology in Communication Disorders
  • COMM-DIS 591E S-SLP Assistants in the School

Total number of credits required for the major in Communication Disorders is 50.

Suggested Schedule

Freshmen
Fall or Spring
COMM-DIS 100 Introduction to Communication Disorders
PSYCH 100 Introductory Psychology
PSYCH 350 Developmental Psychology or HUMANDEV 270 Child Development
Statistics
General Education Requirements

Sophomores
Fall
COMM-DIS 211 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
COMM-DIS 290A Introduction to Language Science
PHYSICS 114 Theory of Sound
Non-departmental electives (2)

Spring
COMM-DIS 211 Anatomy and Physiology II: Neurological Bases of Speech, Language, and Hearing
COMM-DIS 213 Phonetic Processing
COMM-DIS 214 Introduction to Hearing Science
Non-departmental electives (2)

Juniors
Fall
COMM-DIS 301 Speech and Language Development
COMM-DIS 313 Introduction to Audiology
COMM-DIS 330 Writing in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
Non-departmental electives

Spring
COMM-DIS 312 Introduction to Speech Science
COMM-DIS 314 Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation 
COMM-DIS 330 Writing in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (if not taken in the fall)
Non-departmental electives
Statistics course

Seniors
Fall
COMM-DIS 330 Writing in Com Dis (if not taken in the Junior year)
COMM-DIS 496K Clinical Observation
Departmental electives
Non-departmental electives

Spring
COMM-DIS 415 Speech and Language Disorders (if not taken in the fall)
COMM-DIS 496K Clinical Observation (if not taken previously)
Departmental electives
Non-departmental electives

Requirements (if declared before summer 2019)

Departmental Requirements

  • Comm-Dis 211 Anatomy and Physiology I: The Speech and Hearing Mechanism
  • Comm-Dis 212 Anatomy and Physiology II: Neurological Bases of Speech, Language, and Hearing
  • Comm-Dis 213 Phonetic Processing
  • Comm-Dis 214 Introduction to Hearing Science
  • Comm-Dis 301 Speech and Language Development - (IE)
  • Comm-Dis 312 Introduction to Speech Science
  • Comm-Dis 313 Introduction to Audiology
  • Comm-Dis 330 Junior Year Writing
  • Comm-Dis 390A/316 Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation
  • Comm-Dis 415 Speech and Language Disorders

Extra-Departmental Requirements

  • PHYSICS 114 Theory of Sound
  • PSYCH 350 Child Behavior and Development or
  • HUMANDEV 270 Child Development
  • LINGUIST 201 Introduction to Linguistic Theory
  • Statistics course (see advisor)

Electives

  • 100 Introduction to Communication Disorders – (U) (Strongly suggested but not required)
  • 416 Clinical Procedures
  • 490A Hearing Health and Society
  • 496K Clinical Observation - 1 cr. (Strongly suggested but not required)
  • 520 Counseling in Communication Disorders
  • 530 Neurological Substrates and Neuropathologies of Language, Speech and Hearing
  • 540 Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • 580 Cognitive Bases of Language Functions
  • 591D S-Treatment Technology in Communication Disorders
  • 591E S-SLP Assistants in the School

Total number of credits required for the major in Communication Disorders is 43.

Suggested Schedule

Freshmen
Fall or Spring

COMM-DIS 210 Introduction to Communication Disorders
PSYCH 100 Introductory Psychology
General Education Requirements

Sophomores
Fall
COMM-DIS 211 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
COMM-DIS 213 Phonetic Processing
PHYSICS 114 Theory of Sound
PSYCH 350 Child Behavior and Development or
HUMANDEV 270 Child Development
Non-departmental electives (2)

Spring
COMM-DIS 211 Anatomy and Physiology II: Neurological Bases of Speech, Language, and Hearing
COMM-DIS 214 Introduction to Hearing Science
LINGUIST 201 Introduction to Linguistics
Statistics
Non-departmental electives (2)

Juniors
Fall
COMM-DIS 301 Speech and Language Development
COMM-DIS 313 Introduction to Audiology
COMM-DIS 330 Writing in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
Non-departmental electives

Spring
COMM-DIS 312 Introduction to Speech Science
COMM-DIS 314 Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation 
COMM-DIS 330 Writing in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (if not taken in the fall)
Non-departmental electives
Statistics course

Seniors
Fall
COMM-DIS 330 Writing in Com Dis (if not taken in the Junior year)
COMM-DIS 496K Clinical Observation
Departmental electives
Non-departmental electives

Spring
COMM-DIS 415 Speech and Language Disorders (if not taken in the fall)
COMM-DIS 496K Clinical Observation (if not taken previously)
Departmental electives
Non-departmental electives