COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders and Sciences (CDS) is a pre-professional program designed to prepare students for advanced graduate study in audiology or speech-language pathology and for careers in related communication-health fields. Offered by the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, the program emphasizes strong foundational knowledge in speech, language, hearing, anatomy, neurophysiology, and clinical practice, along with supervised observational and practicum experiences. Because CDS courses are offered only once per year and must be taken in sequence beginning in the fall semester, students are expected to follow a carefully structured roadmap in consultation with an advisor. The curriculum includes major preparation in biological, physical, and behavioral sciences such as statistics, biology, chemistry or physics, psychology, and lifespan development, ensuring students build the interdisciplinary base required for clinical work. Core major requirements cover areas such as communication development in children, phonetics, anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing, neuroanatomy, communicative disorders in both children and adults, audiology, and hearing science, along with guided clinical observation and applied practice. Students also complete practicum experiences in speech-language pathology and audiology, which require minimum GPA standards and clinical readiness. In addition to major coursework, students complete university electives that allow exploration of complementary academic areas. Overall, the program requires 120 units and is structured to integrate scientific theory with hands-on clinical training, preparing graduates for competitive entry into professional graduate programs and for roles supporting individuals with communication disorders in healthcare, educational, and community settings.