COURSE CURRICULUM

The Communicative Disorders (CD) program offers a range of elective courses that allow students to deepen their knowledge and gain specialized experience in areas such as language development, audiology, research, and clinical practice. These electives include introductory courses like CD 102 and CD 103, advanced options such as CD 402 (Psychology of Language), CD 414 (Autism Spectrum Disorders), and CD 475 (Voice and Swallowing), as well as hands-on experiences like CD 345 (Introductory Audiology Lab Experience), CD 445 (Audiology Lab Experience), and CD 447 (Clinical Practicum I). Students may also engage in independent study, global clinical perspectives, and research-focused courses to broaden their academic and professional preparation. A minimum of 12 upper-level (300–400) credit hours must be completed in residence, and all students are required to complete a minor alongside the major. As a pre-professional program, Communicative Disorders prepares students for advanced study, as a master’s degree is required for professional certification and licensure in speech-language pathology or audiology. Students interested in clinical practicum or audiology experiences must apply and meet strict academic criteria. For Clinical Practicum I (CD 447) or Honors (CD 457), students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 and at least a 3.0 GPA in prerequisite courses such as phonetics, anatomy and physiology, language development, and pediatric disorders. For the Introductory Audiology Lab (CD 345), a minimum 3.0 GPA is required along with completion of foundational courses including hearing science. For the Audiology Lab Experience (CD 445), students must meet a higher standard of a 3.3 cumulative GPA and complete additional coursework such as basic audiology. Applications for these practicum experiences are submitted electronically through the department website. Overall, the program combines academic coursework, practical training, and strict performance standards to ensure students are well-prepared for graduate study and professional careers in communication sciences and disorders.