Communication Sciences and Disorders B.S.

Total Semester Credit Hours = 120

Students majoring in communication sciences and disorders build a foundation in the sciences pertaining to speech, language, hearing, and swallowing. In addition, students survey speech and language disorders including speech sound disorders, fluency disorders, language disorders and hearing disorders. After they earn the Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, students will be qualified to seek a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, audiology, or speech and hearing science at accredited programs around the nation. Students wishing to work with their undergraduate CSD degree can get employment as speech language pathology assistants (SLPAs). However, the great majority of students join the major with the intention of pursuing the graduate degree, which is required for obtaining national certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and state licensure. 

The UT Tyler Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders requires a total of 120 undergraduate credits. Of these, 48 credits must be in communication sciences and disorders (CSD), and 15 must be in sciences related to CSD that are required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The linguistics course (COMD 3314 Linguistics for Speech Language Pathology) meets the credit requirements for the major, as well as ASHA basic sciences requirements. 

Basic Program Requirements:

  1. Fluency in spoken and written English, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly and effectively 
  2. Functional hearing and auditory processing skills that facilitate the effective processing and comprehension of the English language (spoken and written)
  3. Emotional maturity and mental stability
  4. Effective interpersonal and social communication skills
  5. A minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.8 to get into the major.
  6. 4000-level courses require minimum GPA of 3.0
     

Degree Requirements

In addition, students must complete the University’s core curriculum (42 hours). The 15 credits required by ASHA may also be used to meet the University’s Core requirements. A minor is recommended but is not mandatory.

After completing all required coursework (Core, CSD Major, and the ASHA CSD-related courses), students will be free to take any additional courses to complete the 120 hours required for graduation. Students are advised to take an 18-credit minor in an area related to CSD. Recommended minors include (but are not limited to) special education, psychology, health, counseling, biology, or health science. A minimum grade of “C” is required in all CSD courses.

Requirements at a Glance:  

  1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 to be admitted into the program
  2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 by end of junior year and start of senior year
  3.  48 CSD credit hours 
  4. 15 hours in basic sciences (required by ASHA)
  5. At least 12 upper division hours
  6. 6 hours in geography, economics, computer science, mathematics and/or science, in addition to those otherwise counted as lower-division preparation, to fulfill the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree.

A minimum grade of "C" in all Communication Sciences and Disorders courses.

Required (Core) Courses in the Major (Total number of courses required = 15)

COMD 1306Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders

COMD 2310Introduction to APA and Research Writing in Speech Language Pathology

COMD 2311Phonetic Description of Speech

COMD 2357Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Swallowing

COMD 2358Anatomy & Physiology of Hearing and Language

COMD 2359Speech Science

COMD 3313Hearing Science

COMD 3314Linguistics for Speech Language Pathology

COMD 3318Language Acquisition and Development

COMD 3341Introduction to Audiology

COMD 3350Neurological Foundations of Speech, Language and Hearing

COMD 4367Introduction to Language Disorders in Children

COMD 4369Clinical Procedures and Clinical Observation in Communication Disorders

COMD 4370Introduction to Speech Sound Disorders

COMD 4372Introduction to Voice and Fluency Disorders

COMD 4373Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation

Recommended Electives (One of the following)

ALHS 2301Medical Terminology

CMST 4330Interviewing

PSYC 3350Introduction to Clinical and Counseling Psychology

KINE 3303Motor Development

ALHS 4320Principles of Epidemiology

Related Courses Required by ASHA: 5 courses (15 Credits)

Cultural Diversity (one of the following)

EDSP 3351Managing and Instructing Diverse Learners

PSYC 3335Diversity and Social Justice

ANTH 3330Cultural Anthropology

COUN 5324Cultural Diversity and Advocacy

Developmental Psychology (one of the following)

PSYC 2320Lifespan Developmental Psychology [TCCN: PSYC 2314]

PSYC 4353Developmental Psychology

Introductory Biology (one of the following)

BIOL 1301Introduction to Life Sciences I [TCCN: BIOL 1308]

BIOL 1302Introduction to Life Sciences II [TCCN: BIOL 1309]

BIOL 1301 and BIOL 1302 - no lab required

Introductory Chemistry or Physics (one of the following)

CHEM 1305Introductory Chemistry I [TCCN: CHEM 1305]

CHEM 1307Introductory Chemistry II [TCCN: CHEM 1307]

PHYS 1301College Physics I [TCCN: PHYS 1301]

CHEM 1305 and CHEM 1307 no lab required

Statistics (one of the following)

MATH 1342Statistics [TCCN: MATH 1342]

HECC 4333Introduction to Biostatistics

PSYC 2354Statistics and Laboratory [TCCN: PSYC 2317]

MATH 4351Applied Statistics

Recommended Four-Year Curriculum

Freshman Year

Fall Semester (16 hrs.)

ENGL 1301College Composition I [TCCN: ENGL 1301]

MATH 1342Statistics [TCCN: MATH 1342]

BIOL 1306General Biology I [TCCN: BIOL 1306]

BIOL 1106General Biology I Laboratory [TCCN: BIOL 1106]

Language, Philosophy and Culture (Core, 3 hrs.)

POLS 2305Introductory American Government [TCCN: GOVT 2305]

 

Spring Semester (16 hrs.)

COMD 1306Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders

ENGL 1302College Composition II [TCCN: ENGL 1302]

CHEM 1311General Chemistry I [TCCN: CHEM 1311]

CHEM 1111General Chemistry I Laboratory [TCCN: CHEM 1111]

STEM (Core, 3 hrs.)

POLS 2306Introductory Texas Politics [TCCN: GOVT 2306]

NOTE: STEM-math recommended

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester (16 hrs.)

COMD 2357Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Swallowing

COMD 2311Phonetic Description of Speech

COMD 2110Introduction to APA Style and Research Writing

HIST 1301United States History I [TCCN: HIST 1301]

Social and Behavioral Science (Core, 3 hrs.)

Creative Arts (Core, 3 hrs.)

Spring Semester (15 hrs.)

COMD 2358Anatomy & Physiology of Hearing and Language

COMD 2359Speech Science

HIST 1302United States History II [TCCN: HIST 1302]

Human Expression (Core, 3 hrs.)

ASHA Requirement (3 hrs.)

 

Junior Year

Fall Semester (15 hrs.)

COMD 3313Hearing Science

COMD 3350Neurological Foundations of Speech, Language and Hearing

ASHA Requirement (3 hrs.)

ASHA Requirement (3 hrs.)

Cognate Course (3 hrs.)

 

Spring Semester (15 hrs.)

COMD 3341Introduction to Audiology

COMD 3318Language Acquisition and Development

ASHA Requirement (3 hrs.)

ASHA Requirement (3 hrs.)

Cognate Course (3 hrs.)

 

Senior Year

Fall Semester (15 hrs.)

COMD 4373Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation

COMD 4370Introduction to Speech Sound Disorders

COMD 4367Introduction to Language Disorders in Children

ASHA Requirement (3 hrs.)

Cognate Course (3 hrs.)

Spring Semester (12 hrs.)

COMD 4369Clinical Procedures and Clinical Observation in Communication Disorders

COMD 4373Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation

Cognate Course (3 hrs.)

Cognate Course (3 hrs.)

Total hours must equal at least 120 hours.

NOTES:

Core Courses - See UT Tyler Core Curriculum for full list of approved course(s).

AHSA and Cognate Courses - Consult with your advisor for additional information on degree requirements and schedule planning.

This is only a recommended outline. Because degree requirements do change, you should consult an advisor as well as the University Catalog, which is the only official document regarding baccalaureate degree requirements. The final responsibility for the selection, scheduling, and satisfactory completion of the degree requirements rests with the student.