Communication Sciences and Disorders
The communication sciences and disorders major includes didactic and experiential activities for students to learn foundation skills necessary for success in professions such as speech-language pathology, audiology and communication sciences, all of which require graduate degrees.
Overview
Students should follow the plan below for course choices.
- Junior/senior advising is available in the department. Students whose last names begin with A-M should see Betsy Vinson in 347 Dauer Hall; Students whose last names begin with N-Z should see Dr. Scott Griffiths in 339 Dauer Hall.
- Freshman/sophomore advising is available in person in G-205 HPNP Complex, at advising@phhp.ufl.edu, or at 352-273-6400, option 1.
The undergraduate program exposes students to three major areas: audiology, phonetics and speech-language pathology. In addition, students complement core courses with electives to round out their academic skills and interests.
Upon successful completion of the major, students receive the Bachelor of Health Science degree. While the majority of students pursue graduate or professional training in a health field (e.g., speech language pathology, audiology or other graduate degree program), some students seek employment in organizations with a health component after completing the BHS degree program.
Certified clinicians (graduate degree required) often work with a team of psychologists, teachers, families, therapists, physicians, nurses, dietitians and social workers to screen, diagnose and treat individuals ranging from infants to the elderly. Professionals typically work in schools, clinics, hospitals, other health organizations and/or private practice. Communication sciences and disorders professions offer a high degree of satisfaction to their practitioners by making a significant impact on people's lives. These are growing professions with competitive salaries.
Course Requirements and Sequence
By the end of semester four, students must have completed all college requirements:
- 60 credits
- All general education except diversity
- 18,000 words of the writing requirement
- These courses (or their equivalents) with minimum grades of C:
- BSC 2005 or higher
- Additional biological science (3 credits); APK 2105C is recommended
- Physical science (3 credits); CHM 2045 or PHY 2004 is recommended
- Science lab (1 credit)
- PSB 3002 or DEP 3053 or CLP 3144; PSB 3002 is recommended strongly
- COM 1000 or SPC 2300 or SPC 2608
- PSY 2012
- STA 2023
By the end of semester five, all students must also have completed:
- LIN 2210
- EEX 3093 with a minimum grade of C (satisfies general education diversity)
By the end of the senior year, students must have completed:
- 120 credits, including all prerequisites
- 30 credits of core SPA coursework with minimum grades of C
- ENC 3254 with minimum grade of C; satisfies 6000 words of writing requirement
- PHC 4101 with minimum grade of C
- 12 credits at the 3000/4000 level
- 9 credits of PHHP electives
Majors should see a department adviser to create a plan of study, which becomes the contract for graduation.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.
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Critical Tracking
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete BSC 2005 or higher or PSY 2012 with minimum grade of C
- Complete 9 credits of general education courses
- 2.0 GPA on all college-level coursework from all institutions
Semester 2
- Complete COM 1000 (or SPC 2300 or SPC 2608) with minimum grade of C
- Complete BSC 2005 or higher or PSY 2012 with minimum grade of C
- Complete 9 additional credits of general education courses for a total of 18
- 2.3 GPA on all college-level coursework from all institutions
Semester 3
- Complete STA 2023 with minimum grade of C
- Complete 1 additional tracking psychology course (PSB 3002, DEP 3053 or CLP 3144) or 3 credits of physical science (CHM 2045 or PHY 2004 recommended) with minimum grade of C
- LIN 2210 recommended this semester if available, with minimum grade of C
- Complete science lab with minimum grade of C or S
- Complete 9 additional credits of general education courses for a total of 27
- 2.7 GPA on all college-level coursework from all institutions
Semester 4
- Complete all critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C
- Complete all general education courses (GE) except diversity (GE-D)
- Complete the 18,000 words of the writing requirement
- 2.7 critical-tracking GPA based on all attempts
- 2.7 GPA on all college-level coursework from all institutions
Semester 5
- Complete EEX 3093 and LIN 2210 with minimum grades of C
- 2.7 prerequisite and overall GPA on college-level coursework from all institutions
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Recommended Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
| HUM 2305 What is the Good Life (GE-H) |
3 |
PSY 2012 General Psychology (GE-S) or
BSC 2005 General Biology (GE-B) or higher level biological science |
3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) |
3 |
| Elective (HSC 2000 highly recommended) |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
BSC 2005 General Biology (GE-B) or higher level Biological Science or
PSY 2012 General Psychology (GE-S) |
3 |
COM 1000 Introduction to Communication Studies or
SPC 2300 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication or
SPC 2608 Introduction to Public Speaking |
3 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) |
3 |
| Humanities/International (GE-H, N) |
3 |
| Mathematics (GE-M) (MAC 1140 or higher recommended) |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
| LIN 2210 Phonetic Theory and Transcription, if available this semester; otherwise take an elective |
3 |
Physical Science (GE-P) (PHY 2004 Applied Physics 1 or
CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1 recommended) or
Advanced Psychology (GE-S) (PSB 3002 Physiological Psychology, DEP 3053 Developmental Psychology or CLP 3144 Abnormal Psychology) |
3 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics (GE-M) |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Science laboratory (GE-B or P) |
1 |
| Social and Behavioral Science (GE-S) |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
Advanced Psychology (GE-S) (PSB 3002 Physiological Psychology, DEP 3053 Developmental Psychology or CLP 3144 Abnormal Psychology) or
Physical Science (GE-P) (PHY 2004 Applied Physics 1 or CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1 recommended) |
3 |
| Biological Science (APK 2105C Applied Human Physiology with Laboratory highly recommended (4) (GE-B) |
3-4 |
| Electives |
5 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Total |
14-15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| EEX 3093 Exceptional People in School and Society (GE-D) |
3 |
| LIN 2210 Phonetic Theory and Transcription (if not taken in previous semester) |
3 |
| SPA 3101 Speech Anatomy and Physiology |
3 |
| SPA 3032 Fundamentals of Hearing |
3 |
| SPA 4004 Language Development |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline or
Elective, 3000 level or higher |
3 |
| PHC 4101 Public Health Concepts |
3 |
| SPA 3011 Speech Acoustics |
3 |
| SPA 4104 Neural Basis of Communication |
3 |
| SPA 4302 Audiometry and Hearing Disorders |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline (GE-C) or
Elective, 3000 level or higher |
3 |
| SPA 4050 Clinical Observations in Speech - Language Pathology and Audiology |
2 |
| SPA 4321 Audiologic Rehabilitation |
3 |
| SPA 4400 Introduction to Language Disorders |
3 |
| Electives, 3000 level or higher |
4 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| SPA 4250 Introduction to Speech Disorders |
3 |
| Electives, 3000 level or higher |
12 |
| Total |
15 |
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