The communication sciences and disorders major includes didactic and experiential activities for students to learn foundational skills necessary for success in professions such as speech-language pathology, audiology and communication sciences, all of which require graduate degrees.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
Students should follow the plan below for course choices.
The undergraduate program exposes students to information about (a) normal aspects of speech, language, and hearing as they relate to human communication, and (b) introductory concepts pertaining to the nature, assessment, and treatment of communication disorders. Students complement the core major courses with various elective courses that align with their academic and career interests.
Upon successful completion of the major, students receive the Bachelor of Health Science degree. The majority of undergraduate students pursue graduate or professional training in a health field (e.g., speech language pathology, audiology or other graduate degree program); however, some students seek employment immediately after completing the BHS degree program, usually in organizations with either a health or education component.
Certified clinicians (graduate degree required) often on a team that may include psychologists, teachers, families, physical and occupational 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. Both speech-language pathology and audiology are growing professions with competitive salaries.
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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); must be physics or chemistry
- 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:
- EEX 3093 with a minimum grade of C (satisfies general education diversity)
- SPA 3003
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 advisor to create a plan of study, which becomes the contract for graduation.
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Critical Tracking
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
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 credits
- 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
- SPA 3003 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 credits
- 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 SPA 3003 with minimum grades of C
- 2.7 prerequisite and overall GPA on college-level coursework from all institutions
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Model Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
GE-H |
3 |
MAC 1105 Basic College Algebra
Or higher level; State Core GE-M |
3 |
PSY 2012 General Psychology (GE-S) or
BSC 2005 General Biology (State Core GE-B) or higher level biological science |
3 |
Composition
State Core GE-C; WR |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
BSC 2005 General Biology (GE-B) or higher level biological science or
PSY 2012 General Psychology (State Core GE-S) |
3 |
COM 1000 Introduction to Communication Studies or
SPC 2300 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication or
SPC 2608 Introduction to Public Speaking |
3 |
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics
GE-M |
3 |
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H; N |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
SPA 3003 Phonetic Theory and Transcription
If available this semester; otherwise take an elective |
3 |
Physical Science
PHY 2020 Principles of Physics or higher level course or
CHM 1030 Basic Chemistry Concepts or higher level course
GE-P |
3 |
Advanced Psychology
PSB 3002 Physiological Psychology or
DEP 3053 Developmental Psychology or
CLP 3144 Abnormal Psychology |
3 |
Science laboratory
GE-B or P |
1 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
GE-S |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
Biological Science
APK 2105C Applied Human Physiology with Laboratory highly recommended; GE-B |
4 |
Elective
SPA 3003 Phonetic Theory and Transcription, if not taken previously |
3 |
| Electives |
4 |
Humanities
GE-H |
3 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| EEX 3093 Exceptional People in School and Society |
3 |
SPA 3003 Phonetic Theory and Transcription
If not taken previously
|
3 |
| SPA 3011 Speech Acoustics |
3 |
| SPA 3032 Fundamentals of Hearing |
3 |
| SPA 3101 Speech Anatomy and Physiology |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline |
3 |
| SPA 4004 Language Development |
3 |
| SPA 4104 Neural Basis of Communication |
3 |
| SPA 4302 Audiometry and Hearing Disorders |
3 |
Elective
3000 level or higher |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| SPA 4250 Introduction to Speech Disorders |
3 |
| SPA 4321 Audiologic Rehabilitation |
3 |
Elective
College-approved; 3000 level or above
|
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
Elective
3000 level or above
|
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| PHC 4101 Public Health Concepts |
3 |
| SPA 4050 Clinical Observation of Speech Pathology/Audiology |
2 |
| SPA 4400 Introduction to Language Disorders |
3 |
| SPA 4904 Observation of Speech Pathology/Audiology |
1-3 |
Electives
College-approved; 3000 level or above
|
6 |
| Total |
15-17 |
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Related Communication Sciences and Disorder Programs
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