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Communication Disorders Minor

The minor in communication disorders program offers pre-professional training to students interested in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. The minor provides students with several of the basic prerequisite courses required for graduate study in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. These are foundation courses in the field which will help meet certification requirements. These courses give students an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing as well as a basic understanding of normal communication and its development.

The goal of the program is to provide students with the critical thinking, problem-solving, oral and written communication skills, and ethical decision making skills necessary for success in the field and in graduate school. A broad base of coursework is offered which prepares students for graduate study in either speech-language pathology or audiology.

Required courses (9 credits)

• CMDS 101 - Introduction to Communication Disorders Credits: (3SH)
• CMDS 355 - Introduction to Audiology Credits: (3SH)
• CMDS 456 - Language Acquisition and Development Credits: (3SH)

Selectives (9 credits)

Students choose three of the following courses. Students interested in pursuing graduate study in speech-language pathology or audiology should focus on core courses. (CMDS 259, 353, 363) These courses are required for certification by the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Please note that some of the following courses have prerequisites.

• CMDS 239 - Understanding Deafness and Hearing Loss Credits: (3SH)
• CMDS 259 - Clinical Phonetics Credits: (3SH)
• CMDS 353 - Anatomy and Physiology of Speech/Hearing Mechanisms Credits: (3SH)
• CMDS 363 - Speech and Hearing Science Credits: (3SH)
• CMDS 368 - Articulation and Phonological Disorders Credits: (3SH)
• CMDS 462 - Aural Rehabilitation Credits: (3SH)

Admission to graduate school in speech-language pathology and audiology is competitive. Graduate programs typically require a GPA > 3.0 and GRE scores in addition to the core courses in communication disorders. Individual schools may also have requirements beyond the courses listed here. Students should familiarize themselves with the admissions requirements of schools to which they intend to apply.