Communication Sciences and Disorders Major (M)
Students studying Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) acquire foundational knowledge in the bases of communication, hearing, swallowing, and normal development across the lifespan, and the clinical management of children and adults with communication disorders. The Communication Sciences and Disorders major leads to careers in either of two disciplines; Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. Both of these career choices require successful completion of a graduate degree to enter clinical practice. Additionally, the CSD major can prepare students to become a speech-language pathology assistant for those individuals who choose not to pursue a graduate degree. For more information about career options associated with this major, go to www.asha.org.
Mission Statement
The Speech-Language Pathology department is dedicated to the missions of Concordia University Wisconsin and the School of Health Professions and is focused on developing independent life-long learners with strong critical thinking and communication abilities. In addition, the Speech-Language Pathology program aims to prepare students for the opportunities and rigors of a vocation positively impacting communicatively challenged individuals and their families by providing outstanding academic/clinical education, as well as community outreach. The Speech-Language Pathology program also aims to support the continuing education needs of practicing clinicians to ultimately have a positive impact on individuals with communication and/or swallowing challenges. This professional education is grounded in faith, excellence, and service to others.
CSD Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the CUW major in Communication Sciences & Disorders, students will have demonstrated:
- Effective knowledge and skills to incorporate the complex relationship between faith, learning, and practice in the areas of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
- Effective verbal and written professional skills.
- Knowledge in basic speech, language, communication, and swallowing processes.
- A functional understanding of evidence-based prevention, evaluation, and intervention practice for speech, language, hearing, communication, and swallowing disorders.
- Culturally competent, professional interaction skills with patients, families, and other health care professionals.
- Ethical and professional behavior in clinical care through service learning, clinical observation, and/or the provision of clinical services in the CUW Speech, Language and Hearing clinic.
- Completion of 25 required hours of clinical observation.
Curriculum
The undergraduate major in Communication Sciences and Disorders requires successful completion of 120 credit hours. This degree requires 49 credit hours within the major (CSD courses offered within the Speech-Language Pathology Department), 45 credit hours in the common core, and 27 credit hours for minor and/or electives. The required courses in the major are listed in the table below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements 1 | 45 | |
| Major Requirements | 49 | |
| Electives | 26 | |
Minor:Optional | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Communication Sciences and Disorders Required Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSD 2100 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech, Swallowing, and Hearing Mechanism | 3 |
| CSD 2200 | Clinical Phonetics | 3 |
| CSD 2500 | Foundations of Cognition and Language | 3 |
| CSD 2600 | Kinesiology & Motor Learning | 3 |
| CSD 2700 | Multicultural Populations | 3 |
| CSD 3100 | Speech and Language Development | 3 |
| CSD 3200 | Hearing Science | 3 |
| CSD 3500 | Audiology | 3 |
| CSD 3600 | Speech and Language Disorders in Children | 3 |
| CSD 3700 | Speech Science | 3 |
| CSD 4100 | Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
| CSD 4200 | Clinical Methods & Observation | 3 |
| CSD 4300 | Service Delivery & Ethics | 3 |
| CSD 4400 | Neurological Bases of Communication | 3 |
| CSD 4600 | School Methods | 3 |
| CSD 4700 | Speech and Language Disorders in Adults | 3 |
| CSD 4800 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 49 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives not required | ||
| CSD 1000 | Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders | 3 |
| CSD 3400 | 1-3 | |
| CSD 3800 | 1-3 | |
| CSD 4500 | 1-3 | |
Communication Sciences and Disorders is a 120 credit major.
Clinical Practice/Practicum
CSD 4500 Clinical Practicum, a course that involves contact with actual clients in a clinical setting, is an elective course for selected seniors. Students wishing to enroll in CSD 4500 Clinical Practicum must have completed a minimum of 90 credit hours and have a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 prior to enrollment in this course. Additionally, students must complete 25 ASHA-approved clinical observation hours prior to the start of CSD 4500.
CSD Leveling Program
The CSD Leveling Program is intended for students who possess a bachelor’s degree in a major other than CSD and who are interested in qualifying for graduate study in Speech-Language Pathology. The Leveling Program in SLP is nationally recognized as a means of completing the requisite education to prepare a student for graduate study in SLP. The CUW Leveling Program requires interested students to complete 30 credit hours (10 courses) in the CSD major in one year of study prior to entering a graduate SLP program. Completion of the Leveling Program does not guarantee a student admission to a graduate program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses for Leveling Program | ||
| CSD 2100 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech, Swallowing, and Hearing Mechanism | 3 |
| CSD 2200 | Clinical Phonetics | 3 |
| CSD 2500 | Foundations of Cognition and Language | 3 |
| CSD 3100 | Speech and Language Development | 3 |
| CSD 3200 | Hearing Science | 3 |
| CSD 3500 | Audiology | 3 |
| CSD 3600 | Speech and Language Disorders in Children | 3 |
| CSD 3700 | Speech Science | 3 |
| CSD 4200 | Clinical Methods & Observation | 3 |
| CSD 4700 | Speech and Language Disorders in Adults | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| COMMUNICATION & LANGUAGE | 3 | |
| BIO 1300 | Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| MATH 2050 | Statistics I | 3 |
| CCE 1010 | Christian Citizen | 3 |
| RSC 1010 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CSD 1000 | Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders (optional) | 3 |
| ENG 1040 | Introduction to Writing | 3 |
| CCE 1020 | Western Culture & Worldview | 3 |
| REL 1000 | The Bible | 3 |
| PSY 1010 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| CSD 2100 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech, Swallowing, and Hearing Mechanism | 3 |
| CSD 2200 | Clinical Phonetics | 3 |
| CCE 1030 | Western Thought & Worldview | 3 |
| PHYS 1514 | General Physics I | 4 |
| 3 | ||
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| CSD 2500 | Foundations of Cognition and Language | 3 |
| CSD 2700 | Multicultural Populations | 3 |
| CSD 2600 | Kinesiology & Motor Learning | 3 |
| SOCIETY & CULTURE | 3 | |
| HHP ACTIVITY | 1 | |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| CSD 3100 | Speech and Language Development | 3 |
| CSD 3200 | Hearing Science | 3 |
| PSY 2300 | Life Span Development | 3 |
| REL 1100 | Christian Faith | 3 |
| CCE 1040 | Science & Humanity | 3 |
| HHP 1100 | Stewardship of the Body | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| CSD 3600 | Speech and Language Disorders in Children | 3 |
| CSD 3500 | Audiology | 3 |
| CSD 3700 | Speech Science | 3 |
| Research Seminar (optional) | ||
| HUMAN CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| CSD 4100 | Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
| CSD 4200 | Clinical Methods & Observation | 3 |
| CSD 4300 | Service Delivery & Ethics | 3 |
| Research Practicum (optional) | ||
| CSD 4400 | Neurological Bases of Communication | 3 |
ELECTIVE/MINOR- only if don't take CSD 4400 |
||
| Hours | 12 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| CSD 4700 | Speech and Language Disorders in Adults | 3 |
| Clinical Practicum (optional) | ||
| CSD 4600 | School Methods | 3 |
| CSD 4800 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| FAITH & LIFE | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| ELECTIVE/MINOR | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Course options and schedule are subject to change.