Bachelor of Science
This program is offered at the Aurora Campus and online.
The undergraduate program in communication sciences and disorders (CSC)) is a pre-professional program, including coursework that exposes students to potential careers in the allied health fields, with specific focus on audiology and speech language pathology.
Coursework ranges from foundational courses in the sciences to courses with clinical components that investigate both typical and atypical aspects of language, speech and hearing. It is anticipated that many, if not most, students electing this major wilt continue on for graduate training. Therefore, the clinical experiences are established to allow students to begin to build toward this goal. Students should be aware that a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology is typically required for positions as a speech language pathologist; for audiology, an AuD may be required. This career path enables the professional to conduct diagnostic testing and to provide intervention in a variety of settings, from hospitals to rehabilitation centers to schools for both children and adults. Additionally, many professionals go into private practice.
Because many students will continue their education beyond their undergraduate degree, the undergraduate communication sciences and disorders program is designed to prepare students for success in a graduate program. For instance, because these graduate programs are very competitive, a grade point average of 3.0 is recommended in the undergraduate program; students are counseled to be cognizant of maintaining a high level of academic achievement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CSD-1100 | Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders | 4 |
| CSD-2100 | Phonetics | 4 |
| CSD-3100 | Speech Language Development | 4 |
| CSD-3250 | Introduction to Audiology | 4 |
| CSD-3260 | Aural Rehabilitation | 4 |
| CSD-3400 | Anatomy & Physio of Speech & Hearing | 4 |
| CSD-3940 | Communication Science Disorders Internship | 1 |
| Required Courses in Related Fields | ||
| BIO-1210 & 1210Z | General Biology I and General Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHM-1310 & 1310Z | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| PSY-1100 | General Psychology | 4 |
| MTH-2100 | Statistics | 4 |
| Neurodiversity Specialty Track (optional) | ||
| Must complete at least 3 courses (12 semester hours) from the list of courses below: | ||
| Introduction to Neurodiversity | ||
| Principles of Everyday Behavior | ||
| Social Implications for Individuals Who are Neurodiverse | ||
| Strategies and Assistive Technology for Students With Low Incidence Disabilities | ||
| Therapeutic Recreation for Selected Populations | ||
| School SLP Specialty Track (optional) | ||
| Must complete at least 3 courses (11-12 semester hours) from the list of courses below: | ||
| Foundations of Teaching and Learning | ||
| Learning Theories and Applications K-12 | ||
| Social Implications for Individuals Who are Neurodiverse | ||
| Characteristics and Identification of Disabilities and the Law | ||
| Total Credits | 41 | |
Undergraduate Degree Requirements
A student who graduates from Aurora University with a baccalaureate degree will have met the following requirements:
- Completion of all requirements for an approved major (with no grades lower than “C”).
- Overall completion of at least 120 semester hours of coursework with a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (a course may be utilized only once in application toward a degree requirement, unless otherwise noted in the academic regulations). The 120 semester hours of coursework must include:
- At least 52 semester hours completed at a senior college.
- Residency Requirement - At least 30 semester hours completed at Aurora University, including the last 24 semester hours in the degree, and including at least 18 semester hours in the major. (Portfolio assessment credit, life and vocational experience credit, off-campus experience credit, examination credit, participation credit, and block credit, shall not count toward the residency requirement).
- Upper-Division Requirement - A minimum of 30 semester hours numbered 3000 or above. Of these 30 semester hours, 15 semester hours must lie within the major and 15 semester hours must be completed at Aurora University.
- Completion of all General Education requirements (with no grades lower than “C”), as follows:
- Quantitative and Formal Reasoning competency requirement
- ENG-1000 Introduction to Academic Writing
- IDS-1200 Discover What Matters or IDS-3040 Global Justice
- IDS-1150 First Year Experience - Not required for Transfer or AU Online students)
- Satisfactory participation in the junior-year mentoring and assessment process designed to guide students to successful completion of their degree and to encourage planning for next steps beyond graduation. (IDS-3500 Junior Mentoring Program I and IDS-3550 Junior Mentoring Program II - Not required for ADC or AU Online students but may be designated electives for AU Online students admitted with fewer than 15 hours of transfer credit.)
- Distribution Requirements
Students will complete one approved course1 from each of the following categories:- Artistic Literacy
- Cultural Literacy
- Human Inquiry
- Scientific Inquiry
In addition to the above, ADC and Online students will also complete one approved course1 from the following category:
- Discovery and Reflection
- 1
Only courses that are approved to meet the distribution requirement can be used toward this requirement. See the list of approved courses for available options. Courses taken to meet distribution requirements are 4 semester hours apiece, with the following exceptions:
- An approved transfer course of at least 2.50 semester hours can be used to satisfy a distribution requirement.
- Courses with co-requisite laboratory components may be used to satisfy a distribution requirement, provided that the student successfully complete both the three-credit-hour course and the single-credit-hour lab component.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:
- Describe the anatomical, physiological, and neurological structures and processes involved in speech, language, hearing, and swallowing functions.
- Describe characteristics of typical versus atypical communication skills across the lifespan.
- Explain the linguistic and acoustic characteristics and etiologies of prevalent communication disorders.
- Describe the social-emotional, sensory, motor, and cognitive correlates of communication across the lifespan.
- Explain scientifically driven, evidence-based principles of assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the etiologies of articulation, fluency, voice and resonance, language, hearing and swallowing disorders and differences.
- Understand contemporary professional issues and current research in the field of speech-language pathology.
- Demonstrate cultural competence by examining cultural and linguistic values and beliefs for themselves and others, while meeting the needs of the individual clients based on his/her culture and point in the lifespan.
Skills:
- Transcribe normal and disordered speech and language production using standard disciplinary conventions.
- Demonstrate skills that contribute to the provision of providing culturally and linguistically responsive assessment and intervention services to diverse populations.
- Demonstrate effective oral communication skills to present disciplinary information accurately and clearly.
- Apply critical thinking and analysis of scientific evidence to solve clinical problems related to prevention, assessment and treatment.