Undergraduate Program in Communication Disorders
The major for students in communication disorders (reference number 595) requires 120 hours and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The program includes 45 hours of general education courses, 55 hours in the specialization areas - speech pathology and audiology, 9 hours of professional preparation for teacher certification, and 3 hours of related studies. No minor or second major is necessary. All courses follow guidelines recommended by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association.
All undergraduate students are also required to complete up to 50 supervised clinical clock hours, working with people having communication disorders. The undergraduate program prepares students academically for graduate study in Communication Disorders and Audiology. A master's degree is needed for certification as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Professional licensure is necessary in Kentucky, however, other states vary in their requirements for practicing professionals. Student teaching is completed at the graduate level.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
Speech-Language Pathology career opportunities are expected to grow faster than average through the end of calendar year, 2012. This is due to several factors including an aging baby boomer population with increased possibilities of oncoming neurological disorders with accompanying speech, language, swallowing, and hearing impairments. Employment opportunities are also increasing due to improving survival rates of premature infants and trauma and stroke patients in need of assessment and intervention. Additionally, federal legislation guarantees services to all children with disabilities. Private practice opportunities will also increase due to the increase in contracted services with schools, nursing care/rehabilitation facilities and hospitals.
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Entering Freshman are encouraged to enroll early for faculty advisement on appropriate courses. Formal admission to the major is made in the second semester of the sophomore year. Acceptance to the undergraduate program is selective. This means that not all who apply will be accepted as there are limited seats available. An applicant must have a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.2 when applying for program admission.
PROGRAM OF STUDIES
Beginning in a student's sophomore year there is a prescribed sequence of undergraduate courses. The first nine hours are considered 'foundation courses' and may be taken before or concurrent with admission to the program. The foundation courses are offered each semester while the remaining courses are offered once a year.
Major Course Sequence for Bachelor of Science Degree
Click here for course descriptions
Sophomore Year
Foundation Courses to be taken in Fall or Spring
CD 280- Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders
CD 290- Introduction to Clinical Experience
Junior Year
Fall (12 hours)
CD 405- Applied Phonetics*
CD 481- Speech and Language Development*
CD 482- Audiology*
CD 484- Speech Anatomy and Physiology*
Spring (15 hours)
CD 483- Articulation Disorders*
CD 485- Diagnostic Procedures for Communication Disorders*
CD 486- Language Disorders*
CD 487- Aural Rehabilitation
CD 478 - Clinical Issues and Treatment in Speech Language Pathology
Senior Year
Fall (9 hours)
CD 491- Management of Communication Disorders in the School
CD 490- Connecting with Nonverbal Communicators (Prior to Fall 2014 entitled Non-Symbolic Communication Service Delivery)
CD 495- Clinical Internship
Spring (9 hours)
CD 488- Augmentative Communication Systems
CD 489- Communication Disorders in Aging (Prior to Fall 2014 entitled Geriatric Communication Disorders)
CD 495- Clinical Internship
* Prerequisite courses for WKU graduate program in Communication Disorders
For more information and questions please contact:
Leisa Hutchison at leisa.hutchison@wku.edu
Clinical Experience Information
Communication Disorders Clinic at the Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex
How Do I Apply to the Undergraduate Program in Communication Disorders?
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