Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), B.A.

FACULTY:
Denise Bostdorff, Chair
Ahmet Atay (on leave Fall 2016)
Joan Furey
Donald Goldberg
Cara Hammond
Michelle Johnson
Rohini Singh
Alyxandra Vesey

Communication is the study of the innate human ability to use symbols and create meaning. The Department of Communication contains within it two tracks: Communication Studies and Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Communication Sciences and Disorders is a discipline that has evolved from hearing, speech, and language sciences research and the clinical endeavor of assessing, diagnosing, and treating those with communicative disorders. Knowledge, theories, and tools have been integrated from those sciences as well as the life sciences (human anatomy and physiology), linguistics, physics (acoustics and psychoacoustics), psychology (developmental and clinical psychology), and sociology/anthropology (sociolinguistics). The major in the Communication Sciences and Disorders track includes courses in the discipline itself, cognate courses that are selected from related disciplines, and the clinic practicum. The curriculum provides the student with an understanding of normal and abnormal human speech and language communication. The curriculum and supervised clinic practica of the major contribute to this understanding, and courses in the major are taught from these perspectives: 1) the evolutionary biolinguistic capacity of humans for using language for communication; 2) the principles of human development and maturation from biologic, anthropologic, psychosocial, and communicative perspectives; 3) the causes, effects, assessment, and treatment of those with communicative disorders; 4) the opportunities for service education through participation in the activities of the Freedlander Speech and Hearing Clinic. When combined with the required research methodology course, the major prepares the qualified student for graduate or professional study.

Major in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)

Consists of thirteen courses:

COMD 14100 - Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders
COMD 14300 - Phonetic Transcription and Phonology
COMD 14500 - Language Development in Children
COMD 24400 - Audiology
COMD 31600 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
COMM 35300 - Quantitative Methods
COMD 37000 - Auditory Rehabilitation
One elective from cross-listed courses accepted for CSD credit
One elective from
COMM 15200 - Public Speaking
COMM 20000 -COMM 20007
COMM 22100 - Interpersonal Communication
COMD 34400
COMD 34500 - Advanced Seminar in Communication Sciences and Disorders or cross-listed courses accepted for CSD credit (see list below)
Four semesters of Clinic Practicum (COMD 14000 /COMD 14400 ) at .25 credit each
COMD 40100 - Junior Independent Study
COMD 45100 - Senior Independent Study - Semester One
COMD 45200 - Senior Independent Study - Semester Two

Special Notes

Majors in the Communication Sciences and Disorders track must complete their methods course (COMM 35300 ) before the end of the junior year. Students are encouraged to take their methods course in the sophomore year.
In addition to demonstrating proficiency in research and writing through Independent Study, a major in the Communication Sciences and Disorders track must demonstrate proficiency in public speaking, as certified by all faculty members in the Department of Communication, based upon the student’s oral presentation of his/her Senior Independent Study proposal. These public presentations will typically be scheduled in the fall, and students will be provided with specific guidelines to follow. The faculty also encourages majors to seek the help of their advisers in preparing their presentations.
Some nationally certified professional clinicians are employed in the public schools. This usually requires additional certification controlled by state departments of education, requiring completion of courses in education. The student should consult with the faculty in Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Department of Education about this certification.
No more than two Communication Studies and/or Communication Sciences and Disorders courses can be applied toward the general education requirements.
Majors and minors in Communication Sciences and Disorders may not take any courses within the department for S/NC credit except the first enrollment of COMD 14000 .
Only grades of C- or better are accepted for the major or minor.