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

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37 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours

Students in this major must also complete requirements for a degree in the College of Arts & Sciences .

Departmental Requirements (37 hours)

Note:

Students interested in graduate programs should note that certification requirements set by the Council for Clinical Certification of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association specify that students wishing to obtain certification in speech-language pathology should have coursework in biological science, physical science (specifically physics or chemistry), behavioral science, and statistics.

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will discuss the biological, acoustical, developmental, linguistic, and cultural bases for identification, diagnosis, and treatment of articulation and phonology, including knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet.
Students will demonstrate understanding of the process and content of normal and disordered language and communication development in children, including methods of treating language disorders.
Students will delineate normal anatomy and physiology of the speech (including swallowing), hearing, and vestibular mechanisms, basic acoustics, and physical characteristics and measurement of acoustic stimuli.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of principles of treatment of communication disorders, including the ability to develop and write intervention plans that have clear, appropriate, measurable, and achievable goals
Students will be able to conduct hearing screenings and basic audiologic evaluations, and will be able to use the results of auditory and related testing to develop an aural rehabilitation plan
Students will be able to systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments, and break down complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking.
Students will design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal.
Students will intentionally engage with diversity in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions leading to opportunities for equal access to participation in educational and community programs for all members of society.
Students will connect ideas and experiences in order to synthesize and transfer learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus.

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization