2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog

Communication Disorders Major

CIP Code

51.0203

Communication Disorders Major

Students can major in Communication Disorders (CMD) to prepare for graduate school in either Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology, or for a career as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant. CMD majors may pursue a typical 4-year Bachelor’s degree schedule, leading to graduate studies. Alternatively, CMD majors can pursue a 3+2 program by completing all requirements for the CMD Bachelor’s Degree in three years, and moving on to the SHU Master’s degree program in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP). Those pursuing the 3+2 program may need to take courses during summer and intersession terms in order to complete the program in three years. For a student on either track, declaration of the major occurs at the end of the second semester, provided that the student has at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and at least a C in CMD 200, CMD 201, PS 110, BI 111, and BI 113. Students who wish to practice as Speech-Language Pathologists must complete all undergraduate CMD requirements, and then apply to, and complete, a master’s degree program in SLP at SHU (or elsewhere). Graduate study in SLP typically requires two calendar years, including 1–2 summers, of graduate-level coursework, and 400 hours of supervised clinical practice. In order to be accepted by the SHU graduate program in SLP, students must successfully complete all major requirements by the end of the summer prior to enrollment in a graduate program with an overall GPA of at least 3.0, and no grade in a course required for the major below C. All students who wish to enter the SHU SLP graduate program are required to go through the admissions process. 

Admission requirements for the SHU Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology can be found here.


MARTA KORYTKOWSKA, MS, ABD, CCC-SLP
Clinical Assistant Professor

CIARA LEYDON, PhD, CCC-SLP
Associate Professor

JAMIE MAROTTO, AuD, CCC-A
Clinical Assistant Professor; Director, Undergraduate Program Director

AVINASH MISHRA, PhD, CCC-SLP
Assistant Professor

JESSICA PRESTON, AuD, CCC-A
Adjunct Instructor; Program Coordinator, Online Prerequisite Series

FRAN PREZANT, MS, CCC-SLP 
Adjunct Instructor

CAITLIN ROSS, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Assistant Professor

ELIZABETH SIMMONS, MS, CCC-SLP
Assistant Professor


Program Accreditation

The CMD Pre-Professional major at SHU is designed to meet all requirements of the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) and to prepare students for graduate study in either speech-language pathology or audiology. The SHU Master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology has been accredited by the State of Connecticut Department of Higher Education. Program approval from the Connecticut State Department of Education for teacher endorsement as a school-based SLP has also been awarded. The Master's program in Speech-Language Pathology at Sacred Heart University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700

Requirements

The CMD Major includes the prerequisite courses for graduate work in Speech-language Pathology or Audiology. Twenty-five hours of observation of Communication Disorders practice required and included within the major coursework.

Required Core Curriculum

 
CMD 200Introduction to Communication Disorders

3

CMD 201Introduction to Communication Disorders Lab

1

CMD 210Phonetics

3

CMD 215Leadership in Healthcare

1

CMD 300Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Swallowing

3

CMD 310Introduction to Audiology

3

CMD 315Hearing Science

3

CMD 320Speech Science

3

CMD 330Development of Language

3

CMD 335Cultural and Structural Linguistics

3

CMD 340Neurological Bases of Communication & Swallowing

3

CMD 350Introduction to Clinical Methods & Observation

3

CMD 351Introduction to Clinical Methods & Observation Lab

1

Required Supporting Courses

 
BI 111Concepts in Biology I: Molecules to Cells

3

BI 113Concepts in Biology I Laboratory

1

PY 103Physics of Sound

3

PY 110Physics of Hollywood

3

PS 252Child Development Psychology

3

MA 131Elementary Statistics

3

ED 301Introduction to Exceptionalities

3.00 Credit(s)

ED 302Education in the U.S.

3.00 Credit(s)

HS 204Introduction to Research in Health Science

3.00 Credit(s)

HS 309Professional Interactions in Healthcare Settings

3

LANGXX Any foreign language