Communication Sciences and Disorders, B.S.

Studying communication sciences and disorders at Saint Louis University will prepare you for a career as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. Speech-language pathologists help prevent, identify, assess and treat communication and swallowing disorders, while audiologists help prevent, identify, assess and treat hearing disorders.

If you choose to major in communication sciences and disorders at Saint Louis University, you will observe adults and children with a variety of speech, language and auditory disorders during your undergraduate years. Following the completion of your required courses, you'll also have an opportunity to participate in an elective clinical practicum. Many students also choose to study abroad. 

SLU’s program requires 38 credits of communication sciences and disorders coursework along with the required credits of Doisy College of Health Sciences core curriculum. It also requires 25 credits of clinical observation and completion of a capstone project.

Speech-language pathologists help prevent, identify, assess and provide treatment for communication and swallowing disorders — to improve outcomes and quality of life of the client and their families. These include language development, acquired language disorders, stuttering, and voice and articulation disorders. Disorders related to literacy also have become an area of focus for speech-language pathologists. Speech-language pathologists provide service to children and adults and work in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, nursing homes, private practice and private clinics such as the Saint Louis University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

Audiologists help prevent, identify, assess and treat hearing disorders. Audiologists also evaluate hearing, prescribe and dispense hearing aids, program cochlear implants, assess balance, assess and provide intervention for auditory processing disorders improve auditory skills to improve outcomes and quality of life of the client and their families. Audiologists are involved in hearing conservation (particularly in industry) as well as in monitoring nerve function during surgery. Audiologists work in a variety of settings, including physician offices, hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, nursing homes, private practice and schools.

Curriculum Overview

Requirements for the degree include:

• 25 credits of clinical observation
• Capstone project
• A minimum of 120 credits (51–63 credits from core curriculum in addition to 37–42 credits are required for the major)

SLU undergraduate students in communication sciences and disorders are encouraged to participate in research activities, either faculty-guided independent research or as a research assistant. Such activities provide learning experiences outside the classroom and serve to focus interest in the discipline. In addition to enriching the undergraduate curriculum, engaging in research is a valuable way to prepare for graduate studies.

All students in the program experience guided observation of adults and children with a variety of speech, language and hearing disorders. Undergraduate students meeting all pre-requisites have the opportunity to participate in an elective clinical practicum, typically done the second semester of their senior year, on-site at the Paul C. Reinert, S.J Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. There, students will begin to gain first-hand experience working with children and adults with communication disorders.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Students will observe adults and children with a variety of speech, language and auditory disorders. Following the completion of required courses, students also have an opportunity to participate in an elective clinical practicum.

The senior-year capstone course allows students to actively participate in communication sciences and disorders research.

Careers

Speech-language pathologists typically need a master’s degree to practice. Most speech-language pathologists work in schools or health care facilities.

A doctoral degree (either a Ph.D. or an Au.D.) is required for audiologists entering the profession. Most audiologists work in health care facilities.

An undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders can also act as preparation for other professional degrees such as medicine, special education or public health.

For those not wishing to pursue an additional degree, one can practice as a speech-language pathology assistant in many states with a B.A. In communication sciences and disorders. Furthermore, some graduates have gotten jobs as research assistants or patient care advocates with a B.A. alone.

Speech-language pathology and audiology professions offer excellent opportunities for employment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for both professions is positive, with speech-language pathology listed as “faster than average growth” and audiology listed as “much faster than average growth” in the next decade. Forbes ranks audiologists and speech pathologists as the 5th and 10th best jobs of 2014, respectively.

The communication sciences and disorders undergraduate program also gives graduates a foundation for a future education in the field since speech-language pathologists typically need a master's degree to practice. An undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders can also prepare graduates for professional degrees in medicine, special education or public health. Other recent graduates work as research assistants or patient care advocates.

Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are employed in a variety of settings such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation agencies and private clinics or practices.

Admission Requirements

Freshman Admission

• High School diploma or acceptable score on the General Educational Development Test (GED)
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale
• Minimum ACT score of 20

Transfer Admission

Transfer applicants are encouraged to meet with the department for evaluation of their transcript. A 2.50 cumulative GPA is required.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, applicants should apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.

Accreditation

Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard #310,
Rockville, Maryland 20850
800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700
http://caa.asha.org

Additional Accreditation Information

1. Graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the marginalized status of individuals with disabilities.
2. Graduates will be able to identify how students' actions can impact their professional decisions with ethical consequences.
3. Graduates will be able to apply the principles of evidence-based research to understand typical speech and language development.
4. Graduates will be able to apply the principles of evidence-based practice to identify acceptable treatment methodologies.

Students in SLU's communication sciences and disorders undergraduate program take the following courses. 

Continuation Standards

All communication sciences and disorders courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher in order to count for the major. Students must have a 2.75 GPA in major coursework to be retained in the major and graduate.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.  Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Program Notes

Minor is not required, though suggested