Program Description
The Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders (CMD) is a pre-professional program designed for students seeking to eventually become speech-language pathologists. The program prepares students for future graduate training, which is needed before employment as a speech-language pathologist is possible. It is important to maintain a GPA of 3.00 or higher because few graduate schools will accept less.
At the undergraduate level, students gain a broad understanding of the scientific bases of normal speech and hearing processes and the diagnostic and rehabilitation procedures necessary to work with individuals who have communication problems.
Delivery Mode
Traditional (on campus)
Curriculum
The following eight-semester schedule of courses provides a recommended framework for completing this program of study in four years. This schedule is only an example and may change based on departmental course rotation and other factors.
| Course | Credits |
| Freshman Year | |
| First Semester | 14 to 15 |
| CMD 220 Communication Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| CMD 350 Sign Language and Braille | 3 |
| ENG 101 English Composition I | 3 |
| UNI 100 First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Education/Biology*** | 3 to 4 |
| Second Semester | 15 |
| CMD 105 Language and Speech Development | 3 |
| CMD 108 Nature of Language | 3 |
| CMD 203 Phonetics | 3 |
| MAT 181 College Algebra | 3 |
| General Education/Health and Wellness | 3 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Third Semester | 15 to 18 |
| CMD 216 Articulation | 3 |
| CMD 221 Speech Science | 3 |
| CMD 400 OR 402 Clinical Practicum (first time)* | 1 to 3 |
| PSY 100 General Psychology | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| General Education/Fine Arts | 3 |
| Fourth Semester | 15 to 18 |
| CMD 310 Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| CMD 300 Fundamentals of Language Disorders in Children | 3 |
| CMD 400 Clinical Practicum: Video OR CDM 402 Clinical Practicum: Learn/Lang Ctr (first time)* | 1 to 3 |
| ESP 210 Special Education Foundations and Collaboration | 3 |
| PSY 208 Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| Junior Year | |
| Fifth Semester | 15 to 19 |
| CMD 301 Fundamentals of Language Disorders in Adults | 3 |
| CMD 305 Introduction to Audiology | 3 |
| CMD 400, 401 OR 402 Clinical Practicum (second time)* | 1 to 3 |
| Ethics Course | 3 |
| General Education/Chemistry or Physics*** | 3 to 4 |
| General Education Rec II Course** | 3 |
| Sixth Semester | 15 to 18 |
| CMD 306 Acoustics/Psychoacoustics | 3 |
| CMD 322 Technical Writing in Health and Education | 3 |
| CMD 400, 401 OR 402 Clinical Practicum (second time)* | 1 to 3 |
| EDU 333 Technology for Teaching and Learning | 3 |
| General Education/American-English Literature | 3 |
| General Education Rec II Course** | 3 |
| Senior Year | |
| Seventh Semester | 12 to 15 |
| CMD 320 Assessment of Speech and Language | 3 |
| CMD 400, 401 OR 402 Clinical Practicum (third time)* | 1 to 3 |
| CMD 450 Intro to Clinic Procedures | 3 |
| EDU 310 Teaching in a Multicultural Society | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| Eighth Semester | 12 to 15 |
| CMD 321 Common Organic Disorders | 3 |
| CMD 400, 401 OR 402 Clinical Practicum (third time)* | 1 or 3 |
| EDU 350 Supporting English Language Learners | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| Statistics Course (recommended: MAT 205) | 3 |
| Total | 120 |
* Taken in the fall or spring semester each time
** Any ANT, BIO, CHE, ESP, Foreign Language, GTY, Linguistics, PHI course taken in addition to other courses and approved by adviser
*** Two science courses are required, one biology course and one physical science course that addresses either chemistry or physics and meets current ASHA requirements. One of these courses should satisfy the Gen Ed - Natural Science requirement and one should satisfy the Gen Ed - Laboratory course requirement.
Program Notes
- Above is a typical sequence of classes. Variations are permissible, but approval should be obtained from your adviser. Note that changes to course sequencing and offerings may occur.
- Student must submit current clearances/checks/etc. prior to academic term in which clinical experiences/observations are obtained, such as CMD Clinical Practicum Series. These include but are not limited to: ACT 24 (Arrest/Conviction), ACT 31 (Mandated Report Training), Act 34 (Criminal Hx), ACT 114 (FBI Fingerprinting), ACT 151 (Child Abuse Hx), HIPAA Compliance & Hand Hygiene Training.
- Four credits of the Clinical Practicum Series are required (6 credit max) for this degree. Rec: CMD 400 (1 credit), CMD 401 (1 credit), and CMD 402 (2-3 credits).
- Freshmen and students without an overall GPA less than 2.0 are not permitted to enroll in the CMD Clinical Practicum Series.
- Graduate school acceptance is competitive and the completion of this undergraduate program does not guarantee acceptance into this University’s graduate program in Communication Disorders.
Additional Requirements
Students will complete clinical work via the CMD 400 series.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) requires all CMD majors to successfully complete one biology course, one physics or chemistry course, one statistics course and a social science course outside of this department. Students register for these courses through the General Education portion of the curriculum.
Clinical Experience
Faculty believe that students should experience hands-on clinical contact early in their program of study. The communication disorders program provides contact with clients by having undergraduate students assist in:
- the department's Learning and Language Center, a preschool program;
- the University Speech and Hearing Clinic; and
- the University Audiology Clinic.
Program Webpage
https://www.calu.edu/academics/undergraduate/bachelors/communication-disorders/index.aspx