Communication Disorders - Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders (Online)
The Communication Disorders curriculum provides specialized preparation for students who would like to work as Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLP-A) and those who plan to enter a graduate program in speech-language pathology or audiology. Students supplement their academic study of typical communication development, communication disorders, and clinical management with observation of the clinical experience in the department’s Edgar R. Garrett Speech and Hearing Center and/or via alternative clinical education such as virtual patients. Students must maintain a grade of B or better in all Speech Language Hearing Sciences (SPHS) courses and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, to remain in the program.
The undergraduate program fulfills all educational requirements needed for certification as Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLP-A) by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Details regarding certification are available from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and for those seeking a license as Apprentice in Speech-Language (ASL) in New Mexico, information can be found on the website of the New Mexico Regulations & Licensing Department.
Professional employment opportunities for speech-language pathologists and audiologists are numerous within settings such as school systems, community clinics, medical centers, hospitals, private practice, residential programs, and schools for individuals with disabilities.
Program Requirements
Required coursework (120 credits; minimum 48 upper-division credits)
Electives to meet the 120 minimum credit hours for this degree can either come from any minor that a student chooses to pursue or any other elective courses not counting elsewhere towards the degree. Recommended minors for this degree are Linguistics, Spanish, or Counseling and Educational Psychology.
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300/3000 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Area I: English and Communication | ||
| English Composition - Level 1 | ||
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I | 4 |
| English Composition - Level 2 | ||
| ENGL 2210G | Professional and Technical Communication Honors | 3 |
| or ENGL 2221G | Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | |
| Oral Communication | ||
| COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| Area II: Mathematics | ||
| MATH 1220G | College Algebra (or higher) 1 | 3 |
| Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences | ||
| PSYC 1110G | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| BIOL 1130G | Introductory Anatomy & Physiology (non-majors) | 4 |
| PHYS 1125G | Physics of Music | 4 |
| Area V: Humanities | ||
| ENGL 1410G | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| or PHIL 1145G | Philosophy, Law, and Ethics | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Orientation in Art | 3 | |
| History of Art I | 3 | |
| Music Appreciation: Jazz | 3 | |
| Music Appreciation: Western Music | 3 | |
| General Education Elective | ||
| SOCI 1110G | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Viewing a Wider World Courses (must be from two different colleges) 2 | 6 | |
| Human Relations Training | 3 | |
A second VWW course must be outside the College of HEST and available through the NMSU Online Campus | ||
| Departmental/College Requirements | ||
| SPHS 2110 | Introduction to Communication Disorders | 3 |
| SPHS 4510 | Phonetics | 3 |
| SPHS 4520 | Audiology | 3 |
| SPHS 4610 | Language Acquisition | 3 |
| SPHS 4620 | Speech and Hearing Science | 3 |
| SPHS 4710 | Speech Disorders Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| SPHS 4715 | Language Disorders Across the Life Span | 3 |
| SPHS 4720 | Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Mechanisms | 3 |
| SPHS 4810 | Clinical Methods and Procedures | 3 |
| SPHS 4820 | Neural Bases of Communication Disorders | 3 |
| SPHS 4830 | Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
| Non- Departmentals Requirements (in addition to Gen.Ed/VWW) | ||
| CEPY 1120G | Human Growth and Behavior | 3 |
| CEPY 4150 | Psychology, Multiculturalism and Counseling | 3 |
| FCST 2110 | Infancy Through Middle Childhood in the Family | 3 |
| FCST 2135 | Adolescent Development and the Family | 3 |
| or FCST 2140 | Adult Development and Aging | |
| MATH 1350G | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| PHLS 3220 | Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| PHLS 4620V | Cross-Cultural Aspects of Health | 3 |
| PSYC 3110 | Experimental Methods | 0,4 |
| PSYC 340 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 375 | Psychology and the Brain | 3 |
| Second Language: (see below) | ||
| SIGN 1110 | American Sign Language I 3 | 3 |
| or SPAN 1110 | Spanish I | |
| SIGN 1120 | American Sign Language II 3 | 3 |
| or SPAN 1120 | Spanish II | |
| Electives, to bring total credits to 120 4 | 15 | |
8 credits must be upper-division | ||
| Total Credits | 120-124 | |
- 1
MATH 1220G College Algebra is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisites needed to enter MATH 1220G first.
- 2
See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 3
SPAN 1110 Spanish I/SPAN 1120 Spanish II or an advanced Spanish course
- 4
Elective credit may vary based on prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework. The amount indicated in the requirements list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may appear in variable form based on the degree. However students may end up needing to complete more or less on a case-by-case basis and students should discuss elective requirements with their advisor.
A Suggested Plan of Study for Students
This roadmap assumes student placement in MATH 1220G College Algebra and ENGL 1110G Composition I . The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
| FALL | ||
| SPHS 2110 | Introduction to Communication Disorders | 3 |
| PSYC 1110G | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I | 4 |
| MATH 1220G | College Algebra | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| SPHS 4610 | Language Acquisition | 3 |
| BIOL 1130G | Introductory Anatomy & Physiology (non-majors) | 4 |
| ENGL 2210G or ENGL 2221G | Professional and Technical Communication Honors or Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | 3 |
| First Course in Second Language Series (ASL or SPAN) | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 1410G or PHIL 1145G | Introduction to Literature or Philosophy, Law, and Ethics | 3 |
| Next Course in Second Language Series (ASL or SPAN) | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| FALL | ||
| MATH 1350G | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| SOCI 1110G | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SPHS 4510 | Phonetics | 3 |
| SPHS 4715 | Language Disorders Across the Life Span | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| SPHS 4620 | Speech and Hearing Science | 3 |
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| Orientation in Art | ||
| History of Art I | ||
| Music Appreciation: Western Music | ||
| Music Appreciation: Jazz | ||
| CEPY 1120G | Human Growth and Behavior | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| SPHS 4520 | Audiology | 3 |
| SPHS 4830 | Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| FALL | ||
| CEPY 3210V | Human Relations Training | 3 |
| PHYS 1125G | Physics of Music | 4 |
| PSYC 3110 | Experimental Methods | 0-4 |
| FCST 2110 | Infancy Through Middle Childhood in the Family | 3 |
| Credits | 10-14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| PSYC 375 | Psychology and the Brain | 3 |
| SPHS 4710 | Speech Disorders Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| SPHS 4810 | Clinical Methods and Procedures | 3 |
| PHLS 4620V | Cross-Cultural Aspects of Health | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| PHLS 3220 | Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| CEPY 4150 | Psychology, Multiculturalism and Counseling | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| SPHS 4720 | Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Mechanisms | 3 |
| Upper Division Elective Course(s) | 6 | |
| VWW - Viewing a Wider World Course 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| PSYC 340 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| SPHS 4820 | Neural Bases of Communication Disorders | 3 |
| Upper Division Elective Course | 2 | |
| FCST 2135 or FCST 2140 | Adolescent Development and the Family or Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Total Credits | 113-117 | |
- 1
The VWW Course must be outside the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation and be facilitated through the NMSU Online section offerings see the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a complete list of VWW Courses and refer to the Course Schedule for the available campus offerings.