Communication Disorders - Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders
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 3.0 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 | ||
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| Professional and Technical Communication Honors | 3 | |
| Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | 3 | |
| Oral Communication | ||
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture | 0,3 | |
| Introduction to Communication | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | 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 |
| Choose one sequence from the following: | 4 | |
| Human Biology and Human Biology Laboratory | 4 | |
| Contemporary Problems in Biology | 4 | |
| Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory | 4 | |
| Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory | 4 | |
| Choose one from the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Chemistry Lecture and Laboratory (non majors) | 4 | |
| General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | 4 | |
| General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | 4 | |
| Survey of Physics with Lab | 4 | |
| Physics of Music | 4 | |
| Algebra-Based Physics I and Algebra-Based Physics I Lab | 4 | |
| Algebra-Based Physics II and Algebra-Based Physics II Lab | 4 | |
| Area V: Humanities 2 | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 2 | 3 | |
| General Education Elective | ||
| SOCI 1110G | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or SOCI 2310G | Contemporary Social Problems | |
| Viewing a Wider World Courses (must be from two different colleges) 3 | 6 | |
| 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) | ||
| PSYC 2120 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| or CEPY 1120G | Human Growth and Behavior | |
| CEPY 4110V | Introduction to Counseling | 3 |
| LING 2110G | Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics | 3 |
| LING 302V | Language and Society | 3 |
| or LING 303 | Exploring Language Systems | |
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| Statistical Methods | 3 | |
| Statistical Applications | 3 | |
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | 3 | |
| World Archaeology | 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 5 | 24 | |
12 credits must be upper-division | ||
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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MATH 1220G College Algebra is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisites needed to enter MATH 1220G first.
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See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 3
See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 4
SPAN 1110 Spanish I/SPAN 1120 Spanish II or an advanced Spanish course.
- 5
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 | |
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1220G | College Algebra 1 | 3 |
| Choose two from one of the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| World Archaeology | ||
| Credits | 13 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| MATH 1350G | Introduction to Statistics 1 | 3 |
| SOCI 1110G | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| LING 2110G | Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics | 3 |
| Minor (or Elective) Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| BIOL 1120G & BIOL 1120L | Human Biology and Human Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| SPHS 2110 | Introduction to Communication Disorders | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Professional and Technical Communication Honors 1 | ||
| Advanced Technical and Professional Communication | ||
| Minor (or Elective) Course | 3 | |
| SPHS 3110 or CEPY 1120G | or Human Growth and Behavior | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PHYS 1125G | Physics of Music | 4 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| Film as Literature | ||
| Introduction to Creative Writing | ||
| World Literature I | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Language and Society | ||
| Exploring Language Systems | ||
| Minor (or Elective) Course | 3 | |
| Minor (or Elective) Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| SPHS 4510 | Phonetics ( Fall Only) 1 | 3 |
| SPHS 4520 | Audiology (Fall Only) 1 | 3 |
| First Course in Second Language Series (ASL or SPAN) | 3 | |
| Minor (or Elective) Course | 3 | |
| Minor (or Elective) Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPHS 4610 | Language Acquisition (Spring Only) 1 | 3 |
| SPHS 4620 | Speech and Hearing Science (Spring Only) 1 | 3 |
| Next Course in Second Language Series (ASL or SPAN) 1 | 3 | |
| Minor (or Elective) Course | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| SPHS 4810 | Clinical Methods and Procedures | 3 |
| SPHS 4820 | Neural Bases of Communication Disorders (Fall Only) | 3 |
| SPHS 4715 | Language Disorders Across the Life Span (Fall Only) 1 | 3 |
| VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 3 | 3 | |
| Minor (or Elective) Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPHS 4830 | Aural Rehabilitation (Spring Only) 1 | 3 |
| SPHS 4720 | Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Mechanisms (Spring Only) | 3 |
| SPHS 4710 | Speech Disorders Across the Lifespan (Spring Only) | 3 |
| VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 3 | 3 | |
| Minor (or Elective) Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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These courses may have prerequisites and/or co-requisites, and it is the students responsibility for checking and fulfilling all those requirements.
- 2
See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 3
See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.