Communication Disorders and Sciences Requirements

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The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Communication Disorders and Sciences is offered in the School of Health Sciences. 

The program in Communication Disorders and Sciences has as its objective the training of qualified personnel to aid people who have speech, language, or hearing impairment. The undergraduate curriculum is broad in scope and gives the student the necessary preprofessional background for the clinical-research program offered at the master’s level. Both the state of Illinois and national certification require the master’s degree. Students who complete the graduate program at the master’s level and have certification are qualified for positions in public or private clinics, schools, hospitals, or rehabilitation agencies. In addition, the broad scope of the undergraduate program provides a solid foundation for many graduate professional programs in rehabilitation, such as rehabilitation counseling, behavioral analysis and therapy, and rehabilitation administration.

Communication Disorders and Sciences is dedicated to preparing students for leadership roles in the profession. Students are expected to develop programs that will enhance their individual strengths in light of their professional goals. The undergraduate program permits students to develop significant concentration areas outside of the program while laying the foundation for graduate education.

The undergraduate program is designed to provide the student with sufficient information and experience to determine the advisability of pursuing a graduate degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences. Students choosing not to continue in the profession will find themselves well prepared to enter the job market with a broadly based education or to pursue graduate work in allied rehabilitation professions.

All students are encouraged to plan programs of study to meet the academic and practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, (10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 20852-3279) or the Illinois Professional Educator License with School Support Personnel Endorsement for SLPs: Non-Teaching, or both. Programmatic planning at the undergraduate level will facilitate completion of certification requirements of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and State of Illinois in conjunction with the master’s degree program.

B.S. Communication Disorders and Sciences - Pre-professional Program Degree Requirements

Degree RequirementsCredit Hours
University Core Curriculum Requirements 39
To include: MATH 101 or MATH 110; CHEM 106 or PHYS 101; PLB 115 or ZOOL 115; PHIL 308I; HIST 110; AD 101, HIST 201, MUS 103 or THEA 101; HIST 101A, HIST 101B, PHIL 103A, PHIL 103B; ENGL 121 or ENGL 204; POLS 114; PSYC 102; ANTH 202, HIST 202 or SOC 215; KIN 101.
Electives 29
Major Requirements 52
MATH 282 or QUAN 402 3
PSYC 102, PSYC 211, PSYC 301 10
SOC 108 3
CDS 105, CDS 300, CDS 301, CDS 302, CDS 303, CDS 314, CDS 410, CDS 420, CDS 422, CDS 460, CDS 492, CDS 493 36
Total 120

IL Professional Educator License: Non-Teaching Requirements: EDUC 214, SPED 300, CI 360, CDS 410

Students interested in the IL PEL: Non-Teaching should contact the academic advisor for Communication Disorders and Sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences for appropriate University Core Curriculum and licensure coursework.