Academic Programs Catalog

College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Undergraduate Program

The Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD) offers a Bachelor of Science degree that prepares students for a number of opportunities. These include graduate studies to become a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, doctoral studies in CSD, graduate studies in other fields, and careers in education, healthcare, or other settings where communication skills, interdisciplinary knowledge, and a strong scientific background are desired.
 

Communicative Sciences and Disorders

The Bachelor of Science degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders trains students in the understanding of both normal and disordered aspects of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing. The major is designed to equip students with knowledge and emerging skills for the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders. Primary areas of emphasis are placed on critical thinking and understanding of scientific inquiry as it relates to communication disorders. Students in the major will also learn and practice oral and written communication skills, develop as a reflective learner, and demonstrate growth in professional communication skills. An additional area of emphasis for student learning is understanding issues of diversity, inclusion, equity, and ethical practice within the field of communicative sciences and disorders. Collaboration, teamwork, and interprofessional knowledge and skill development are critical areas of focus for students in the major to prepare them to effectively contribute to the profession of communicative sciences and disorders and to society at large. Majors will commonly pursue graduate degrees in speech-language pathology or audiology. The knowledge and skills acquired in the major can also serve as preparation for other graduate degree programs or for careers in educational, healthcare, and business settings that value scientific training, strong communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of the catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Communicative Sciences and Disorders major is met by completing Communicative Sciences and Disorders 470 and 472.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
  2. The requirements of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences for the Bachelor of Science degree.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a. All of the following courses with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 or higher in CSD 203, 213, 232, 303, 313,  and 333 (36 credits):
    CSD 203 Introduction to Communicative Sciences and Disorders 3
    CSD 213 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms 3
    CSD 232 Descriptive Phonetics 3
    CSD 303 Fundamentals of Hearing and Audiometry 3
    CSD 313 Speech Science 3
    CSD 333 Language Development 3
    CSD 364 Evaluation Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology 3
    CSD 391 Clinical Methods in Communication Disorders 3
    CSD 444 Clinical Procedures in Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation 3
    CSD 463 Intervention Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology 3
    CSD 470 Introduction to Developmental Communicative Disorders (W) 3
    CSD 472 Introduction to Acquired Communicative Disorders (W) 3
    The completion of CSD 470 and 472 satisfies the capstone/synthesis requirement for the Communicative Sciences and Disorders major.
    b. One of the following courses (3 credits):
    PSY 295 Data Analysis in Psychological Research 3
    STT 200 Statistical Methods 3
    c. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    ANP 201 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3
    PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 4
    SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 4
    d. One of the following courses (3 credits):
    ISB 202 Applications of Environmental and Organismal Biology 3
    ISB 204 Applications of Biomedical Sciences 3
    e. One of the following courses (3 credits):
    ISP 209 The Mystery of the Physical World 3
    ISP 215 The Science of Sound 3
    ISP 220 Quarks, Spacetime, and the Big Bang 3
    f. One of the following courses (2 credits):
    ISB 208L Applications in Biological Science Laboratory 2
    ISP 209L The Mystery of the Physical World Laboratory 2
    g. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    LIN 200 Introduction to Language 3
    LIN 401 Introduction to Linguistics 4
    LIN 450 Child Language Acquisition 3
    h. One of the following courses (3 credits):
    HDFS 211 Child Growth and Development 3
    HDFS 225 Lifespan Human Development in the Family 3
    PSY 238 Developmental Psychology: Lifespan 3
    PSY 244 Developmental Psychology: Infancy  Through  3
    i. A minimum of 3 credits from the following courses:
    COM 310 Intercultural Communication 3
    COM 320 Diversity and Communication 3
    CSD 419 International Aspects of Communicative Disorders 1 to 6
    LIN 225 Language and Gender 3
    LIN 471 Sociolinguistics 3
    j. One of the following courses (3 credits):
    LIN 455 Neurolinguistics 3
    LIN 463 Introduction to Cognitive Science 3
    PSY 209 Brain and Behavior 3
    PSY 301 Cognitive Neuroscience 3
    k. Electives:
    Additional credits in CSD courses can be taken as electives. Topics in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD 491) are encouraged to increase breadth and depth of training in communicative sciences and disorders. Only credits in courses graded on the numerical or Pass-No Grade system may be counted toward the requirements for the Communicative Sciences and Disorders major. Communicative Sciences and Disorders students may not enroll in courses required for the major, including courses in other departments, on a Credit-No Credit basis.

 

Minor in Communicative Sciences and Disorders

The Minor in Communicative Sciences and Disorders assists students in acquiring understanding of both normal and disordered aspects of speech, language, and hearing; and knowledge and skills regarding the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders. Completion of the minor provides most of the required coursework needed for admission to graduate study in communicative sciences and disorders. Students interested in taking the minor who intend to pursue graduate school to become a speech-language pathologist or audiologist should consult with an undergraduate advisor in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences to learn about the recommended set of courses that most graduate programs require.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University.  With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in the department.

Requirements for the Minor in Communicative Sciences and Disorders

Students must complete 21 credits from the following:

CSD 213 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms 3
CSD 303 Fundamentals of Hearing 3
CSD 313 Speech Science 3
CSD 333 Oral Language Development 3
CSD 364 Speech and Language Disorders and their Evaluation 3
CSD 444 Audiologic Assessment and Intervention/Rehabilitation 3
CSD 463 Intervention/Rehabilitation Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology 3