At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
This major offers a comprehensive program of study for preparing students who want to become speech-language pathologists or audiologists. The curriculum is specifically designed for the sole purpose of preparing undergraduate students for graduate study in communication sciences and disorders or related areas. This occurs because state licensure laws and professional certifications require that a speech-language pathologist or audiologist must have a master's degree, pass a national test, and complete a clinical fellowship year.
Overall, the curriculum enables students to develop fundamental knowledge based on scientific principles, skills, and attitudes required for habilitating and rehabilitating persons of all ages with a wide range of speech, language, and hearing problems. Further, the curriculum allows students an opportunity to explore all aspects of communication sciences and disorders as well as elect courses of special interest.
The first two years of study emphasize general education and background study. The last two years of study emphasize normal and disordered aspects of speech, language, and hearing as well as professional management, concerns, and obligations. Clinical observation and diversity focused coursework are included in the curriculum.
What is Communication Sciences and Disorders?
Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is the study of human communication disorders. Undergraduate students acquire a strong foundation in the basic sciences and processes related to typical, delayed and disordered speech, language, cognition, swallowing, and hearing. Students gain critical-thinking abilities necessary to apply foundational knowledge and skills to the identification, assessment, and treatment of communication disorders. Graduates proceed to advanced degrees in speech-language pathology or audiology to habilitate and rehabilitate children and adults with a variety of disorders and delays through service and research. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are employed in environments such as schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, community clinics and nursing homes.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You know you will find fulfillment in working closely with others.
- You want to pursue a career in a helping profession.
- You envision yourself teaching people skills to improve their quality of life.
- You want to develop new interventions for those with communications disorders.
Entrance to Major
In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:
- attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
- have at least third-semester classification.
READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, a minimum of 120 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Electives | 30 |
| Requirements for the Major | 54-55 |
9-10 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 6 credits of GS courses; 3-4 credits of GQ courses.
To satisfy graduation requirements, students must have completed 6 credits from courses offered in the college and outside the department in which the major is offered.
Per Senate Policy 83.80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of coursework in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. CSD requires students to complete 24 credits for the major through courses taken at University Park. Courses taken at other Penn State campuses may not be counted toward this 24 credit minimum. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for this major.
Requirements for the Major
To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| PSYCH 100 | Introductory Psychology  | 3 |
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| CSD 146 | Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders | 3 |
| CSD 230 | Introduction to Audiology | 3 |
| CSD 269 | Deaf Culture | 3 |
| CSD 300 | Developmental Considerations in the Assessment and Treatment of Language Disorders | 3 |
| CSD 311 | Clinical Phonetics | 3 |
| CSD 331 | Anatomy and Physiology for Speech and Hearing | 3 |
| CSD 341 | Acoustic Principles in Communication Sciences and Disorders | 3 |
| CSD 433 | Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
| CSD 442 | Introduction to Disorders of Articulation and Phonology | 3 |
| CSD 444 | Introduction to Organic Disorders of Speech and Language | 3 |
| CSD 451 | An Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication | 3 |
| CSD 459W | Principles of Clinical Management in Communication Disorders | 3 |
| CSD 462 | Clinical Bases of Language Disorders | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| EDPSY 14 | Learning and Instruction | 3 |
| or PSYCH 261 | Introduction to Psychology of Learning | |
| HDFS 129 | Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies | 3 |
| or PSYCH 212 | Introduction to Developmental Psychology | |
| Select 3-4 credits of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Analysis and Interpretation of Statistical Data in Education | ||
| Elementary Statistics in Psychology | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Infant and Child Development | ||
| Adult Development and Aging | ||
| Family Development | ||
| The Helping Relationship | ||
| Family Relationships | ||
| Developmental Problems in Childhood and Adolescence | ||
| Introduction to Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Adjustment and Social Relationships | ||
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Integrative Studies
- Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits
Exploration
- GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
- GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Program Learning Objectives
- Communication Skills:
- Demonstrate effective written communication skills to explain and describe content and research knowledge, and critical thinking skills as they apply to topics in CSD
- Demonstrate effective spoken communication skills to explain and describe content and research knowledge, and critical thinking skills as they apply to topics in CSD
- Content Knowledge:
- Explain and apply knowledge of the developmental norms for speech/language acquisition
- Explain and apply knowledge of the theoretical and scientific foundations of CSD
- Explain and apply knowledge of speech, language and hearing disorders
- Explain how individual, cultural, and linguistic differences contribute to understanding of language and communication
- Discuss current technological advances and illustrate their use for clinical problem solving
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic clinical process for the evaluation and remediation of communication disorders and differences
- Critical Thinking Skills and Research Knowledge:
- Apply critical thinking, problem solving and logical reasoning skills to topics in CSD
- Develop and explain the scientific method and basic analytic skills for interpretation of research
- Identify and apply "evidence-informed decision making" as a lifelong learning perspective
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Undergraduate Advising
308 Ford Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-3584
csdinfo@psu.edu
https://hhd.psu.edu/csd/undergraduate/advising-csd
Harrisburg
Paul M. Evitts, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Program Chair
777 West Harrisburg Pike
W-344 Olmsted Building
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6326
pxe5073@psu.edu
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.
Communication Sciences and Disorders, B.S. at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CSD 146* | 3 | CSD 230* | 3 |
| General Education Course (GWS) (ENGL 15, ENGL 30H, ESL 15, or ENGL/CAS 137H recommended)‡ | 3 | HDFS 129 or PSYCH 212 (General Education Course, GS, Exploration)† | 3 |
| PSYCH 100 (GS)† | 3 | STAT 200, EDPSY 101, or PSYCH 200 (STAT 200 Recommended)‡† | 3-4 |
| General Education Course (Integrative Studies: Inter-Domain)1 | 3 | General Education Course (GWS) (CAS 100A, CAS 100B, CAS 100C or ENGL/CAS 138T recommended)‡ | 3 |
| General Education Course (GH)1 | 3 | General Education Course (GN) Human Biological2 | 3 |
| First Year Seminar | 1-2 | ||
| 16-17 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CSD 269* | 3 | CSD 311* | 3 |
| CSD 300* | 3 | CSD 331* | 3 |
| HDFS 229, 249N, 315, 411, 418, 432, PSYCH 270, or PSYCH 471 | 3 | EDPSY 14 or PSYCH 261 | 3 |
| General Education Course (Integrative Studies: Inter-Domain)1 | 3 | General Education Course (Exploration)1 | 3 |
| General Education Course (GN, Physical Science, Exploration)2 | 3 | General Education Course (GA)1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CSD 433* | 3 | CSD 341* | 3 |
| CSD 442* | 3 | CSD 462* | 3 |
| General Education Course (GQ)‡1 | 3 | General Education Course (GWS) (ENGL 202A or ENGL 202B recommended)‡ | 3 |
| General Education Course (GHW)1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CSD 444* | 3 | CSD 459W* | 3 |
| CSD 451* | 3 | Elective (CSD 431 recommended)1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3-4 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 2-3 |
| 15 | 14-16 | ||
| Total Credits 120-124 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
- 1
For course suggestions, please visit: https://hhd.psu.edu/csd/student-support/courses.
- 2
ASHA requirements for admission to graduate school in SLP or Audiology require a biological science course and a physical science (physics or chemistry) course, so GN courses should be selected with this in mind. For course suggestions, please visit: https://hhd.psu.edu/csd/student-support/courses.
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
Advising Notes:
- ASHA requires 25 documented guided observation hours with an ASHA-certified speech pathologist or audiologist. These may be completed on your own or through a credit-bearing course.
- For CSD majors, the Writing Across the Curriculum requirement is completed once the student has passed CSD 459W.
- Some CSD courses may be offered at locations other than University Park.
- HHD allows up to 6 credits from ROTC study to be counted toward General Education and major requirements. Some programs allow additional ROTC credits to be used for degree requirements.
Communication Sciences and Disorders, B.S. at Commonwealth Campuses
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PSYCH 100 (GS)† | 3 | HDFS 129 or PSYCH 212 (GS)† | 3 |
| General Education Course (GWS) (ENGL 15, ENGL 30H, ESL 15, or ENGL/CAS 137H recommended)‡ | 3 | STAT 200, EDPSY 101, or PSYCH 200 (GQ)‡† | 4-3 |
| General Education Course (Integrative Studies)1 | 3 | General Education Course (GWS) (CAS 100A, CAS 100B, CAS 100C, or ENGL/CAS 138T recommended)‡ | 3 |
| General Education Course (GH)1 | 3 | General Education Course (GN) Human Biological2 | 3 |
| General Education Course (GA)1 | 3 | General Education Course (Integrative Studies)1 | 3 |
| PSU First Year Seminar3 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16-15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HDFS 229, 249N, 315, 411, 418, 432, PSYCH 270, or PSYCH 471 | 3 | EDPSY 14 or PSYCH 261 | 3 |
| General Education Course (Exploration)1 | 3 | General Education Course (GWS) (ENGL 202A or 202B recommended)‡ | 3 |
| General Education Course (GN) Physical Science2 | 3 | General Education Course (GQ)‡1 | 3 |
| General Education Course (GHW)1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CSD 146* | 3 | CSD 300* | 3 |
| CSD 230* | 3 | CSD 311* | 3 |
| CSD 269* | 3 | CSD 331* | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | CSD 433* | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CSD 341* | 3 | CSD 451* | 3 |
| CSD 442* | 3 | CSD 462* | 3 |
| CSD 444* | 3 | CSD 459W* | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective (CSD 431 recommended)1 | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Elective1 | 1-2 |
| 15 | 13-14 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
- 1
For course suggestions, please visit: https://hhd.psu.edu/csd/student-support/courses.
- 2
ASHA requirements for admission to graduate school in SLP or Audiology require a biological science course and a physical science (physics or chemistry) course, so GN courses should be selected with this in mind. For course suggestions, please visit: https://hhd.psu.edu/csd/student-support/courses.
- 3
First year seminar not required at some campuses.
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
Advising Notes:
- ASHA requires 25 documented guided observation hours with an ASHA-certified speech pathologist or audiologist. These may be completed on your own or through a credit-bearing course.
- For CSD majors, the Writing Across the Curriculum requirement is completed once the student has passed CSD 459W.
- Some CSD courses may be offered at locations other than University Park.
Career Paths
Students who complete an advanced degree in speech-language pathology evaluate, diagnose and provide treatment for people of all ages who have communication disabilities and differences. Speech-language pathologists with master’s degrees work in hospital and rehabilitation centers, schools, community clinics, nursing homes, and private practice. Audiology students who complete a clinical doctorate of audiology degree (Au.D.) evaluate, diagnose and treat people of all ages with hearing loss. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists who earn doctorate (Ph.D.) degrees typically teach and conduct research in a university setting.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Resources
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS
308 Ford Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-3584
csdinfo@psu.edu
Harrisburg
COMMUNICATIONS SCIENCES AND DISORDERS PROGRAM
777 West Harrisburg Pike
W-344 Olmsted
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6326
pxe5073@psu.edu
https://harrisburg.psu.edu/behavioral-sciences-education/communication-sciences-disorders-bs