Degree Requirements | Four-Year Degree Plan | How to Apply
During your first and second years, you will take prerequisite courses and then take courses in your major during your third and fourth years.
The large majority of courses in the major are upper division, and focus in the following areas:
- anatomic-physiological bases of speech, language, and hearing
- physical properties of speech (acoustics and phonetics)
- role of biology, cognition, environment, and culture in language acquisition
- development of speech and language
- speech, language, and hearing disorders across the life span
- assessment and treatment procedures for individuals with speech, language, and hearing disorders
- professional issues in speech-language pathology and audiology
The bachelor of arts (BA) degree requires proficiency in a second language. The bachelor of science (BS) degree requires proficiency in mathematics or computer and information science or a combination of the two.
*If you started the junior sequence prior to fall 2022, please refer to this CDS 2021-2022 Program Plan
Bachelor of Arts Program Requirements
You will earn a minimum of 50 upper division credits in the CDS major. You will need an additional 12 upper division credits (300 or 400 level courses) for the university graduation requirement.
Area A — Total Credits: 54
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| LING 150 Structure of English Words | 4 |
| 4 | |
| 2 | |
|
CDS 431 Beginning Clinical Methods (Prerequisite: CDS 430)
|
3 |
| 4 | |
| 4 | |
|
CDS 450 Introduction to Language Development (Prerequisite: LING 150 and WR 122 or WR 123)
|
4 |
|
CDS 451 Later Language Development (Prerequisite: CDS 450)
|
4 |
| 4 | |
| 4 | |
| 4 | |
|
CDS 460 Developmental Disorders in Communication (Prerequisite: CDS 450)
|
4 |
|
CDS 462 Acquired Disorders of Communication (Prerequisite: CDS 470)
|
4 |
|
CDS 470 Neuroscience of Speech and Language (Prerequisite: CDS 442)
|
4 |
Transfer courses
Transfer courses are not automatically added to the major portion of degree audits, but must be approved by the department and manually added by the registrar. Check with your CDS advisor if you have relevant transfer credits.
Area B — Total Credits: 16
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| Social-behavioral science course | 4 |
| Biological science course | 4 |
| Physical science course | 4 |
| Statistics course | 4 |
Please note:
- Area B courses may be taken with the P/NP option
- The biological and physical science course requirements will not be fulfilled by courses in research methods, history, or social/cultural aspects of the sciences. Biological science requirements may not be met by CDS courses.
- Transfer courses accepted for Area B requirements may be 3 or 4 credits.
Area C — Total Credits: 4
Electives courses were chosen to provide students additional content in social, cultural, neurological, and/or linguistic factors affecting human functioning and communication.
Prerequisites and general education categories are noted where applicable.
| course and Title | Prerequisite | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 320 Native North Americans1 >2 | ANTH 161 | 4 |
| ANTH 322 Anthropology of the United States2 >2 | ANTH 161 | 4 |
| ANTH 329 Immigration Farmworkers Political Culture1 >2 | N/A | 4 |
| ASL 301 American Deaf Culture1 >2 | N/A | 4 |
| LING 301 Introduction to Linguistic Analysis >2 | N/A | 4 |
| LING 396 Language and Cognition >2 | N/A | 4 |
| PSY 304 Biopsychology >3 | PSY 201 | 4 |
| PSY 380 Psychology of Gender1 >2 | N/A | 4 |
| SOC 305 America's Peoples >2; A | SOC 204 or SOC 207 | 4 |
| SOC 311 Introduction to Social Research | SOC 204 or SOC 207 | 4 |
| SOC 330 Sociology of the Family | SOC 204 or SOC 207 | 4 |
| SOC 345 Race and Ethnicity2 >2 | N/A | 4 |
| SPAN 322 Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics* | Major/Minor only; SPAN 308, One from SPAN 301, 303, 305, 311, 312 | 4 |
| SPAN 324 Spanish Pronunciation & Phonetics* | Major/Minor only; SPAN 308, One from SPAN 301, 303, 305, 311, 312 | 4 |
1—Identity, Pluralism, and Tolerance
2—American Cultures
*—There are similar courses available for other languages; speak to your advisor to see if those courses apply to the elective requirement
Four-Year Degree Plan
This is a sample program plan. Students will work with their advisor to develop an individualized course plan for meeting university requirements.
First Year — Total Credits: 51
Fall Term — Total Credits: 17
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
|
BI 121 Introduction to Human Physiology
BI 121 is a suggestion; one course must be taken freshman year that fulfills the biological science requirement. Courses that satisfy this requirement include biology, human physiology, neuroanatomy, and genetics. Biology courses must have an animal focus. |
4 |
| WR 121 College Composition I | 4 |
| First term of first-year second-language sequence | 5 |
| Elective course | 4 |
Winter Term — Total Credits: 17
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| MATH 243 Introduction to Methods of Probability and Statistics | 4 |
|
PHYS 152 Physics of Sound and Music
PHYS 152 is a suggestion; one course must be taken freshman or sophomore year that fulfills the physical science requirement. Courses that satisfy this requirement include chemistry or physics. |
4 |
| WR 122 College Composition II | 4 |
| Second term of first-year second-language sequence | 5 |
Spring Term — Total Credits: 17
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
|
PSY 202 Mind and Society
PSY 202 is a suggestion; courses in psychology, sociology, public health, or socialcultural anthropology fulfill the socialbehavioral science requirement. |
4 |
| Third term of first-year second-language sequence | 5 |
| General education course in arts and letters | 4 |
| General education course in science | 4 |
Second Year — Total Credits: 46
Fall Term — Total Credits: 16
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
|
CDS 201 Communication Disorders in Society and Media 1 (Prerequisite: WR 121)
|
4 |
|
LING 150 Structure of English Words
LING 150 is a recommended prerequisite for sophomore year; satisfies general education requirement in arts and letters |
4 |
| First term of second-year second-language sequence | 4 |
| General education course that also satisfies a multicultural requirement | 4 |
Winter Term — Total Credits: 16
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| Second term of second-year second-language sequence | 4 |
| General-education course in social science | 4 |
| General-education courses in arts and letters | 8 |
Spring Term — Total Credits: 14
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
|
CDS 430 Speech Pathology-Audiology as Professions
|
2 |
| Third term of second-year second-language sequence | 4 |
| General-education course in social science | 4 |
| General-education course in science | 4 |
Third Year — Total Credits: 45
Fall Term — Total Credits: 13
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| 4 | |
|
CDS 450 Introduction to Language Development (Prerequisite: LING 150 and WR 122 or WR 123)
|
4 |
| General-education course in social science | 4 |
Winter Term — Total Credits: 16
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
|
PSY 308 Development Psychology (Prerequisite: PSY 202)
|
4 |
| Elective courses | 8 |
Spring Term — Total Credits: 16
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| 4 | |
| 4 | |
| Elective courses | 8 |
Fourth Year - Total Credits: 43
Fall Term — Total Credits: 12
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
| 4 | |
|
CDS 460 Developmental Disorders in Communication (Prerequisite: CDS 450)
|
4 |
| Elective courses | 4 |
Winter Term — Total Credits: 16
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
|
CDS 470 Neuroscience of Speech and Language (Prerequisite: CDS 442)
|
4 |
| Elective courses | 12 |
Spring Term — Total Credits: 15
| course and Title | CREDITS |
|---|---|
|
CDS 431 Beginning Clinical Methods (Prerequisite: CDS 430)
|
3 |
|
CDS 462 Acquired Disorders of Communication (Prerequisite: CDS 470)
|
4 |
| Elective courses | 8 |