BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders
About the Program
Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) prepares students for professions that help people who have difficulty speaking and hearing.
The study of communication disorders involves understanding the development of speech, language and hearing, as well as learning how to diagnose and treat communication disorders in adults and children.
The CSD bachelor’s degree emphasizes a variety of options to acquaint students with careers in which they may assist persons with communication disorders after obtaining a graduate degree.
Students complete coursework in the areas of anatomy and neurophysiology, linguistic and acoustic aspects of communication, an introduction to speech, language & hearing disorders and an overview of the clinical process. Options in the areas of business, education, health careers, and research and science are available. A capstone project is also required.
Undergraduate students may join the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association. NSSLHA is the national pre-professional membership organization of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for students interested in the study of communication sciences and disorders. The University of Cincinnati has a very active chapter that meets monthly. NSSLHA students participate in philanthropy, fundraising, volunteering, listening to guest speakers and much more.
Before entering upper division coursework, the Progression Form CSD UG Junior and Seniors must be completed and submitted during spring prior to starting your junior year and prior to starting your senior year. The form should be submitted as both a hard copy to Dr. Sotto and an electronic submission going through the NSSLHA Blackboard organization site. Students need to click on the Tab that states: Undergrad Information and then click on the folder that states: Progression Form.
The final aspect of the General Education curriculum at the undergraduate level is completion of a Capstone Experience. The Capstone in CSD is designed to demonstrate the baccalaureate competencies of critical thinking, social responsibility, effective communication and knowledge integration. Students may select from the following Capstone experiences: Senior Honors Project, Service Learning Project, Portfolio, or Case Studies Course.
Students in CSD who have a 3.4 or higher cumulative GPA by the end of spring quarter of the junior year may qualify for the CSD Departmental Honors Program. Students who transfer from another institution must have a UC cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher from a minimum of 90-quarter credit hours earned at the University of Cincinnati by the end of spring quarter of the junior year. Students register and complete the CSD Honors program during senior year.
A Dual Admissions Program is a non-binding BS/MA or BS/AuD program, which allows high school seniors to gain early assurance acceptance to the University of Cincinnati Graduate Program in Speech Pathology or Audiology. The program seeks highly motivated, intellectually curious, and academically talented students who are serious about a career in speech-language pathology and/or audiology. Students must be accepted first to the University of Cincinnati and then contact the Undergraduate Program Director, Dr. Carolyn Sotto at sottocd@uc.edu for the Dual Admission application. High School Students who will graduate with a 3.45 must score a 26 composite on the ACT or a 1200 composite on the SAT to be eligible to apply. Test score requirements do not include writing portion and does not super-score multiple test administrations.