Communication Sciences and Disorders B.S.

Academic Criteria

  • All incoming students (freshmen, transfers, etc.) must meet with the department chair to set up their education plan leading to admission into the clinical portion of the SPPA program.
  • All transfer students, both ESU and other institutions, must have a 3.2 cumulative quality point average to declare SPPA as their major. Transfer students will work with the department chair on an individual basis to set up education plans that can be completed in a timely manner.
  • Students are required to maintain a 3.2 overall GPA as well as a 3.2 GPA in the major. Any students falling below a 3.2 will receive a warning letter. After two semesters below the 3.2, the student will be dismissed from the major. Specific information about this topic is included in the student’s curriculum guide, which the student receives upon entering the major.
  • Admission to the clinical portion of the program is required for approval to enroll in SPPA 342, 414, and 457.
  • At least 24 of the required 39 credits in SPPA must be taken at ESU, including all courses above the 100 level, unless waived by the department chair.
  • To enroll in the clinical portion of the program, students must present evidence that they passed the HIPAA confidentiality exam. They must also have a current (within a year) TB test, and Acts 34 (criminal record) and 151 (child abuse) clearances and an FBI clearance. These clearances may be required earlier for observation purposes.

Program Features

51 credit hours

Required courses:

SPPA 101Speech Language Development

3 credits

SPPA 113Phonetics

3 credits

SPPA 121Intro Communication Disorders

3 credits

SPPA 214Anatomic & Physiologic Speech

3 credits

SPPA 231Introduction to Audiology

3 credits

SPPA 312Speech Science

3 credits

SPPA 331Assistive Technology for the Hard of Hearing

3 credits

SPPA 341Language Disorders & Differences Across the Life Span

3 credits

SPPA 342Articulations and Fluency Disorders

3 credits

SPPA 361Psycholinguistics

3 credits

SPPA 414Neurologic Bases of Communication

3 credits

SPPA 457Intro to Clinical Practice

3 credits

Three additional credits from:

SPPA 321Communication and Aging

3 credits

SPPA 335Advanced Sign Language

3 credits

SPPA 423Multicultural Issues in Speech-Language Pathology

3 credits

Co-requisite courses:

REED 315Scaffolding Language and Literacy Development for Students with Disabilities

3 credits

SOC 331Human Behavior and the Social Environment

3 credits

 

 

 

HLTH 340Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies

3 credits

OR

or any 300 or 400 level PSY course

 

 

PSY 225GN: Lifespan Developmental Psychology

3 credits

Or

ECED 232Child Development and Cognition

3 credits

Directed General Education Courses

MATH 110GN: General Statistics

3 credits

PHYS 110GN: Sound Waves & Light

3 credits

BIOL 105GN: General Biology

3 credits

BIOL 111GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I

4 credits

OR

BIOL 114GN: Introductory Biology I

4 credits

CPSC 100GN: Personal Computers and Their Uses

3 credits

Or

CPSC 103GN: Introduction to Information Technology

3 credits

MATH 100GN: Numbers Sets & Structures

3 credits

Or

MATH 101GN: Excursions in Mathematics

3 credits

Choose one:

BIOL 105GN: General Biology

3 credits

OR

BIOL 111GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I

4 credits

Or

BIOL 114GN: Introductory Biology I

4 credits

Choose one:

CPSC 100GN: Personal Computers and Their Uses

3 credits

OR

CPSC 103GN: Introduction to Information Technology

3 credits

Choose one:

MATH 100GN: Numbers Sets & Structures

3 credits

OR

MATH 101GN: Excursions in Mathematics

3 credits

Additional Requirements:

  • Please see the university requirements in this catalog. (p. 44)
  • To enroll in the clinical portion of the program, students must present evidence that they passed the HIPAA confidentiality exam. They must also have a current (within a year) TB test, and Acts 34 (criminal record) and 151 (child abuse) clearances and an FBI clearance. These clearances may be required earlier for observation purposes.

4 Year Curriculum Program Plan

(Subject to change by the university without notice)

Freshman Year

Fall

SPPA 121Intro Communication Disorders

3 credits

ENGL 103English Composition

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring

SPPA 101Speech Language Development

3 credits

SPPA 113Phonetics

3 credits

PSY 100GN: General Psychology

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Sophomore Year

Fall

SPPA 214Anatomic & Physiologic Speech

3 credits

BIOL 111GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I

4 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring

SPPA 312Speech Science

3 credits

SPPA 341Language Disorders & Differences Across the Life Span

3 credits

 

PSY 225GN: Lifespan Developmental Psychology

3 credits

OR

ECED 232Child Development and Cognition

3 credits

 

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective - Group A

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Junior Year

Fall

SPPA 231Introduction to Audiology

3 credits

SOC 331Human Behavior and the Social Environment

3 credits

Fitness Elective

1 credit

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring

SPPA 361Psycholinguistics

3 credits

SPPA 321Communication and Aging

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Senior Year

Fall

SPPA 342Articulations and Fluency Disorders

3 credits

REED 315Scaffolding Language and Literacy Development for Students with Disabilities

3 credits

 

HLTH 340Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies

3 credits

OR

or any 300 or 400 level PSY course

 

SPPA 331Assistive Technology for the Hard of Hearing

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15-16

Spring

SPPA 414Neurologic Bases of Communication

3 credits

SPPA 457Intro to Clinical Practice

3 credits

MATH 110GN: General Statistics

3 credits

Fitness Elective

1 credit

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Total Credit Hours: 120

For more information, contact the department at 570-422-3247.

Sample Pre-Entry Curriculum Plan for Transfer Students

(Subject to change by the university without notice)

Freshman Year

Fall

English Composition

3

Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab

4 credits

American History

3 credits

Math

3 credits

Fine Arts

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring

Speech Communications

3 credits

Statistics

3 credits

General Psychology

3 credits

Political Science

3 credits

Philosophy or Foreign Language

3 credits

Fitness Elective

1 credit

Total Credit Hours:16

Sophomore Year

Fall

PC's & Their Uses

3 credits

Sociology

3 credits

English Literature

3 credits

Child Development or Psychology

3 credits

Elective

2-3 credits

Total Credit Hours:14-15

Spring

Physical Science

3 credits

Geography

3 credits

Social Science

3 credits

Performing Art

3 credits

Fitness Elective

1 credit

Total Credit Hours:13

Sample Curriculum Plan for Transfer Students

This plan assumes a student transfers to ESU with 60 General Education Credits distributed over the appropriate requisite and prerequisite areas.

(Subject to change by university without notice)

Junior Year

Fall

SPPA 121Intro Communication Disorders

3 credits

SPPA 113Phonetics

3 credits

SPPA 214Anatomic & Physiologic Speech

3 credits

SPPA 231Introduction to Audiology

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring

SPPA 101Speech Language Development

3 credits

SOC 331Human Behavior and the Social Environment

3 credits

SPPA 312Speech Science

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Senior Year

Fall

SPPA 342Articulations and Fluency Disorders

3 credits

SPPA 331Assistive Technology for the Hard of Hearing

3 credits

REED 315Scaffolding Language and Literacy Development for Students with Disabilities

3 credits

General Education Elective or major elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring

SPPA 341Language Disorders & Differences Across the Life Span

3 credits

SPPA 414Neurologic Bases of Communication

3 credits

SPPA 457Intro to Clinical Practice

3 credits

 

PSY 302Theories Of Learning

3 credits

OR

PSY 311Physiological Psych

4 credits

Or

 

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

For more information, contact the department at 570-422-3247. Monroe Hall 570-422-3247 www.esu.edu/sppa.