Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders
Hardin-Simmons University
Key Information
Campus location
Abilene, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 29,526 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* full-time undergraduate tuition & fees; 12-17 hours per semester; does not include course-specific fees
Introduction
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders’ goal is to provide an academically challenging pre-professional education in the fields of speech-language-hearing pathology and audiology in an environment that encourages intellectual and spiritual growth and preparation for graduate school.
We also encourage students to lead lives of service to individuals across the lifespan who have communication delays or disorders by providing clinical opportunities in a variety of assessment and treatment settings.
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Admissions
Curriculum
BS Core Curriculum
These courses are required to be fulfilled in the Core Curriculum.
- College Algebra
- Introduction to Speech Acoustics
- Human Anatomy/Physiology I, or
- Human Anatomy/Physiology II, or
- Essent./Hum Anat/Physi
Requirements
*Major Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Intro to Communication/Sciences Disorder
- Normal Spch/Lang/Learn/Hear
- Audiology
- Clinical Phonetics
- Aural Rehabilitation
- Articulation and Phonological Processing
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Neuro
- Neurogenic Communication Disorders
- Clinical Methods in Communication Disorder
- Language Disorders
- Sp/Lang/Hear Prog in Schools
- Voice and Fluency Disorders
- Adv Clin Proc in S-L-H Disord
Choose 6 credits from the following:
- Obser Clin Proc S-L-H Disord
- Clinical Proc & Documentation
- Current Issues in Special Educ
- Swallowing Across the Lifespan
- Augmentative/Alternative Comm
- Clinical Internship
Choose Minor or Interdisciplinary Credits
Minor
- Psychology Minor is recommended.
Interdisciplinary Credits
- Statistical Methods
15 credits from the following courses:
- Introduction to Public Health
- Beginning Literacy Development
- Health Care Issues in Society
- Cultural Diversity
- Families Around the World
- Aging in Society
Program Outcome
Real-World Applications
HSU provides CSD students an excellent undergraduate liberal arts education. Foundational coursework in the field of CSD includes training in ethics as well as outreach opportunities. Small classes, caring professors, and an interactive learning process ensure that students are successful. Students complete 25 observation hours at clinical sites within Abilene. Additionally, undergraduate CSD students have an opportunity to complete 25 direct therapy hours and to prepare for graduate education.
Students are provided with a strong academic foundation in preparation for assessing and treating individuals across the lifespan with communication disorders. Students interact clinically with certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists in a variety of settings as they evaluate and treat individuals of all ages with speech, language, hearing, and/or swallowing problems resulting from a variety of etiologies including brain injury or stroke, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, or development delay.
With an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, graduates are eligible to become licensed in Texas as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLP-A), who works primarily in the school setting, treating students with communication disorders.
Almost all our students (>95%) continue their education by earning a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology or a doctorate in Audiology. Once completing this additional coursework, students are eligible to become licensed Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) or Audiologists.
About half of speech-language pathologists work in the school setting. The other half work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities (nursing homes), home health, or private practice. Most audiologists work in a medical setting.
A few graduating students each year choose to work as an SLP-A for a short period of time prior to starting graduate school. These students typically work with the pediatric population close to home. HSU students have found success with the following companies:
- Sweetwater ISD, Sweetwater, Texas
- Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health, Fort Worth
- West Central Texas Shared Services Arrangement, Sweetwater
Hardin-Simmons University accepted its first students to the Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program in the fall of 2021 after receiving its initial candidacy accreditation in May 2021. This program offers an automatic admit from the Hardin-Simmons CSD program and a leveling program for students interested in pursuing a Master’s degree in SLP.
The vast majority of graduating CSD students from HSU continue their education by earning a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or a doctoral degree in audiology. Most HSU students attend graduate programs within the state of Texas. Common schools that students attend include:
- Texas Woman’s University in Denton
- University of Texas in Dallas
- University of Texas in San Antonio
- Texas A&M in El Paso
- Baylor University in Waco