speech pathologist degree student with child

Communication Sciences and Disorders Major

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Pursue a rewarding career that helps people of all ages.

Communication is central to human interaction. A Communication Sciences and Disorders degree from UND prepares you work as a speech-language pathology assistant, or pursue a graduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology.

Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
4 years
Credit hours:
120

Why earn an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

 

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

Communication Sciences and Disorders is a rapidly growing discipline that offers tremendous personal and professional rewards. At UND, you'll learn the fundamentals of communication sciences and disorders, including:

  • Phonetics
  • Speech and hearing science
  • Language development
  • Audiology

The Communication Sciences and Disorders degree program offers excellent preparation for graduate study, which you'll need to work as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist.

Whether your goal is to help children overcome speech disorders or work with adults confronting hearing loss, our program provides the skills you need to make lives better.

Communication Disorders Major

  • Gain professional experience observing clients in UND's Speech, Language & Hearing Clinic.

  • Study specialized topics in speech and language disorders, craniofacial anomalies, school programs in CSD and neuroanatomy.

  • Make professional connections by joining the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

  • The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is actively involved in community efforts.

  • Take advantage of opportunities to study abroad. Choose from many options, including CSD themed trips to New Zealand.

Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders Jobs

15%

Projected job growth for speech-language pathologists through 2034 (much faster than the average for all occupations)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

95k

Median annual salary for speech-language pathologists, 2024

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

CSD graduates from UND go on to top graduate schools across the country and find job opportunities in audiology, speech-language pathology and more. A Communication Sciences and Disorders degree prepares you to pursue:

  • A graduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology
  • A graduate degree in Audiology
  • A career as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

What can you do with a communication disorders major?

A degree in communication sciences and disorders gives you the skills to work with a variety of individuals, including those diagnosed with:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Speech Sound Disorders
  • Developmental Language Disorders
  • Aphasia 

Our graduates have gone on to a variety of successful careers in:

  • Medical settings including - Sanford Health, RiverView Health & Park Nicolet Rehab
  • School settings including - West Fargo Public Schools, Upper Vally Special Education Unit, and Bellevue School District
  • Private practice settings including - Pediatric Partners (ND), Sora Therapy (MN), and Carolina Speech Connections (NC)

Communication Sciences and Disorders Major Courses

CSD 232. Survey of Communication Disorders. 3 Credits.

Introduction to the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology with a focus on some speech, language, and hearing disorders. F,S.

CSD 223. Phonetics. 3 Credits.

This course provides knowledge and skills in English phonetics. Students learn to produce, recognize, and transcribe English speech sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Topics include anatomical mechanisms for producing speech, classification of vowels and consonants, suprasegmental features, and phonetic variations. Course will also include practice of broad and narrow transcription (normal and disordered speech) and steps for clinical speech sampling. F,S.

CSD 235. Speech and Hearing Science. 3 Credits.

Principles of speech production, including source-filter theory and the acoustic analysis of vowels and consonants. Students will be introduced to the physics of sound (acoustics) and fundamentals of psychoacoustics related to human speech communication and hearing. Prerequisite: CSD 223, CSD 231, and MATH 103 or higher. S.

CSD 343. Language Development. 3 Credits.

The nature and development of linguistic content, form, and use from birth to adulthood are studied relative to the development of communication and speech; relative to cognitive, social, and physical development; and relative to cultural diversity. Corequisite: ENGL 209 and PSYC 250 or equivalents. F.

CSD 340. Normal Language Structure. 3 Credits.

The purpose of this course is to learn to analyze the grammar of English, focusing on morphology and syntax. The knowledge gained will serve as a foundation for analysis of normal and disordered language. Prerequisite: ENGL 209 or equivalent. S.

CSD 431. Introduction to Audiology. 3 Credits.

Survey of audiology, specifically diagnostics and hearing disorders. Introduction to scientific principles and methods of administering, interpreting, and integrating components of the basic audiologic test battery, including case history/otoscopy, pure-tone air-and-bone conduction testing, speech testing, and immittance measures. Students will gain practical experience in administering the comprehensive audiologic test battery. Prerequisite: CSD 231 and CSD 235. F.

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