Program Details
Communication Sciences & Disorders BS
Bachelor of ScienceLongwood University
One or more Transfer Guides are available in the Resource Center for this Institution. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college. If there is a program-specific Transfer Guide and a general or general studies Transfer Guide, you are advised to follow the program-specific Transfer Guide. Please see your community college advisor for assistance in selecting the best pathway.
The Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDS) Program is dedicated to providing a comprehensive education in human communication processes and in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of communication disorders across the lifespan. The program is committed to providing students in the undergraduate program with comprehensive pre-professional academic and observation experiences for entrance into a graduate program in speech language, pathology, audiology, deaf education, or related field. The Bachelor of Science degree program in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Speech-Language Pathology) is a pre-professional program that provides academic training in the normal process of speech, language, hearing, and their associated pathologies. The coursework provides the foundation for pursuing a master's degree in speech-language pathology or audiology. The master's degree is the entry-level degree in the profession of speech-language pathology, while a clinical doctorate in audiology is required for entry into that profession. Successful completion of the Communication Sciences and Disorders program prepares students for graduate education in Speech Language Pathology, Audiology, Deaf Education, Special Education as well as careers in a variety of Human Service fields. All students first entering or transferring into the College of Education and Human Services (CEHS) who wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders must meet the following criteria prior to registration for CSDS courses at and beyond the 314 level: completion of 45 credit hours; minimum overall GPA of 3.0; demonstration of competency in written and oral English as evidenced by no less than a grade of "B" in ENGL 165 or the equivalent course or courses from a community college or another university; earned grade of no less than "B" in BIOL 101, BIOL 114, or the equivalent course or courses from a community college or other university; and earned grade of no less than "B" in CSDS 285 or the equivalent course or courses from another university or college. Students may enroll in a few selected courses required for the CSDS major while they are moving toward satisfying the above requirements. These courses include ASL 110, ASL 210, CSDS 201, CSDS 285, CSDS 290, CSDS 313, EDUC 245, SPED 305, SPED 389, HLTH 275, and ENGL 470. Any student who is majoring or minoring in CSDS may elect to repeat any CSDS course only once. There is a maximum of five (5) total repeats permitted for all CSDS undegraduate courses.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | A. The CSD undergraduate program is a pre-professional program that is designed to help you seek out placement in a graduate program in order to become a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist. The minimum level of education to practice as a speech-language pathologist is a master’s degree, while the minimum level to practice as an audiologist is a clinical doctorate degree, commonly called an AUD degree. Speech-language pathologists practice in a variety of settings, including public and private schools, home health, hospitals (acute care, intensive care), in/outpatient rehabilitation, skilled care, subacute care, voice clinics, physician offices, and private practice. Audiologists practice in a variety of settings, including industry, physician offices, university clinics, hospitals, and private practice. Did you know that speech-language pathology and audiology are two of the hottest jobs around? The Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) predict that the need for both will grow by 29% for speech pathology and by 16% for audiology for the 2020-2030 period. Jobs are also plentiful. Today, Indeed (www.indeed.com) reports that there are almost 70,000 jobs in the US for a speech pathologist and 2,000 for an audiologist. B. The CSD undergraduate program offers a special course that is designed to prepare you to enter the workforce as a speech-language pathology assistant or SLPA, immediately upon graduating with your undergraduate degree. This is a good opportunity for those who wish to delay entry into a graduate program or for those who wish to pursue good employment. C. CSD coursework tends to be content-intensive and one course builds upon the other. For example, material that you learn in CSDS 313: Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms will be seen again in all subsequent CSD classes. This is also true for language development, articulation and language disorders, neurology of human communication, phonetics, audiology, and other CSD courses. D. Students who do well in this major have a high degree of self-discipline, self-motivation, and self-direction. Students also need to have good problem solving skills along with the ability to think creatively and holistically (“think outside the box”). Students who do well in this major are committed to devoting considerable time (25+ hours per week) to their academic coursework. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
A. If you are transferring BIOL 101 or 114 and/or ENGL 165, you must have grades of B or better to partially satisfy the CSD Bridge requirements. The CSD Bridge requirements include grades of B or better in BIOL 101 or 114, ENGL 165, and CSDS 285 (Language Development – a course that you will take at Longwood). as well as an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and 45 credit hours. Many transfer students will satisfy all of the CSD Bridge requirements by the end of their first or second semester at Longwood. The CSD Bridge requirements must be met before you will be allowed to take courses beginning with CSDS 314 and above. B. When you start Longwood, your GPA will be a 0.0. Do not be alarmed – you will receive a GPA once your final grades have posted at the end of your first semester with us. C. If you are not transferring credit for BIOL 101 or 114 and/or ENGL 165, you will want to start these courses early in your academic career as they partially fulfill requirements for the CSD Bridge.
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | A. The CSD Program offers to student organizations that are designed to promote the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology: the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) and the Longwood Chapter of Operation Smile. B. Students who have completed certain CSD courses may be eligible to participate in special campus offered by the CSD program, including Sound Express and Hearing Conservation. C. Students who take CSDS 497: Roles, Responsibilities, and Competencies of the Speech-language Pathology Assistant (SLPA), a 3-credit elective (meaning that it is not required for the major) will have the opportunity to earn 50 clinical clock hours under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist. D. Students who are seniors have the opportunity to take CSDS 514: Telepractice Service Delivery in the Helping Professions, a 1-credit, graduate-level course that explores ways to become an effective tele-practitioner in speech-language pathology. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | A. The CSD undergraduate program offers a special course that is designed to prepare a student to enter the workforce as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) immediately upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders. B. In the academic year 2020-2021, 90 percent of CSD seniors reported that they were pursuing application to a graduate program and/or employment in a career of their choice. C. The skills and knowledge that you learn from the CSD program may help you in pursuing a different career path. Some of our students have successfully transitioned to counseling, education, therapeutic recreation, infant-toddler service coordination, and librarianship, to name a few. |
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Longwood University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | If you earn a transfer-oriented associate's degree (Associate of Arts and/or Science) from one of the Virginia community colleges or Richard Bland College and you are admitted to Longwood, you are guaranteed completion of all Foundation-level courses as well as the Integrating World Languages Perspectives-level course associated with Civitae (Longwood’s core curriculum program). |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
| Credit for Prior Learning | http://www.longwood.edu/registrar/transfer-of-credits/transfer-equivalency-system/ |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | Longwood is a mid-sized university where students enjoy the highest percentage of classes taught by full-time professors in Virginia and a residential academic community that offers students the full university experience. Class sizes are smaller than average--our Civitae Core Curriculum classes are capped at 25 students--throughout our more than 100 majors, minors, and concentrations. With seven on-campus residence halls and two university-managed apartment complexes, students live, learn, and grow together in a true community. Opportunities for students to be involved are the hallmark of the Longwood experience. From service organizations and Greek life to club sports and a long list of clubs based on interests and activities, there is something for everyone at Longwood. Each semester, an involvement fair helps students find organizations that are the right fit for them to make their time at Longwood even more meaningful. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Transfer students may choose the catalog in effect at the time they enroll or the one that applies to continuous full-time students at their class level. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | New students join the catalog year in effect during their first matriculating semester. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Students transferring from an institution with a transfer agreement are guaranteed admission to Longwood when they have finished their transfer-oriented associate's degree (Associate of Arts and/or Science) and earned a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Students who are admitted prior to earning the transfer-oriented associate's degree (Associate of Arts and/or Science) and complete the degree before enrolling at Longwood also will receive the articulation benefits upon submission of an official transcript. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Dominion University | SpeechLangPath & Aud-BS (HS) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | Not Specified |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29-1181.00 | Audiologists | Assess and treat persons with hearing and related disorders. May fit hearing aids and provide auditory training. May perform research related to hearing problems. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
| 25-1071.00 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 29-1127.00 | Speech-Language Pathologists | Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May perform research related to speech and language problems. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
Cost To Complete