Program Details
Bachelor of Science, Major in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Bachelor of ScienceJames Madison University
The communication sciences and disorders major is designed to provide students with pre-professional preparation essential to pursuing graduate work in speech-language pathology or audiology. Graduate degrees at the masters or doctoral level are necessary to work as speech-language pathologists or audiologists. These individuals work as professionals to assist people who have communication disorders; teachers, clinical supervisors and/or researchers in universities; administrators and leaders in healthcare or educational settings.
Research is essential in order to understand more about how humans communicate and the problems that can interfere with their communication. The major encourages students to become involved in research, provides them with opportunities to pursue honors projects and honors theses, and encourages students to attend and present their research work with the student's faculty mentor at regional and national conferences.
There is a nationwide shortage of speech-language pathologists and audiologists, so they are in strong demand for jobs. Communication sciences and disorders provides an excellent background for students who want to pursue careers in related areas such as special education, deaf education, medicine, or dentistry and offers an exciting and fascinating course of study for students who simply wish to study the area as a major.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | The Communication Sciences and Disorders major is designed to provide students with pre-professional preparation essential to pursuing graduate work in speech-language pathology or audiology. Graduate degrees at the master's level are required to work as an Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), while a doctoral degree is necessary to work as an Audiologist (AUD). These professions work to assist those with communication disorders. There is a nationwide shortage of speech-language pathologists and audiologists, so they are in strong demand for jobs. The CSD major also provides an excellent background for students who want to pursue graduate studies in related areas such as special education and deaf education. The undergraduate curriculum requires core coursework in anatomy and physiology, phonetics, and the acoustics of speech and hearing science to be completed with a C or better to move into the upper level courses. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Students considering the BA or BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders would benefit from completing the following courses that are need to be considered for future credentialing as either a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) or an Audiologist (AUD): Biology (with a lab), Chemistry OR Physics, General Psychology, and Statistics. Other course options might include American Sign Language (two semesters). Core CSD courses are not typically available through the Virginia Community College System.
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | Both the BA and BS degrees in CSD have ample space in the programming to allow for double majors or minors. Many students volunteer in research labs or the on-campus clinic. All CSD undergraduates at JMU will have a senior course experience in Methods and Observation where they gain clinical experiences observing cases. There are major-specific study abroad options during the summers if the student is interested. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | JMU's Communication Sciences and Disorders graduates are successful in securing graduate admissions. These admissions are highly competitive and require students to maintain GPAs at the 3.0 (or above) level. The CSD graduate programs at JMU are highly ranked nationally and this assists to make your application stand out! We encourage both research and community engagement to expand your experiential learning of the field. |
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 James Madison 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 | Completion of an approved transfer associate degree will guarantee fulfillment of JMU's General Education requirements. https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/VCCStransfer/ASDegrees.shtml |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
| Credit for Prior Learning | JMU accepts and reviews AP, IB, CIE and CLEP for all students with eligible scores, which may be different than at your prior institution. JMU will complete an independent review of the test score to apply credit to the JMU student record. Credit for prior learning (CLEP) is awarded on a per case basis for Adult Degree (Individualized Studies Majors) and RN-BSN students only and in consultation with the department of expertise, with the exception of military service credit. Credit for learning acquired in military service is awarded by the registrar's office using the ACE guide credit recommendation for study/experience listed on the military transcript and in consultation with the department of expertise. |
| 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? | JMU is a mid to large size institution that behaves more like a smaller institution. Faculty and staff hold students as the top priority. JMU has a 96% satisfaction rate. 89% of classes have less than 50 students. JMU is the #1 most recommended public University in the US by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education; JMU is the #1 Best College for Employment in Virginia according to U.S. Department of Education statistics compiled by Zippia. JMU has the highest post-graduation job levels of all Virginia colleges. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Transfer applicants applying through the Guaranteed Admissions Agreement must submit a Letter of Intent prior to applying to JMU. Requirements and forms are available at: https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer-GAA.shtml |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | Social Sciences: Deaf Studies Specialization, A.S. | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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