B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders
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Caldwell University’s Bachelor of Science in Communication Science and Disorders degree program is designed to prepare you for a number of growing career opportunities in audiology and speech-language pathology.
As a major in Communication Science and Disorders you will graduate qualified for entry-level jobs in speech-language or audio pathology, or graduate programs on the path to becoming a certified speech pathologist, audiologist, or speech therapist. In the communication science and disorders major, you’ll experience courses incorporating the science behind communication, psychology, and linguistics, plus built-in clinical observation hours.
The four-year, 120-credit hour B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders program at Caldwell University is a collaborative interdisciplinary experience that allows you to develop a deeper understanding of the social, medical, and psychological issues affecting individuals with speech, language, and hearing difficulties at all stages of life.
Communication Science and Disorders Program Outcomes
The curriculum of Caldwell University’s B.S. in Communication Disorders program is informed by the standards of the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA) and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). The B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders program at Caldwell University is approved by the State of New Jersey.
The B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders degree requirements cross disciplinary boundaries. Based on Caldwell’s learning model that incorporates a core liberal arts curriculum, Bachelor of Science students take courses designed to amplify critical thinking skills, global understanding, and the ability to analyze and convey knowledge ethically and effectively.
Bachelor’s Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Communication Science and Disorders requires you to take:
- Foundational Core general education courses—40 credit hours
- Enriched Core ethics, culture, and Catholic traditions education—9 credit hours
- Major courses focusing on speech and language development, communication disorders, alternative communication pathways, and therapeutic techniques—around 30 credits
- Elective courses of choice—around 40 credits
- 25 hours of guided clinical observation with a licensed speech-language pathologist
By taking core major courses in Communication Sciences, Psychology, Public Health, Modern Languages, and Sciences along with foundational courses focusing on philosophy, history, math, ethics, and social science, you’ll learn from a multifaceted academic approach to audio and speech-language pathology.
Minor Options at Caldwell
Minors at Caldwell University allow you to concentrate on a secondary area of study by taking the right elective courses. Diversify your career opportunities with different Caldwell University minor degrees, from healthcare administration to American Sign Language.
Preparation for Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Programs
If you’re passionate about helping people living with communication impairments, speech-language or audio pathology is a fulfilling vocation to pursue. Though speech pathology education typically includes graduate degrees, relevant undergraduate courses and experience can help you get a head start or even shorten your graduate degree path.
As a student in the B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders program you will complete 25 hours of built-in guided clinical experience under a licensed speech-language pathologist. This invaluable experience is informed by undergraduate coursework instructing you in techniques used to identify and treat a number of communication disorders.
With the clinical experience and healthcare education background of a degree in Communication Science and Disorders from Caldwell University, you will have the skills they need to apply for graduate-level speech pathology or speech therapy programs.
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Career Outlook
Whether audio and speech pathologists work in schools or in healthcare settings, the communication disorders job market continues to grow. Along with a competitive salary of more than $80,000 per year and reliable career longevity, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts speech pathologists will see a 29% increase in employment by 2030, much higher than that across all occupations.
Careers in audiology and speech pathology also boast a great work/life balance. In addition, Business Insider (2020) ranked it as #12 for “highest-paying jobs working fewer than 40 hours a week.” U.S. News & World Report (2020) reported speech-language pathology to be #6 in “best healthcare jobs.”
While Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists typically need to pursue a graduate degree in speech pathology or audiology, there are a number of supporting, entry-level positions in education and public policy that you may immediately qualify for with a B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders, such as:
- Audiology Assistant
- Personal Care or Rehab Assistant
- Speech Pathology Assistant
- Hearing Aid Dispenser
- Speech Therapy Assistant
The curriculum of Caldwell University’s B.S. in Communication Disorders program is informed by the standards of the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA) and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). The B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders program at Caldwell University is currently pending State of New Jersey approval.
The B.S. in Communication Science and Disorders degree requirements cross disciplinary boundaries. Based on Caldwell’s learning model that incorporates a core liberal arts curriculum, Bachelor of Science students take courses designed to amplify critical thinking skills, global understanding, and the ability to analyze and convey knowledge ethically and effectively.
Students who major in Communication and Science Disorders must complete the following courses:
Course Code : PS 101
Course Description :
This course provides a survey of the major areas of psychology, the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Major content areas include research methodology, biopsychology, learning, psychopathology, and cognitive, social, and developmental psychology
Credit : 3
Students who major is Communication and Science Disorders will complete a minimum of 15 credits in Major Electives, including:
CD101: Introduction to Communication Science and Disorders (3 credits)
CDXXX: Speech Anatomy & Physiology (3 credits)
CDXXX: Speech and Language Development (3 credits)
CDXXX: Audiology (3 credits)
CDXXX: Phonetics (3 credits)
CDXXX: Speech and Hearing Science (3 credits)
CDXXX: Aural Rehabiliation (3 credits)
CDXXX: Neurological Basis of Speech, Language and Hearing (3 credits)
CDXXX: Clinical Observation; Capstone (3 credits)
Students who major is Communication and Science Disorders will complete a minimum of 15 credits in Major Electives, including:
Course Code : AS 101
Course Description :
Introduces the culture and natural language of the deaf community in North America. Through study, practice and conversation, students learn and synthesize the basic syntax and signs.
Credit : 3
Course Code : AS 102
Course Description :
Continues AS 101.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites :
AS 101 or equivalent
Course Code : AS 125
Course Description :
Taught in English, this course will introduce students to the Deaf culture, its people and their norms. This course will immerse students into the lives of Deaf people, how they act and learn about various perspective etc. This course will also dive into important Deaf people within the community and Deaf artists who have contributed to the Deaf community.
Credit : 3
Course Code : PY 201
Course Description :
Focuses on the fundamental principles and phenomena of physics; motion, Newton's Laws, work and energy, momentum, rotational dynamics and machines. Course is quantitative and closely allied with mathematics.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
MA131, MA221, MA220
Course Code : PY 202
Course Description :
Continues PY 201. Topics discussed are heat, light, sound, electricity and magnetism.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
Any 100-level math course; PY101 or PY201, MA120, MA112, MA131
Course Code : PS 211
Course Group(s) : Psychology 200 Level Courses, Psychology Cluster 3
Course Description :
This course examines physiological, social, psychological, and cognitive development from age three until the beginning of adolescence. Topics include brain, motor, emotional, personality, cognitive, and language development, gender roles, play, divorce, child maltreatment, and family and community interaction.
Credit : 3
Course Code : PS 323
Course Group(s) : Psychology 300 Level Courses, Psychology Cluster 1
Course Description :
Examines the processes underlying how we experience (sense) and interpret (perceive) the world around us. Emphasis will be placed on the function and structure of the various sensory systems and their corresponding processing centers in the brain.
*Curricular changes will go into effect the following academic year, unless otherwise noted.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
PS 101
Course Code : PS 335
Course Group(s) : Psychology 300 Level Courses
Course Description :
Provides an introduction to the biological, psychological, and social factors that interact to influence physical health and illness. The course examines research on the application of psychological models to the maintenance of health and to the prevention and treatment of illness. Topics include lifestyle choices and health; stress and stress management; pain and pain management; psychoneuroimmunology; chronic illness; adherence to medical treatment recommendations; and alternative medicine.
Credit : 3
Course Code : PS 410
Course Group(s) : Psychology 400 Level Courses
Course Description :
This course will cover various current topics in psychology and will be conducted as a seminar.
*Curricular changes will go into effect the following academic year, unless otherwise noted.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites :
PS 101
Course Code : PU 205
Course Description :
Students will receive an overview of how social and behavioral sciences contribute to our understanding of health behavior. This course provides an introduction to health belief theories and describes the relationship between health belief and health promotion interventions. Associations between behavior and selected major health issues will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on research related to determinants of health behavior and interventions to improve population health.
Credit : 3
Course Code : PU 410
Course Description :
Students will receive an overview of the role nutrition plays in public health, as well as community and global health. This course introduces nutrition and food science, while also considering health belief theories and describes the relationship between nutrition that will contribute to healthy outcomes for the public, food intake and health promotion interventions. Associations between behavior and selected major health issues will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on nutrition education as vital to healthy behavior and interventions to improve population health.
Credit : 3
Course Code : SO 323
Course Description :
Involves the study of the history of ethnic, cultural and religious subgroups in present day societies; inter-group relations as they are influenced by competition, conflict and prejudice; the significance of these relationships to the structure of society.
Credit : 3
Course Code : SO 334
Course Description :
Examines major topics in the sociology of medicine including socio-cultural concepts of health and disease; consequences of illness; the social context of health care; and problem areas such as mental illness, ethical issues and the high costs of health care.
Credit : 3
Course Code : SO 339
Course Description :
Details the non-physical aspects of aging; the developmental and group behavior of adults following maturation.
Credit : 3
Students who major in Communication and Science Disorders must complete the following courses:
Course Code : PS 101
Course Description :
This course provides a survey of the major areas of psychology, the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Major content areas include research methodology, biopsychology, learning, psychopathology, and cognitive, social, and developmental psychology
Credit : 3
Students who major is Communication and Science Disorders will complete a minimum of 15 credits in Major Electives, including:
CDXXX: Introduction to Communication Science and Disorders (3 credits)
CDXXX: Speech Anatomy & Physiology (3 credits)
CDXXX: Speech and Language Development (3 credits)
CDXXX: Audiology (3 credits)
CDXXX: Phonetics (3 credits)
CDXXX: Speech and Hearing Science (3 credits)
CDXXX: Aural Rehabiliation (3 credits)
CDXXX: Neurological Basis of Speech, Language and Hearing (3 credits)
CDXXX: Clinical Observation; Capstone (3 credits)
Students who major is Communication and Science Disorders will complete a minimum of 15 credits in Major Electives, including:
Course Code : AS 101
Course Description :
Introduces the culture and natural language of the deaf community in North America. Through study, practice and conversation, students learn and synthesize the basic syntax and signs.
Credit : 3
Course Code : AS 102
Course Description :
Continues AS 101.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites :
AS 101 or equivalent
Course Code : AS 125
Course Description :
Taught in English, this course will introduce students to the Deaf culture, its people and their norms. This course will immerse students into the lives of Deaf people, how they act and learn about various perspective etc. This course will also dive into important Deaf people within the community and Deaf artists who have contributed to the Deaf community.
Credit : 3
Course Code : PY 201
Course Description :
Focuses on the fundamental principles and phenomena of physics; motion, Newton's Laws, work and energy, momentum, rotational dynamics and machines. Course is quantitative and closely allied with mathematics.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
MA131, MA221, MA220
Course Code : PY 202
Course Description :
Continues PY 201. Topics discussed are heat, light, sound, electricity and magnetism.
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
Any 100-level math course; PY101 or PY201, MA120, MA112, MA131
Course Code : PS 211
Course Group(s) : Psychology 200 Level Courses, Psychology Cluster 3
Course Description :
This course examines physiological, social, psychological, and cognitive development from age three until the beginning of adolescence. Topics include brain, motor, emotional, personality, cognitive, and language development, gender roles, play, divorce, child maltreatment, and family and community interaction.
Credit : 3
Course Code : PS 323
Course Group(s) : Psychology 300 Level Courses, Psychology Cluster 1
Course Description :
Examines the processes underlying how we experience (sense) and interpret (perceive) the world around us. Emphasis will be placed on the function and structure of the various sensory systems and their corresponding processing centers in the brain
Credit : 3
Prerequisites :
PS 150, PS 207
Course Code : PS 335
Course Group(s) : Psychology 300 Level Courses, Psychology Cluster 4
Course Description :
Provides an introduction to the biological, psychological, and social factors that interact to influence physical health and illness. The course examines research on the application of psychological models to the maintenance of health and to the prevention and treatment of illness. Topics include lifestyle choices and health; stress and stress management; pain and pain management; psychoneuroimmunology; chronic illness; adherence to medical treatment recommendations; and alternative medicine.
Credit : 3
Course Code : PS 410
Course Group(s) : Psychology 400 Level Courses
Course Description :
This course will cover various current topics in psychology and will be conducted as a seminar.
Credit : 3
Instruction methods : Lecture: 3 Hours
Prerequisites :
PS150, PS207
Course Code : PU 205
Course Description :
Students will receive an overview of how social and behavioral sciences contribute to our understanding of health behavior. This course provides an introduction to health belief theories and describes the relationship between health belief and health promotion interventions. Associations between behavior and selected major health issues will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on research related to determinants of health behavior and interventions to improve population health.
Credit : 3
Course Code : PU 410
Course Description :
Students will receive an overview of the role nutrition plays in public health, as well as community and global health. This course introduces nutrition and food science, while also considering health belief theories and describes the relationship between nutrition that will contribute to healthy outcomes for the public, food intake and health promotion interventions. Associations between behavior and selected major health issues will be discussed. Emphasis is placed on nutrition education as vital to healthy behavior and interventions to improve population health.
Credit : 3
Course Code : SO 323
Course Description :
Involves the study of the history of ethnic, cultural and religious subgroups in present day societies; inter-group relations as they are influenced by competition, conflict and prejudice; the significance of these relationships to the structure of society.
Credit : 3
Course Code : SO 334
Course Description :
Examines major topics in the sociology of medicine including socio-cultural concepts of health and disease; consequences of illness; the social context of health care; and problem areas such as mental illness, ethical issues and the high costs of health care.
Credit : 3
Course Code : SO 339
Course Description :
Details the non-physical aspects of aging; the developmental and group behavior of adults following maturation.
Credit : 3
** Note: Students majoring in Communication Science and Disorders will take a total of 6 courses (18 credits) offered by Seton Hall University, through an articulation agreement. Students graduating with a BS in Communication Science and Disorders will be
** Note: Students majoring in Communication Science and Disorders will take a total of 6 courses (18 credits) offered by Seton Hall University, through an articulation agreement. Students graduating with a BS in Communication Science and Disorders will be eligible to apply for the dual degree program MSSLP program as long as they meet program requirements and conditions. This will offer the opportunity for a 4 + 2 Dual Degree option to Caldwell University students who meet the criteria for admission.
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