The Department of Communicative Disorders offers an undergraduate major in communicative disorders (speech-language pathology) and a minor in communicative disorders. Students majoring in communicative disorders are expected to matriculate to graduate study in speech-language pathology.

Communicative Disorders Major (BA)

Department of Communicative Disorders
700 University Blvd. E.
www.as.ua.edu/comdis
cd@as.ua.edu

Degree requirements. Students earning the bachelor of arts degree (BA) with a major in communicative disorders must complete all University, college (see p. 50-52), and departmental degree requirements. These include the general education requirements, the following major requirements, all requirements for an approved minor, and sufficient other credits to total a minimum of 120 applicable semester hours.

Admission into the major. Students must earn a grade of “B-“ or higher in CD 275 to be admitted to the major. An overall GPA of 2.5 is required to enroll in any 200-level CD course. A major GPA of 3.0 and an overall 2.8 GPA is required for enrollment in 300- and 400-level CD courses (except for CD 377). To be considered for clinical practicum (CD 377) students must have a minimum overall 3.3 GPA at UA based on the following courses: CD 225, CD 226, CD 244, CD 275, and CD 308. Students are expected to formally declare a major no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 semester hours for transfer students). With the assistance of an advisor in the major department, students should complete the “Declaration of Major” form.

Grade point average. A 2.0 grade point average in the major is required for completion of the degree. The major GPA is calculated based on all courses applicable to the major that the student has attempted at UA and all work attempted applicable to the major throughout the entire higher education career. Minimum GPA standards are required for clinical practicum and continuance in the major. See “Admission to the major” and “Additional major requirements.”

Major courses. The major in communicative disorders requires successful completion of the following 34 semester hours:

Courses	Hours
CD 2251	3
CD 2261	3
CD 2441	3
CD 2751	3
CD 2771	1
CD 3082	3
CD 3092	3
CD 3102	3
CD 4112	3
CD 4432	3
Chosen track3	6
Total	34

Upper-level residency. A minimum of 12 hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be earned on this campus.

Ancillary courses. Grades in ancillary courses are not computed into the major GPA. The major in communicative disorders requires the successful completion of the following courses outside the major. Many of these courses can be used to satisfy general education requirements.

Courses	Hours
PY 101	3
BSC 108, BSC 109, BSC 114:115,
BSC 116:117, BSC 118, or BSC 120	4
AY 101:102, CH 101, CH 102, CH 117, CH 118,
GEO 101, GEO 102, GY 101, GY 102,
PH 101, PH 102, PH 105, PH 106, PH 125, or PH 126	4
PHL 101, PHL 102, PHL 104, PHL 200, PHL 204,
NEW 211, NEW 212, or NEW 237	6
BER 345, PY 211, or ST 260	3
EN 319	3

Required minor. This major requires the completion of a minor.

Additional major requirements. Students majoring in communicative disorders who wish to participate in clinical practicum or audiology practicum must apply for admission into CD 377 or CD 445. Admission requirements include the following:

• Minimum overall 3.3 GPA
• Completion and minimum 3.0 GPA in all of the following: CD 225, CD 226, CD 244, CD 275, CD 277, and CD 308.
• Overall performance review and favorable evaluation by two graduate faculty members.
• Satisfactory performance on a departmental speech and language proficiency test and hearing screening as determined by the Evaluation Committee. Failure of the speech and language test requires enrollment in speech-language therapy and retesting to determine if admission to the clinical practicum is possible. Appropriate follow-up steps recommended by the Evaluation Committee must be taken if a student fails the hearing screening.

After admission to the practicum, students will be evaluated by the clinical supervisor and an additional clinical staff member to determine satisfactory performance. Faculty and supervisors will determine the effectiveness and continued participation of each practicum student. Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all University, college, major, and minor requirements. However, each student must meet with an advisor in the major department for academic planning and to be cleared for registration each semester.

Special opportunities. The Department of Communicative Disorders provides students an opportunity to participate in research with a departmental faculty member. Students also are encouraged to become active in the local and national chapters of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Junior- and senior-level scholarship awards are available for students majoring in communicative disorders. For eligible students, the department also offers a clinical practicum for hands-on experience in speech and language pathology.