Communication Disorders, B.S.

Course Requirements

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.

Core Curriculum
Core 1: Critical Thinking
FYS 100 Cap graduation image First Yr Sem Critical Thinking3
MTH 121 Bison image  Cap graduation image Concepts and Applications (CT)3
PSY 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Introductory Psychology (CT)3
Core 2
ENG 101 Bison image  Cap graduation image Beginning Composition3
ENG 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Advanced Composition3
Core II Communication3
MTH 121 Bison image  Cap graduation image Concepts and Applications (CT)3
Any CHM + Lab or PHY + Lab4
Core II Humanities3
PSY 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Introductory Psychology (CT)3
Core II Fine Arts3
Additional University Requirements
Writing Intensive3
Writing Intensive3
Multicultural or International3
CD 415 Bison image Prof Literacies for SLPs (Capstone)3
Major-Specific
CD 101 Cap graduation image Intro Communic Disorders3
CD 241 Cap graduation image Intro Communication Science3
CD 228 Cap graduation image Language and Speech Dev3
CD 229 Cap graduation image Anatomy Speech Mechanism3
CD 239 Cap graduation image Phonetics3
CD 322Dev Speech Disorders3
CD 328Developmental Lang Dis3
CD 330Acq Comm Swallowing Dis3
CD 370LField Exper: Sph & Lang3
CD 415 Bison image Prof Literacies for SLPs (Capstone)3
CD 424Diagnosis Comm Disorders3
CD 427Therapeutic Procedures II3
CD 470LTherapeutic Prodecures Lab2
CD 460Basic Audiology3
CD 463Aural Rehabilitation3
Any Biology Course4
CISP 421Child with Exceptionalities3
EDF 201Ed Psych Developing Learner3
Foreign Language3
Foreign Language3
Foreign Language3
PSY 223 Bison image Elem Behavioral Stat (or equivalent)3
PSY 311 Cap graduation image Child Development3
Additional Social Science3
Additional Humanities3
Free Elective3
Free Elective1
Free Elective1

Major Information

  • Students are required to know and track their degree requirements for graduation or for entrance to a professional school.
  • Course offerings and course attributes are subject to change. Please consult each semester's schedule of courses for availability and attributes.
  • Foreign Language requirement may be met by taking 9 hours in one language or 6 hours in one language and CD 461 Sign Language for SLP.
  • Students must seek permission to register for CD courses (with the exception of CD 101 Intro Communic Disorders) from their academic advisor.

Students who receive below a C in any CD course are required to retake the course to fulfill graduation requirements.

Semester Plan

The Department of Communication Disorders offers both an undergraduate and graduate degree in communication disorders. Speech pathologists specialize in the evaluation, remediation, and prevention of communication disorders and employment opportunities are excellent. A master’s degree is the standard entry-level credential in this field; however, a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders prepares students for graduate study in a variety of fields and leads to careers in speech pathology, audiology, and other professions.

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
CD 101 Cap graduation image Intro Communic Disorders 3
PSY 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Introductory Psychology (CT) 3
Core II Communication 3
FYS 100 Cap graduation image First Yr Sem Critical Thinking 3
MTH 121 Bison image  Cap graduation image Concepts and Applications (CT) 3
UNI 100 Freshman First Class 1
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
Any CHM + Lab or PHY + Lab 4
CD 241 Cap graduation image Intro Communication Science 3
ENG 101 Bison image  Cap graduation image Beginning Composition 3
Core II Fine Arts 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Year
First Semester
CD 228 Cap graduation image Language and Speech Dev 3
ENG 201 Bison image  Cap graduation image Advanced Composition 3
Foreign Language 3
Multicultural/International 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
CD 229 Cap graduation image Anatomy Speech Mechanism 3
CD 239 Cap graduation image Phonetics 3
PSY 311 Cap graduation image Child Development 3
Foreign Language 3
Core II Humanities 3
 Credit Hours15
Third Year
First Semester
CD 328 Developmental Lang Dis 3
CD 370L Field Exper: Sph & Lang 3
Any Biology Course w/ lab 4
Additional Social Science 3
Foreign Language 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
CD 322 Dev Speech Disorders 3
CD 460 Basic Audiology 3
CISP 421 Child with Exceptionalities 3
CD 330 Acq Comm Swallowing Dis 3
Additional Humanities 3
 Credit Hours15
Fourth Year
First Semester
CD 424 Diagnosis Comm Disorders 3
CD 463 Aural Rehabilitation 3
CD 415 Bison image Prof Literacies for SLPs (Writing Intensive) 3
Additional Humanities 3
PSY 223 Bison image Elem Behavioral Stat (or equivalent) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
CD 427 Therapeutic Procedures II 3
CD 470L Therapeutic Prodecures Lab 2
EDF 201 Ed Psych Developing Learner 3
Free Elective 1
Writing Intensive 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours120

Academic Policies

The first five courses in the program are available to all students who have declared Communication Disorders as their major:

CD 101Intro Communic Disorders3
CD 228Language and Speech Dev3
CD 229Anatomy Speech Mechanism3
CD 239Phonetics3
CD 241Intro Communication Science3

Upon completion of the first five courses in the CD program (CD 101, 228, 229, 239, 241), students are required to gain permission to register for upper-level CD courses.  Prior to applying, students are permitted one attempt in each of the first five courses. Should a student receive a D/F, the course must be retaken. As students prepare for this pre-professional degree, the CD GPA is calculated based on all CD course attempts. Students who are not granted permission to continue in the upper-level CD courses may retake any of the first five courses and reapply. Applications are due prior to November 30th or April 30th following completion of the first five courses listed.  

Permission to Continue in the CD Program

Category A

Students who meet all of the requirements below are guaranteed permission to continue in the program.

  1. A grade of C or better in CD 101, 241, 228, 229, and 239
  2. Must meet all the following GPA criteria:
    1. 3.0 or higher overall GPA
    2. 3.0 or higher MU GPA
    3. 3.0 or higher CD GPA (calculated via all CD course attempts)
  3. Faculty Approval

Category B

These applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis as space is available and are eligible to apply to the CD program; however, permission to continue in the program is not guaranteed.

  1. A grade of C or better in CD 101, 241, 228, 229, and 239
  2. Must meet all the following criteria:
    1. 2.5 – 2.99 overall GPA
    2. 2.5 – 2.99 MU GPA
    3. 2.5 – 2.99 CD GPA (calculated via all CD course attempts)
  3. Faculty Approval

Once permitted to continue to the upper-level CD courses, students must maintain the minimum requirements of a 2.5 GPA (which includes the following three categories: (a) 2.5 overall, (b) 2.5 MU, and (c) a grade of C or better in all CD courses.)  Students may not repeat CD courses for the purpose of raising their GPA to maintain eligibility in the program. Students who receive below a C in any CD course are required to retake the course to fulfill graduation requirements.

Continuing students must complete the remaining degree requirements (academic coursework and clinical assignments) leading to a B.S. in Communication Disorders, a pre-professional degree.  Students who apply for and/or accept clinical assignments are expected to fulfill the responsibilities of these assignments for the full semester.  Students should consult the department chair, their academic advisor, and the clinic handbook regarding all academic and clinical requirements and standards specific to the program.

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Policies from the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) have been considered in the development of the MUCD Undergraduate Academic Policy. For more information, please access the link below.

Prerequisite Course Content Areas Related to SLP Certification Standards (asha.org).

Graduation Requirements

In addition to Core I, Core II, and university requirements, the department also requires specific courses for graduation. In order for students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders they must maintain a GPA (MU and overall) of 2.5 and earn a C or better in all CD courses.  In addition,  a C or better must be achieved in the following additional CD requirements:

  • Biology course
  • Chemistry or Physics Course with the  corresponding lab
  • CISP 421
  • EDF 201
  • Statistics Course
  • Humanities Course (in addition to the Core II Humanities requirement)
  • Psychology 311
  • Social Sciences (12 hours total)
  • Foreign Language (9 hours total; can include CD 461, 3 hours)

(Some courses will fulfill more than one requirement. Please consult Degree Works and your advisor for specific course examples.)