The goal of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is to prepare students to pursue graduate study in communication disorders (e.g., speech-language pathology or audiology). Four years of undergraduate education, followed by at least two additional years of graduate study are required to practice as a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are required by most states to earn a graduate degree from a program accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The graduate program in speech-language pathology at ACU is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation from ASHA.
The Department offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Both require 128 semester hours for degree completion. The major is a 42 semester hour degree with a minimum of 26 elective hours which allows students to select a minor or an area of emphasis.
Undergraduate Program Outcomes (B.S. & B.A. degrees)
- Know the basic human communication processes pertaining to normal and abnormal development across the life span.
- Recognize basic communication needs of individuals with communication disorders.
- Possess skill in oral, written, and other forms of communication sufficient for entry into a graduate program.
- Demonstrate moral and ethical conduct as viewed through a Christian world perspective.
