Speech & Hearing Science, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Speech & Hearing Science
The Speech and Hearing Science, B.S. provides explicit background in the theoretical and clinical areas necessary for graduate study. Students will learn foundational knowledge for understanding human speech, language, swallowing, hearing, and balance processes, with an emphasis on the implications of differences and disruptions in the communication systems associated with disorders. Students are prepared to pursue graduate study and pre-certification requirements associated with becoming an audiologist or speech-language pathologist.
More information about the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology may be found on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) website (www.asha.org).
All students must complete a series of professional core courses and electives in Speech & Hearing Science. Students are advised to work with the undergraduate academic advisor to ensure the major and Gen Ed courses are taken in proper sequential order and meet the requirements for eventual ASHA certification.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Speech & Hearing Science
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
All students must complete a series of SHS professional core classes and an additional 12 credits of SHS electives. Students are advised to work with the undergraduate academic advisor to ensure courses are taken in proper sequential order and, if desired, that they meet the requirements for eventual ASHA certification. NOTE: For those planning on pursuing graduate studies in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology, many graduate programs require 25 clinical observation hours prior to starting graduate school. Some of these may be completed as part of SHS 475.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300 and 400 level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program. Speech and Hearing Science Gen Ed courses may be viewed: SHS Gen Ed
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
Speech & Hearing Science Major Requirements
Chemistry/Physics Requirement (Select one)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 101 | Introductory Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 102 & CHEM 103 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I | 4 |
| CHEM 108 | Chemistry, Everyday Phenomena | 3 |
| CHEM 202 & CHEM 203 | Accelerated Chemistry I and Accelerated Chemistry Lab I | 5 |
| PHYS 101 | College Physics: Mech & Heat | 5 |
| PHYS 102 | College Physics: E&M & Modern | 5 |
| PHYS 211 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec & Mag | 4 |
Animal/Human Biology Requirement (Select one)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 143 | Biology of Human Behavior | 3 |
| ANTH 241 | Human Biological Variation | 3 |
| ANTH 246 | Forensic Science | 4 |
| ANTH 249 | Evolution and Human Disease | 3 |
| HK 150 | Bioscience of Human Movement | 3 |
| IB 100 | Biology in Today's World | 3 |
| IB 104 | Animal Biology | 4 |
| IB 110 | Race and Environmental Biology | 3 |
| IB 150 | Organismal & Evolutionary Biol | 4 |
| MCB 100 | Introductory Microbiology | 3 |
| MCB 150 | Molecular & Cellular Basis of Life | 4 |
| MCB 170 | Society and the Brain | 3 |
Statistics Requirement (Select one)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| STAT 100 | Statistics | 3 |
| STAT 107 | Data Science Discovery | 4 |
| STAT 200 | Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| STAT 212 | Biostatistics | 3 |
Linguistics Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LING 100 | Intro to Language Science | 3 |
Speech and Hearing Science Professional Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SHS 170 | Intro Hum Comm Sys & Disorders | 3 |
| SHS 191 | Freshmen Seminar | 1 |
| SHS 200 | General Phonetics | 3 |
| SHS 240 | Intro Sound & Hearing Science | 3 |
| SHS 271 | Communication and Aging | 3 |
| SHS 280 | Communication Neuroscience | 3 |
| SHS 300 | Anat & Physiol Spch Mechanism | 4 |
| SHS 301 | General Speech Science | 4 |
| SHS 320 | Development of Spoken Language | 3 |
| SHS 385 | Interpreting Clinical Research in Speech & Hearing Science | 3 |
| SHS 391 | Professional Preparation in Speech & Hearing Science | 1 |
| SHS 450 | Intro Audiol & Hear Disorders | 4 |
| SHS 451 | Aural Rehab Children to Adults | 3 |
| SHS 475 | Prepracticum in SHS | 1 |
| Plus 12 hours of SHS electives from the list below. | 12 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SHS 120 | Child, Comm, & Lang Ability | 3 |
| SHS 121 | American Sign Language I | 4 |
| SHS 221 | American Sign Language II | 4 |
| SHS 222 | Language & Culture of Deaf Communities | 3 |
| SHS 270 | Comm Disability in the Media | 4 |
| SHS 321 | American Sign Language III | 4 |
| SHS 352 | Hearing Health and Society | 3 |
| SHS 375 | Communication Partners and Health | 3 |
| SHS 380 | Comm Competence and Disorders | 3 |
| SHS 383 | Special Topics | 3 or 4 |
| SHS 427 | Language and the Brain | 3 or 4 |
| SHS 433 | Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders Across Communication Contexts | 3 |
| SHS 480 | Understanding Disability and Assistive Technology | 2 |
| SHS 481 | Creating and Procuring Accessible Electronic Materials | 2 |
| SHS 482 | Designing Universally Accessible Web Resources | 2 |
| One of the courses below may be counted toward the 12 credits of SHS electives | ||
| CMN 232 | Intro to Intercultural Comm | 3 |
| EPSY 202 | Exploring Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| LING 210 | Language History | 3 |
| LING 450 | Sociolinguistics I | 3 or 4 |
| No more than 3 credits total from the courses below may be counted toward the 12 credits of SHS electives | ||
| SHS 291 | Research Lab Experience in SHS | 1 to 3 |
| SHS 390 | Individual Study | 2 to 4 |
| SHS 395 | Honors Individual Study | 2 |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Speech & Hearing Science
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. The minimum number of hours required for the BS degree is 120. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| SHS 170 | 3 | SHS 200 | 3 |
| SHS 191 | 1 | Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| Composition I or Free Elective course | 4 | Composition I or Free Elective | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 1 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| SHS 320 | 3 | SHS 240 | 3 |
| SHS 280 | 3 | SHS 271 | 3 |
| Chemistry/Physics Requirement | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| LING 100 | 3 | Statistics Requirement | 3 |
| Animal/Human Biology Requirement | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| SHS 300 | 4 | SHS 301 | 4 |
| SHS 450 | 4 | SHS 385 | 3 |
| SHS Elective course | 3 | SHS Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | ||
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| SHS 391 | 1 | SHS 475 | 1 |
| SHS 451 | 3 | SHS Elective course | 3 |
| SHS Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 | Free Elective course | 4 |
| Free Elective course | 2 | ||
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Speech & Hearing Science
- Students will describe basic speech, language, and hearing processes across the lifespan from the biological, behavioral, and social science perspectives.
- Students will apply knowledge of how disruptions in speech, language, and hearing processes relate to human communication functioning and disability.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to read and evaluate literature related to human communication processes across academic disciplines.
- Students will apply knowledge of cultural-linguistic diversity to human communication functioning and disability.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Speech & Hearing Science
Department of Speech and Hearing Science
Speech and Hearing Science faculty