Undergraduate programs
Undergraduates in the Speech and Hearing Sciences Department explore human communication, which includes development, diversity, and complexity of communication, as well as developmental and acquired disorders. The program leads to a B.S. or B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences, or a certificate with baccalaureate in Communications Sciences and Disorders (CSD).
The coursework explores foundational knowledge in speech and hearing sciences, clinically-based knowledge related to communication, cognition, swallowing and hearing disorders, and the complexity and diversity of human communication. In addition to providing a rigorous liberal arts education, this degree provides a foundation for many career paths, including graduate work in speech-language pathology, audiology, and/or speech, language, and hearing research. Because communication is central to most human activities, a degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences can also lead to a career in many other fields, including Education, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, and Community Relations. Coursework or a degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences complements degrees in other programs, such as education, linguistics, psychology, public health administration, social work, music, and allied health professions. The CSD Certificate provides a strong educational foundation for entry into graduate programs in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, fulfills all but one requirement for entry into PSU’s graduate program in SPHR, and provides the required educational component for licensing of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants in Oregon and other states. (Please note: the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant license also requires clinical clock hours that are not part of the CSD Certificate program.)
Communication Sciences & Disorders Undergraduate Certificate
A candidate for a certificate must satisfy all University requirements for a baccalaureate degree with an academic major in any field. A CSD Certificate may be pursued as a post-baccalaureate program. A student pursuing a certificate in CSD must complete 49 credits, distributed as follows:
Foundational Core Courses
| SpHr 370 | Phonetics and Acoustics | 4 |
| SpHr 371 | Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Swallowing | 4 |
| SpHr 372U | Speech and Language Development in Children | 4 |
| SpHr 461 | Neurology of Speech and Hearing | 4 |
| SpHr 487 | Hearing Sciences | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 20 |
Clinical Core Courses
Elective Course (choose 4 credits)
In addition to taking the above required courses, certificate students are required to take one course that explores diverse human experiences. To fulfill this requirement students can choose to take any 300- or 400-level class in the following subjects: Black Studies; Chicano/Latino Studies; Indigenous Nations Studies; and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, or any of the following classes:
| SpHr 383 | Diversity and Advocacy for Pre-Professionals | 4 |
| SpHr 385 | Autism | 4 |
| SpHr 473 | Perspectives on Disability | 4 |
| SpHr 480 | Introduction to Sociocultural Aspects of Interactions | 4 |
| SpHr 485 | Bilingualism and Communication Disorders | 4 |
| SpHr 410 | Selected advisor-approved course that explores diverse human experiences | 4 |
| Anth 318U | Asian American Experience | 4 |
| Anth 426 | Transnationalism and Migration | 4 |
| Anth 432 | Gender, Sex, and Sexuality in Anthropological Perspective | 4 |
| Comm 337U | Communication and Gender | 4 |
| Comm 415 | Problems of Intercultural Communication | 4 |
| CR 312 | Intercultural Conflict Resolution | 4 |
| Psy 310U | Psychology of Women | 4 |
| Psy 431U | Psychology of Men and Masculinities | 4 |
| Psy 458 | Development & Education of African-Diaspora Children & Youth | 4 |
| Psy 463 | Development and Education of Immigrant Children and Youth | 4 |
| Soc 337U | Prejudice, Privilege, and Power | 4 |
| Soc 344U | Gender and Sexualities | 4 |
| Soc 423 | Stratification | 4 |
| Soc 427 | Gender and Work | 4 |
| Soc 430 | Hate Crimes | 4 |
| Soc 444 | Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality | 4 |
| Soc 446 | Immigrants in America | 4 |
| Soc 452 | Education and Equality: Comparing the US, Asia, Europe | 4 |
| Soc 463 | Global Inequalities and Health | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
The above list is not comprehensive; students can also select a course not included here with advisor approval. For course availability, please visit PSU’s
Course Projection Guide.
Total Credit Hours: 49
A grade of C- or above is required for all CSD Certificate requirements. Students cannot take courses for the certificate pass/fail, with the exception of
SpHr 394 Guided Observation. Students preparing for graduate programs in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology should know that a stand-alone Statistics course is a prerequisite requirement, as well as the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) requirements of a biological science course, a chemistry or physics course, and a social science course.