Communication Sciences and Disorders B.S.
Academic Criteria
- All incoming students (freshmen, transfers, etc.) must meet with the department chair to set up their education plan leading to admission into the clinical portion of the SPPA program.
- All transfer students, both ESU and other institutions, must have a 3.2 cumulative quality point average to declare SPPA as their major. Transfer students will work with the department chair on an individual basis to set up education plans that can be completed in a timely manner.
- Students are required to maintain a 3.2 overall GPA as well as a 3.2 GPA in the major. Any students falling below a 3.2 will receive a warning letter. After two semesters below the 3.2, the student will be dismissed from the major. Specific information about this topic is included in the student’s curriculum guide, which the student receives upon entering the major.
- Admission to the clinical portion of the program is required for approval to enroll in SPPA 342, 414, and 457.
- At least 24 of the required 39 credits in SPPA must be taken at ESU, including all courses above the 100 level, unless waived by the department chair.
- To enroll in the clinical portion of the program, students must present evidence that they passed the HIPAA confidentiality exam. They must also have a current (within a year) TB test, and Acts 34 (criminal record) and 151 (child abuse) clearances and an FBI clearance. These clearances may be required earlier for observation purposes.
Program Features
51 credit hours
Required courses:
| SPPA 101 | Speech Language Development | 3 credits |
| SPPA 113 | Phonetics | 3 credits |
| SPPA 121 | Intro Communication Disorders | 3 credits |
| SPPA 214 | Anatomic & Physiologic Speech | 3 credits |
| SPPA 231 | Introduction to Audiology | 3 credits |
| SPPA 312 | Speech Science | 3 credits |
| SPPA 331 | Assistive Technology for the Hard of Hearing | 3 credits |
| SPPA 341 | Language Disorders & Differences Across the Life Span | 3 credits |
| SPPA 342 | Articulations and Fluency Disorders | 3 credits |
| SPPA 361 | Psycholinguistics | 3 credits |
| SPPA 414 | Neurologic Bases of Communication | 3 credits |
| SPPA 457 | Intro to Clinical Practice | 3 credits |
Three additional credits from:
| SPPA 321 | Communication and Aging | 3 credits |
| SPPA 335 | Advanced Sign Language | 3 credits |
| SPPA 423 | Multicultural Issues in Speech-Language Pathology | 3 credits |
Co-requisite courses:
| REED 315 | Scaffolding Language and Literacy Development for Students with Disabilities | 3 credits |
| SOC 331 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment | 3 credits |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| HLTH 340 | Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| | or any 300 or 400 level PSY course | |
| | | |
| | | |
| PSY 225 | GN: Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 3 credits |
| | Or | |
| ECED 232 | Child Development and Cognition | 3 credits |
Directed General Education Courses
| MATH 110 | GN: General Statistics | 3 credits |
| PHYS 110 | GN: Sound Waves & Light | 3 credits |
| BIOL 105 | GN: General Biology | 3 credits |
| BIOL 111 | GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 credits |
| | OR | |
| BIOL 114 | GN: Introductory Biology I | 4 credits |
| CPSC 100 | GN: Personal Computers and Their Uses | 3 credits |
| | Or | |
| CPSC 103 | GN: Introduction to Information Technology | 3 credits |
| MATH 100 | GN: Numbers Sets & Structures | 3 credits |
| | Or | |
| MATH 101 | GN: Excursions in Mathematics | 3 credits |
Choose one:
| BIOL 105 | GN: General Biology | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| BIOL 111 | GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 credits |
| | Or | |
| BIOL 114 | GN: Introductory Biology I | 4 credits |
Choose one:
| CPSC 100 | GN: Personal Computers and Their Uses | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| CPSC 103 | GN: Introduction to Information Technology | 3 credits |
Choose one:
| MATH 100 | GN: Numbers Sets & Structures | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| MATH 101 | GN: Excursions in Mathematics | 3 credits |
Additional Requirements:
- Please see the university requirements in this catalog. (p. 44)
- To enroll in the clinical portion of the program, students must present evidence that they passed the HIPAA confidentiality exam. They must also have a current (within a year) TB test, and Acts 34 (criminal record) and 151 (child abuse) clearances and an FBI clearance. These clearances may be required earlier for observation purposes.
4 Year Curriculum Program Plan
(Subject to change by the university without notice)
Freshman Year
Fall
| SPPA 121 | Intro Communication Disorders | 3 credits |
| ENGL 103 | English Composition | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring
| SPPA 101 | Speech Language Development | 3 credits |
| SPPA 113 | Phonetics | 3 credits |
| PSY 100 | GN: General Psychology | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Sophomore Year
Fall
| SPPA 214 | Anatomic & Physiologic Speech | 3 credits |
| BIOL 111 | GE: Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring
| SPPA 312 | Speech Science | 3 credits |
| SPPA 341 | Language Disorders & Differences Across the Life Span | 3 credits |
| | | |
| PSY 225 | GN: Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| ECED 232 | Child Development and Cognition | 3 credits |
| | | |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective - Group A | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Junior Year
Fall
| SPPA 231 | Introduction to Audiology | 3 credits |
| SOC 331 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment | 3 credits |
| | Fitness Elective | 1 credit |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring
| SPPA 361 | Psycholinguistics | 3 credits |
| SPPA 321 | Communication and Aging | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Senior Year
Fall
| SPPA 342 | Articulations and Fluency Disorders | 3 credits |
| REED 315 | Scaffolding Language and Literacy Development for Students with Disabilities | 3 credits |
| | | |
| HLTH 340 | Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| | or any 300 or 400 level PSY course | |
| | | |
| SPPA 331 | Assistive Technology for the Hard of Hearing | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15-16 |
Spring
| SPPA 414 | Neurologic Bases of Communication | 3 credits |
| SPPA 457 | Intro to Clinical Practice | 3 credits |
| MATH 110 | GN: General Statistics | 3 credits |
| | Fitness Elective | 1 credit |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Total Credit Hours: 120
For more information, contact the department at 570-422-3247.
Sample Pre-Entry Curriculum Plan for Transfer Students
(Subject to change by the university without notice)
Freshman Year
Fall
| | English Composition | 3 |
| | Human Anatomy & Physiology with lab | 4 credits |
| | American History | 3 credits |
| | Math | 3 credits |
| | Fine Arts | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring
| | Speech Communications | 3 credits |
| | Statistics | 3 credits |
| | General Psychology | 3 credits |
| | Political Science | 3 credits |
| | Philosophy or Foreign Language | 3 credits |
| | Fitness Elective | 1 credit |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Sophomore Year
Fall
| | PC's & Their Uses | 3 credits |
| | Sociology | 3 credits |
| | English Literature | 3 credits |
| | Child Development or Psychology | 3 credits |
| | Elective | 2-3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14-15 |
Spring
| | Physical Science | 3 credits |
| | Geography | 3 credits |
| | Social Science | 3 credits |
| | Performing Art | 3 credits |
| | Fitness Elective | 1 credit |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13 |
Sample Curriculum Plan for Transfer Students
This plan assumes a student transfers to ESU with 60 General Education Credits distributed over the appropriate requisite and prerequisite areas.
(Subject to change by university without notice)
Junior Year
Fall
| SPPA 121 | Intro Communication Disorders | 3 credits |
| SPPA 113 | Phonetics | 3 credits |
| SPPA 214 | Anatomic & Physiologic Speech | 3 credits |
| SPPA 231 | Introduction to Audiology | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring
| SPPA 101 | Speech Language Development | 3 credits |
| SOC 331 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment | 3 credits |
| SPPA 312 | Speech Science | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Senior Year
Fall
| SPPA 342 | Articulations and Fluency Disorders | 3 credits |
| SPPA 331 | Assistive Technology for the Hard of Hearing | 3 credits |
| REED 315 | Scaffolding Language and Literacy Development for Students with Disabilities | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective or major elective | 3 credits |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring
| SPPA 341 | Language Disorders & Differences Across the Life Span | 3 credits |
| SPPA 414 | Neurologic Bases of Communication | 3 credits |
| SPPA 457 | Intro to Clinical Practice | 3 credits |
| | | |
| PSY 302 | Theories Of Learning | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| PSY 311 | Physiological Psych | 4 credits |
| | Or | |
| | | |
| | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
For more information, contact the department at 570-422-3247. Monroe Hall 570-422-3247 www.esu.edu/sppa.