Home ยป Undergraduates

Speech Pathology

Speech & Language Pathology

Students who wish to prepare for graduate or professional work in Speech Pathology and Communication Disorders should major in Cognitive Science with a Concentration in Speech Pathology. Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary study of mind and intelligence.  It includes fields such as computer science, psychology, neurobiology, linguistics, and philosophy. Cognitive science is not a sum of each discipline's contribution, but an integrated approach to specific questions about the mind.  The study of speech and language pathology falls squarely within cognitive science.  Students in this concentration follow a course of study drawing on linguistics, speech science, psychology, neuroscience, and biology to learn mmore about language processing (acquisition, production, comprehension) as well as speech and language disorders.

IMPORTANT:  Because admission into a speech pathology graduate program is highly competitive, we strongly recommend that students maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher. 

USEFUL RESOURCE:  UD Chapter of the NSSLHA
NSSLHA is the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association.  This is an organization for students interested in Speech and Language Communication and Disorders.  This group is a great reasource for information about the field, including upcoming speakers and events, volunteer opportunities, and more.  If you wish to be on the mailing list to receive information about the meetings and events, please contact NSSLHA at nsslhaatud@gmail.com.  Or, click on the above hyperlink to go directly to their website.
 

The Cognitive Science Major

The cognitive science major is a bachelor of science  (BS) degree consisting of 26 credit hours of required courses as well as a certain number of credit hours in a concentrated field of study.  In order to adequately prepare students for post-graudate work, the Speech and Language Pathology Concentration requires a total of 27 credits. 

IMPORTANT CHANGES, Please Read Carefully: 
Ø As of Fall 2012, the number of credits required for speech pathology has been reduced from 30 to 27. This is because speech pathology students may now choose between LING 403 and LING 480, rather than taking both. That beings said, both courses are recommended.
Ø As of Fall 2012, speech pathology students may no longer substitute CGSC 433 for CISC 103. They may now substitute LING 265: The Science of Language, Rules and Representations for CISC 103. 
Ø Speech pathology students who entered prior to Fall 2012 have the option of being grandfathered into the old system or they can choose to complete the requirements under the new system. 
Old System Requirements:  10 courses (30 credits) in the speech pathology concentration.
o    CGSC 376, CGSC 387, CGSC 379, CGSC 380, LING 253, CGSC 433, CGSC 496, LING 403, LING 480, and either LING 462 or PSYC 344 or LING 444.
BUT, students can waive the CISC requirement with CGSC 433: Acoustic Phonetics.
New System Requirements: 9 courses (27 credits) in the speech pathology concentration.
o    CGSC 376, CGSC 387, CGSC 379, CGSC 380, LING 253, CGSC 433, CGSC 496, either LING 403 or LING 480, AND either LING 462 or PSYC 344 or LING 444.
But, students must complete the CISC requirement. This can be done with one of the CISC courses listed above or with LING 267: Science of Language

Speech Pathology Concentration

All of the Following    
LING 253 Laboratory Phonetics Prereq: LING101 3 Credits
CGSC 376 Introduction to Communication Disorders
 Prereq: LING101 3 Credits
CGSC 378 Anatomy & Physiology of Speech Prereq: CGSC376 3 Credits
CGSC 379 Audiology Prereq: CGSC376 3 Credits
CGSC 380 Clinical Principles & Procedures in Speech Path. Prereq: CGSC376 3 Credits
  --  CGSC380 should be taken in one's senior (or late junior) year.  
CGSC 433 Introduction to Acoustic Phonetics Prereq: LING253 3 Credits
CGSC 496 Psycholinguistics Prereq: LING101  
One of the Following    
LING 403 Introduction to Phonology Prereq: LING 101 3 Credits
LING 480 Sociolinguistics Prereq: LING 101 3 Credits
One of the Following    
LING 444 First Language Development Prereq: LING101 3 Credits
LING 462 Language Acquisition X-List: EDUC & PSYC 462 3 Credits
PSYC 344
 Psychology of Languager
 Prereq: PSYC 209 & CGSC 170 3 Credits

Note:  The following two courses require a laptop computer: CGSC 253 and CGSC 433.

Note:  As of Fall 2010, LING253, LING480, CGSC376, CGSC378, CGSC379, CGSC380, and CGSC433 will be restricted to cognitive science majors.

Recommended Electives

In addition to the above courses, the department has developed a list of recommended electives for speech pathology students.  These courses will strengthen the students' preparation for graduate training, but are less likely to be among the required courses for graduate study. 

LING 477 Structure of English Prereq: LING101 3 Credits
     -- OR -- LING 404: Structure of Language Prereq: LING101  
ENGL 410 Technicial Writing Prereq: ENGL110 3 Credits
    -- OR -- ENGL 415: Writing in the Professions Prereq: ENGL110  
HDFS 339 Adult Development & Aging Prereqs: EDUC202 or HDFS201 3 Credits

    -- OR --
HDFS 405: Aging & the Family
 
 
CGSC 420
 Research Methods in Cognitive Science Prereq/Coreq:  PSYC209 or Substitute 3 Credits
   -- OR --
 PSYC 207: Research Methods Prereq: PSYC100  

Important:  As the undergraduate course requirements vary among graduate programs, it is recommended that students in the Speech & Language Pathology Concentration investigate the requirements associated with the graduate programs of their choice.

 

Speech and Language Pathology Concentration, Projected Course Offerings

The following is our best estimate of when the courses for the SLP Concentration will be offered. It is possible that this will change in the future, so please check periodically for updates. 
 
  • CGSC 376: Introduction to Communication Disorders, Every Fall
  • CGSC 378: Anatomy and Physiology of Speech, Every Fall
  • CGSC 379: Audiology, Every Spring
  • CGSC 380: Clinical Principles and Procedures in Speech Pathology, Every Spring
  • CGSC 433: Introduction to Acoustic Phonetics, Every Spring
  • CGSC 496: Psycholinguistics, Once a Year
  • CGSC 485: Seminar in Cognitive Science, Every Spring
  • LING 253: Laboratory Phonetics, Every Fall, Sometimes Winter
  • LING 403: Introduction to Phonology, Every Fall
  • LING 444: First Language Development, TBD
  • LING 462: Language Acquistion (cross-listed with EDUC 462), Often in Spring
  • LING 480: Sociolinguistics, Every Spring
  • PSYC 344: Psychology of Language, Contact the Department of Psychology

 

Printer Friendly Advising Forms

Requirements: Cognitive Science Major

Progress and Planning Form for the Cognitive Science Major

University and College of Arts & Sciences Requirements for CGSC Majors

Speech Pathology at University of Delaware