School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (BS)
The Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program offers study in the processes and disorders of speech, language, and hearing. The program provides the foundation for graduate study leading to career opportunities and clinical certification as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. Students are advised that admission to graduate programs in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences are presently highly competitive. Only students with strong academic records should select this major.
The curriculum in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences focuses on the development of communicative abilities; the anatomical and physiological mechanisms underlying speech, language, and hearing; the causes of communication disorders in children and adults; and theories and techniques of assessment and treatment of communication disorders.
Students majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences are strongly encouraged to select electives in Psychology to complement coursework in their major field. Suggested electives in the major include SPAU 3305 Language and Literacy Development, SPAU 3342 or PSY 3342 Exceptional Children, SPAU 4342 Assessment Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology, SPAU 4366 Clinical Report Writing, SPAU 4386 Adult Development and Aging, and SPAU 4395 Issues in the Management of Persons with Hearing Impairment.
Students who plan to attend graduate school in speech-language pathology or audiology should be aware that clinical certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association requires that students complete at least one course in each of the following subject areas: Biological Sciences (e.g. biology, neuroscience), Physical Sciences (chemistry or physics is strongly recommended), Behavioral Sciences (e.g. psychology, sociology), and (statistics). Completion of this coursework prior to applying to graduate school is strongly advised.
Students who wish to combine Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with Psychology, Neuroscience, or Child Learning and Development should be able to meet requirements in both majors, and, with the approval of the Associate Dean, complete a double major. Students considering a double major should consult with their advisor regarding specific requirements. Students can complete Core Curriculum and Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences major requirements in a minimum of 78 semester credit hours, leaving 42 elective semester credit hours.
Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Thomas Campbell, Sandra B. Chapman, Christine Dollaghan, Julia Evans, Lisa Goffman, John Hart Jr., William F. Katz, Colleen G. Le Prell, Ross J. Roeser, Pamela R. Rollins, Robert D. Stillman, Linda M. Thibodeau, Hanna K. Ulatowska, Anne van Kleeck
Associate Professors: Edward Lobarinas, Mandy J. Maguire, Raúl Rojas, Andrea Warner-Czyz
Clinical Professors: Jackie Clark, Scott Griffiths
Senior Lecturers: Michelle Aldridge, Diane Garst Walsh, Karen Kaplan, Emily Touchstone
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication
COMM 1315 Public Speaking
RHET 1302 Rhetoric
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Select 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (see Advisor for recommended course)
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
Select 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses 3
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Select 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Select 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
Select 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
PSY 2301 Introduction to Psychology4
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
PSY 2317 Statistics for Psychology
or STAT 1342 Statistical Decision Making
PSY 2314 Lifespan Development
II. Major Requirements: 36 semester credit hours
Major Preparatory Courses: 3 semester credit hours (0 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum).
PSY 2301 Introduction to Psychology4
Major Core Courses: 36 semester credit hours
SPAU 3301 Communication Disorders
SPAU 3303 Normal Language Development
SPAU 3304 Communication Sciences
SPAU 3340 Articulation Disorders
SPAU 3341 Audiology
SPAU 3343 Phonetics
SPAU 3344 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
SPAU 3345 Neural Basis of Communication
or NSC 3361 Introduction to Neuroscience
SPAU 3388 Clinical Observation in Speech-Language Pathology
SPAU 4308 Language Disorders in Children
SPAU 4394 Multicultural Aspects of Communication Disorders
or SPAU 4393 Language in Culture and Society
SPAU Elective (3 semester credit hours course with SPAU prefix)
III. Elective Requirements: 42 semester credit hours
Free Electives: 42 semester credit hours
At least 42 semester credit hours of lower- or upper-division courses of the student's choice. Students are encouraged to explore areas of concentration in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences as well as explore interests outside the field. At least 51 semester credit hours of upper-division courses are required for graduation.
Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of BBSU 1100.
Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees
UT Dallas undergraduate students with strong academic records who intend to pursue a master's degree in Communication Disorders at the university may consider an accelerated undergraduate-graduate plan of study. If accepted into the program, students may take up to 15 semester credit hours of graduate courses that may be used to complete the baccalaureate degree and also to satisfy requirements for the master's degree. Students must maintain a 3.000 grade point average and earn grades of B or better in graduate courses taken.
Students should apply for Fast Track admission in the semester they reach 90 semester credit hours. To qualify for application, undergraduate students must have completed at least 18 semester credit hours in major core courses at UT Dallas. To be eligible for Fast Track admission, students must have completed at least 90 semester credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree, completed at least 36 hours of the general education core curriculum, and meet program admission requirements, including submission of GRE scores. Apply to the Fast Track program through the graduate Communication Disorders program, not through Enrollment Services. Students should consult with a graduate advisor regarding admissions criteria and plans of study. Admission into the COMD Fast Track program is extremely competitive and highly selective and specific GRE and GPA thresholds must be met.
Minor in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences: 18 semester credit hours
Students interested in communication sciences and disorders may elect to minor in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Students complete 18 semester credit hours including 12 required semester credit hours of foundation coursework and 6 elective semester credit hours. Students who take a minor will be expected to meet the normal prerequisites in courses making up the minor, and should maintain a minimum GPA of 2.000 on a 4.00 scale (C average). No semester credit hours may be used to satisfy both major and minor requirements; however, free elective semester credit hours or major preparatory classes may be used to satisfy the minor. At least one-third of the semester credit hours for a minor must be taken at UT Dallas.
Students majoring in Psychology, Neuroscience, or Cognitive Science, or students with interests in the health sciences may find that a minor in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences adds a valuable interdisciplinary dimension to their overall plan of study and may enhance their opportunities for graduate study.
Foundation Courses: 12 semester credit hours required
SPAU 3301 Communication Disorders
SPAU 3303 Normal Language Development
SPAU 3343 Phonetics
SPAU 3344 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
Elective Courses: 6 semester credit hours
Choose two courses from the following:
SPAU 3304 Communication Sciences
SPAU 3340 Articulation Disorders
SPAU 3341 Audiology
SPAU 3345 Neural Basis of Communication
SPAU 4308 Language Disorders in Children
SPAU 4393 Language in Culture and Society
SPAU 4395 Issues in the Management of Persons with Hearing Impairment
1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.
2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
3. Students planning to attend graduate school in speech-language pathology or audiology should take a minimum of one course in the biological sciences and one course in chemistry or physics.
4. A required Preparatory course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Three (3) semester credit hours are counted in Core Curriculum.