Communication Sciences & Disorders (Undergraduate)

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Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDS) in the School of Health Professions is to prepare highly qualified speech-language pathologists through faith-based academic coursework and clinical placements designed to foster lifelong learning, attainment of personal career goals and high moral and ethical competency so that practitioners will be of service to others in their community and throughout the world.

Vision for the CSDS Department

• Learning through commitment
• Preparing professionals for service
• Distinctive education for the 21st century clinician
• Helping and serving others through educational experiences
• Creating leaders as speech-language pathologists

CSDS Code of Values and Philosophy

• Faith - we live our faith by our words and actions
• Excellence - we strive for excellence in our academic programming and in our students’ learning outcomes
• Integrity - we embrace persons who hold themselves to a higher standard
• Learning - we provide a platform for becoming lifelong learners
• Teamwork - we believe that together we are stronger
• Service - we believe in serving others as our gifts and talents allow

“Don’t be jealous or proud; be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves and think the same way that Jesus thought.” Philippians 2: 3-5

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Major
Communication Sciences and Disorders Major (B.S.)  

Minor
Communication Sciences and Disorders Minor  

Accelerated Bachelor-to-Graduate Pathway Program
Fast-Track Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (M.S.SLP.) with a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders  
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The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDS) offers a major in communication sciences and disorders leading to a bachelor of science degree. Students are required to earn at least 50 percent of the credit for a first undergraduate degree in each degree program from Samford. The department also offers a minor in communication sciences and disorders.

The department also offers a fast-track program for students pursuing a B.S. in communication sciences and disorders and a master of science in speech-language pathology (M.S.SLP.). See department chair for details.

Admission Requirements

Freshman applicants: Must be accepted for admission to Samford University. Must achieve a minimum composite score of 21 on the ACT or 1000 on the SAT. High school graduates must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above, have completed four units of English, two units of math, and two units of lab sciences with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Transfer students with less than 24 semester credits or 36 quarter credits in total at other institutions must also meet the requirements of entering freshmen.

Transfer students with 24 credits or more must meet one of the following admission requirements:

1. Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above in all coursework and a 21 ACT or 1000 SAT within the last five years.
   OR
2. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on all coursework attempted.

Progression Policy

In order to progress in the undergraduate program in communication sciences and disorders, the student must:

1. Have a completed Health Data Record (with all required immunizations) updated annually and on file in the CSDS department.

2. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above on all coursework.
3. Earn a grade of C or higher in biological sciences, physics, and/or chemistry, statistics, and social sciences.

Majors in the CSDS department make a commitment to the study of communication disorders and this signifies the student’s calling, motivation, and drive to commit to the academic standards that are required for admission into a CAA-accredited institution for graduate work in either speech language pathology or audiology.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview  in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Fast-Track Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (B.S./M.S.SLP.)

The Fast-Track Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (B.S./M.S.SLP.) provides an opportunity for qualified students to complete a B.S. and the M.S.SLP. in five years instead of the six-year traditional path. Students who are accepted into the fast-track program complete undergraduate courses their first three years and begin graduate coursework in the summer following their junior year.

Admission Requirements

Students currently pursuing Samford’s bachelor of science in communication sciences and disorders (B.S.-CSDS) are invited to apply for the fast-track master of science in speech-language pathology (M.S.SLP.-SLPA) program if they meet the following admission requirements:

Specific Admission Requirements:

• High school GPA of 3.80 or higher.
• ACT score of 29 or higher.

Application Process:

• Submit an application.
• Department interview.

Progression Policy

To remain in the fast-track master of science in speech-language pathology (M.S.SLP.-SLPA) program, students must:

1. Maintain a minimum 3.50 GPA.
2. Earn a B or higher in all major courses.

Students who do not meet these thresholds will be dismissed from the fast-track program.​

Benefits of Completing the Fast-Track Program

• Students receive mentorship from peers and faculty throughout the program.
• Participation in faculty-led service and research is encouraged.
• Allows students to complete the fast-track program one year sooner than the traditional path of bachelor’s plus master’s degrees. However, students will still be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies for each degree upon completion of the respective requirements.

Programs

• Communication Sciences and Disorders Major (B.S.)

• Communication Sciences and Disorders Minor

• Fast-Track Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (B.S./M.S.SLP.)

Courses

• CSDS 110 - Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders (4)
• CSDS 211 - Clinical Phonetics (4)
• CSDS 212 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism (4)
• CSDS 213 - Development of Language in Children (4)
• CSDS 312 - Principles of Audiology (3)
• CSDS 313 - Language Disorders in Children (4)
• CSDS 314 - Rehabilitation Audiology (3)
• CSDS 315 - Developing Leadership Potential in Health Professions (3)
• CSDS 318 - Basic Speech and Hearing Science (2)
• CSDS 319 - Speech Sound Disorders in Children (4)
• CSDS 399 - Special Topics for Communication Sciences and Disorders (1-4)
• CSDS 412 - Critical Thinking in Guided Observation (3)
• CSDS 413 - Special Populations in Communication Sciences and Disorders (4)
• CSDS 414 - Clinical Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders (4)
• CSDS 415 - Communication Disorders in the Medical Setting (4)
• CSDS 416 - Supervision in Communication Sciences and Disorders (2)
• CSDS 418 - Senior Seminar (4)
• CSDS 467 - Exploring Medical Missions (2)