Curriculum

The Communication Science curriculum offers students an introduction to the main career paths in the fields of audiology and speech-language pathology, and a depth of speech, hearing and language production courses.

Students will explore:

Linguistics and language development
Anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing
Speech and hearing science
Communication and swallowing disorders

Core Courses Available to First Year and Sophomore Students

The following courses are available to students at the first-year and sophomore year level including students not formally in the Communication Science major:

Open to students of all levels:
CSD 1232 - INTRODUCTION TO AUDIOLOGY
CSD 1230 - INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
Open to sophomores and higher:
CSD 1020 - NATURE OF LANGUAGE OR LING 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS
CSD 1102 - INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL AND CLINICAL ISSUES IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCE & DISORDERS

Plan of Study

This plan of study identifies the sequence of core courses offered in the Communication Science degree program. A course schedule for each semester may also include any remaining Prerequisites Requirements or Additional Requirements, minor or certificate courses, or other elective courses. Students are required to have an individual advising appointment with the Communication Science Academic Advisor every semester prior to registering for classes for the upcoming term.

Junior Fall

If not already completed -
CSD 1020 - NATURE OF LANGUAGE
CSD 1232 - INTRODUCTION TO AUDIOLOGY
Core Courses Fall Junior Year
CSD 1023 - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF SPEECH
CSD 1027 - LAB IN ANAT/PHYSIOLOGY OF SPEECH
CSD 1111 - AURAL REHABILITATION - OPTIONAL You must have completed CSD 1232 with a C- or better to enroll in this course. This course can also be taken Senior year.
CSD 1233 - INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

Junior Spring

If not already completed -
CSD 1230 - INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
CSD 1102 - INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL AND CLINICAL ISSUES IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCE & DISORDERS
Core Courses Spring Junior Year
CSD 1021 - LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
CSD 1026 - SPEECH SCIENCE You must complete CSD 1023 with a C- or better to enroll in this course.
CSD 1030 - LAB IN SPEECH SCIENCE

Senior Fall

If not already completed -
CSD 1111 - AURAL REHABILITATION You must complete CSD 1232 with a C- or better to enroll in this course.
Core Courses Fall Senior Year
CSD 1024 - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF HEARING
CSD 1029 - LAB IN ANAT/PHYSIOLGY OF HEARING
CSD 1022 - TRANSCRIPTION PHONETICS
Optional Course
CSD 1031 - GUIDED CLINICAL OBSERVATION

Senior Spring

Core Courses Spring Senior Year
CSD 1025 - HEARING SCIENCE You must complete CSD 1024 with a C- or better to enroll in this course.
CSD 1028 - LAB IN HEARING SCIENCE
CSD 1235 - CLINICAL METHODS IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCE & DISORDERS
CSD 1234 - WRITTING PRACTICUM FOR CLINICAL METHODS IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCE & DISORDERS
CSD 1237 - INTRO TO NEUROSCIENCE OF COMMUNICATION
Optional Course
CSD 1031 - GUIDED CLINICAL OBSERVATION

Related Area / Minors and Certificates / Directed or Independent Studies

No additional related area is required for this undergraduate degree.

Many students are able to complete certificate programs or minors in addition to the major requirements in Communication Science. In recent years, students have attained certificates in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine, Latin American studies, American Sign Language, and Children's Literature and minors in Education, Neuroscience, Linguistics, Social Work and Sociology, among others. These are only a few of the many certificate programs and minors available at the University of Pittsburgh.

In some locations, employment as a speech-language pathologist within an educational setting requires additional courses for certification. Students considering work in educational settings should consider enrolling in education courses (i.e., IL 1257 - TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS) as electives. Students can consult with the CSD Advising Office for more information.

Students should consult with Dave Bodnar (dab308@pitt.edu) or the Director of the Communication Science Program, Professor Ali Lewandowski (ael89@pitt.edu) about the possibility of pursuing a directed or independent study with a member of the faculty, as a formal approval process is required. Opportunities are also available for students at all levels to volunteer in a research lab with a Communication Science and Disorders faculty member.

Required Core Courses

CSD 1232 - Introduction to Audiology, 3 credits* (prerequisite for CSD 1111 Aural Rehabilitation)
CSD 1230 - Introduction to Speech/Language Pathology*, 3 credits
CSD 1102 - Introduction to Professional & Clinical Issues in CSD** 3 credits
CSD 1020 - Nature of Language** (satisfied by LING 1000 and prerequisite for Language Development), 3 credits
CSD 1021 - Language Development, 3 credits
CSD 1022 - Transcription Phonetics, 3 credits
CSD 1023 - Anatomy and Physiology of Speech w/ CSD 1027 lab (prerequisite for Speech Science), 4 credits
CSD 1024 - Anatomy and Physiology of Hearing w/ CSD 1029 lab (prerequisite for Hearing Science), 4 credits
CSD 1025 - Hearing Science w/ CSD 1028 lab, 4 credits
CSD 1026- Speech Science w/ CSD 1030 lab, 4 credits
CSD 1235 - Clinical Methods in CSD, 3 credits
CSD 1234 - Clinical Methods writing practicum, 1 credit (required to be taken with Clinical Methods in CSD)
CSD 1233 - Introduction to Research, (satisfied by PSY 0035), 3 credits
CSD 1237 - Neuroscience of Communication 3 credits (optional for students entering program in Fall 2018-2020; required for students entering program in 2021
CSD 1111 Aural Rehabilitation 3 credits (optional for students entering program in Fall 2018-2020; required for students entering program in 2021)