Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences Major, B.A.

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A major in Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences (SLHS) provides a sound background for students pursuing careers in education, health care, and vocational rehabilitation. Graduates in Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences who complete the SLHS major will have the prerequisite coursework to pursue a graduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology, which opens careers in schools, community clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private practice.

A minor is required for students majoring in SLHS. Options include, but are not limited to: biology, gerontology, linguistics, psychology, Spanish, special education, or speech communication. Students must earn a grade of “C-” or better in all SLHS courses.

For students planning to seek a graduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology and/or work as a speech-language pathology assistant.

Required Prerequisite Courses

Required prerequisite courses may be used to fulfill General Studies requirements.

BIO 1080 - General Biology I Credits: 3
BIO 1090 - General Biology Laboratory I Credits: 1
MTH 1110 - College Algebra for Calculus Credits: 4 or
MTH 1112 - College Algebra Through Modeling
CAS 1010 - Public Speaking Credits: 3
Subtotal: 11 credits

Required Courses

BIO 2310 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 4
ENG 2010 - Introduction to Linguistics Credits: 3
or
ENG 3011 - Analyzing English Credits: 3
SLHS 2530 - Speech and Hearing Science Credits: 3
SLHS 2890 - Language Acquisition Credits: 3
SLHS 3511 - Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Credits: 4
SLHS 3540 - Clinical Phonetics Credits: 3
SLHS 3580 - Speech, Sound and Fluency Disorders Credits: 3
SLHS 3600 - Diagnostic Audiology Credits: 3
SLHS 4500 - Principles of Assessment and Intervention Credits: 3
SLHS 4510 - Child Language Disorders Credits: 3
SLHS 4610 - Rehabilitative Audiology Credits: 3
SLHS 1500 - Introduction to Communication Sciences Credits: 3
or
CAS 3760 - Diversity and Communication in the U.S. Credits: 3 ^*
Subtotal: 38 credits
^*Course has additional prerequisites that must be satisfied.

Elective Courses

Select at least 4 credits from the following courses:

SLHS 1500 - Introduction to Communication Sciences Credits: 3
SLHS 1610 - American Sign Language I Credits: 3
SLHS 1620 - American Sign Language II Credits: 3
SLHS 2990 - Introduction to Health Communication Credits: 3
SLHS 3590 - School Speech-Language Intervention Credits: 3
SLHS 4511 - Neurogenic Language Disorders in Adults Credits: 1
SLHS 4550 - Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Methods Credits: 7
Subtotal: 4 credits
Total Required for SLHS Major: 42 credits
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recommends that undergraduates take a course in: a) statistics, b) physics or chemistry, and c) social/behavioral sciences.

Childhood Communication Concentration

The Childhood Communication Concentration within the SLHS major will provide early childhood educators with an option to concentrate their study of communication science in the area of language from birth to age 18. This concentration is not designed to prepare students for graduate education in speech-language pathology or audiology.

Required Prerequisite Courses

Required prerequisite courses may be used to fulfill General Studies requirements.

CAS 1010 - Public Speaking Credits: 3
MTH 1110 - College Algebra for Calculus Credits: 4 or
MTH 1112 - College Algebra Through Modeling
PSY 1001 - Introductory Psychology Credits: 3
Subtotal: 10 credits

Required Courses

SLHS 1500 - Introduction to Communication Sciences Credits: 3
SLHS 1610 - American Sign Language I Credits: 3
SLHS 2530 - Speech and Hearing Science Credits: 3
SLHS 2890 - Language Acquisition Credits: 3
SLHS 3540 - Clinical Phonetics Credits: 3
SLHS 3590 - School Speech-Language Intervention Credits: 3
SLHS 4500 - Principles of Assessment and Intervention Credits: 3
ENG 2010 - Introduction to Linguistics Credits: 3
THE 3200 - Oral Interpretation Credits: 3
PSY 3250 - Child Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 3340 - Cognitive Development and Learning Credits: 3
Subtotal: 33 credits

Elective Courses

Select at least 9 credits; 3 credits for students meeting requirements for Early Childhood Education student teaching. Students who satisfy all licensure requirements for student teaching in Early Childhood Education at MSU Denver may take 3 credits of elective(s) to complete the SLHS major in 36 credits. Early Childhood Education licensure students may substitute MTH 1610 and MTH 2620 for MTH 1110. See the School of Education for requirements. Students who wish to apply in the future to graduate school in speech-language pathology or audiology are referred to the SLHS major without the Childhood Communication concentration.

ECE 3750 - The Young Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learner Credits: 3
RDG 3530 - Foundations of Language and Literacy for English Language Learners in Elementary Classrooms Credits: 3
SLHS 1620 - American Sign Language II Credits: 3
SLHS 3580 - Speech, Sound and Fluency Disorders Credits: 3
CAS 1710 - Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3
CAS 3760 - Diversity and Communication in the U.S. Credits: 3 ^*
Subtotal: 3 or 9 credits
Total for Concentration: 42 credits (36 credits for students meeting requirements for Early Childhood Education student teaching)
*Course has additional prerequisites that must be satisfied.

Program Revised July 11, 2019