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

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Department of Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences

College of Health and Human Sciences

Available Program Format(s): In-Person

About the Program

This major provides a sound background for students pursuing careers in education, health care, and vocational rehabilitation. Graduates with 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. This major is also designed for students planning to work in the schools as a speech-language pathology assistant. For more information on the undergraduate program or careers within SLHS visit: https://www.msudenver.edu/speech-language-hearing-sciences/.

Student Outcomes

The B.A. in SLHS is a comprehensive degree program in which knowledge of communication and its disorders is converged with everyday applications. Specific programmatic learning outcomes are:

Explain the roles of acoustic, developmental, environmental, and neurobiopsychosocial factors in typical and atypical human communication.
Describe how cultural and linguistic diversity, environmental, and social factors impact the assessment and intervention of human communication.
Critically appraise peer-reviewed speech, language, hearing research.
Demonstrate effective oral and written communication and collaborative skills required for professional pursuits.

General Degree Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

Program Requirements

A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation.
A grade of C better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.
A graduate degree is required for entry-level practice in audiology and speech-language pathology (SLP). However, certain coursework should be completed at the undergraduate level to be eligible for clinical certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). ASHA requires a standalone course in statistics; a college-level chemistry or physics course; a college-level course in biological science and a college-level course in social/behavioral science. For more information about the graduate program in SLP at MSU Denver visit: https://www.msudenver.edu/speech-language-hearing-sciences/graduate-program/

General Studies Requirements: 33 credits

Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.

Written Communication (6 credits)
Oral Communication (3 credits)
Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
- Recommended: MTH 1110 - College Algebra for Calculus or MTH 1112 - College Algebra Through Modeling (one of which is required in the Ancillary Courses)
Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
Historical (3 credits)
Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
- Recommended: BIO 1080 - General Biology I and BIO 1090 - General Biology Laboratory I (both courses are required in the Ancillary Courses)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences.

Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits

Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.
Many programs include courses that meet this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to determine what program courses may fulfill this requirement.

Required Ancillary Courses: 8 credits

Required ancillary 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 Credits: 4

Required Courses: 30 credits

SLHS 1500 - Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders Credits: 3
SLHS 2100 - Language Acquisition and Development Credits: 3
SLHS 2530 - Speech Science Credits: 3
SLHS 3200 - Clinical Phonetics Credits: 3
SLHS 3300 - Principles of Assessment and Intervention Credits: 3
SLHS 3530 - Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Credits: 3
SLHS 3600 - Diagnostic Audiology Credits: 3
SLHS 4100 - Language Disorders and Differences Credits: 3
SLHS 4200 - Speech Disorders and Differences Credits: 3
SLHS 4610 - Aural Rehabilitation Credits: 3

Elective Courses: 5-9 credits

Select 5-9 credits from the following courses:

COMM 3000 - Diversity and Communication in the U.S. Credits: 3
LING 2010 - Introduction to Linguistics Credits: 3
LING 3011 - Analyzing English 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 3000 - Foundations of Disability Studies through Media Credits: 3
SLHS 4350 - Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Methods Credits: 7
SLHS 4530 - Neural Bases of Communication and Its Disorders Credits: 3

Senior Experience: 3-7 credits

SLHS 4300 - Senior Experience in Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences Credits: 3
or
SLHS 4350 - Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Methods Credits: 7

Summary of Requirements

General Studies Requirements	33 credits
ESSJ Requirement	0-3 credits
Ancillary Courses	8 credits
Major Required Courses	30 credits
Major Electives	5-9 credits
Senior Experience	3-7 credits
Unrestricted Electives	34-56 credits
Total for the Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences Major, B.A.	120 credits

Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.