Requirements for the Major
Major Concentrations
Honors in the Major
Distinction in the Major
Courses
1975 Willow Drive, Madison, WI 53706; 608/262-3951; www.comdis.wisc.edu
Professors Edwards, S. Ellis Weismer, Fowler, Lutfi, Washington, Weismer, Westbury; Associate Professors Fourakis, Litovsky, Turkstra; Assistant Professors Connor, Hustad, Sharer; Clinical Professors Kwiatkowski, Rosin; Clinical Associate Professors Levin, Longstreth, Murray-Branch, Quinn, C. Smith, M. Smith; Clinical Assistant Professors Cohen, Smuda; Faculty Associate Schraeder
Please contact the department office at 262-3951 to schedule an undergraduate advising appointment.
Faculty diversity liaison: S. Ellis Weismer, sweismer@wisc.edu
The major in communicative disorders provides students with opportunities for study in the areas of speech-language pathology, audiology, and the normal aspects of speech, hearing, and language. Labs are available for training and research needs in the areas of speech physiology, speech acoustics, language, and audiological science.
It is assumed that the evaluation and treatment of persons with communicative disorders must be based upon a firm theoretical understanding of normal processes of speech and language formulation, production, and perception. Some students pursue this major as a preliminary step toward advanced training in other professional fields (e.g., medicine and law). Many other students pursue this major because they hope to practice as certified clinicians in educational and medical-allied-health settings, assisting clients with communicative impairments arising from disease, trauma, predisposition, and/or idiopathic maladaptive learning. At a minimum, professional certification for clinical practice requires an advanced (e.g., graduate) degree in communicative disorders from an accredited program.
To declare a major, students must earn a grade point average of 3.0 or better for the three courses Com Dis 201, 202, and 240. Major declaration forms may be obtained from the department (Goodnight Hall, Room 318, 1975 Willow Drive).
The major in communicative disorders can be completed through the College of Letters and Science or through the School of Education. Each program (L&S and Education) has its own general liberal studies requirements involving, for example, sciences, math, foreign language, social studies, humanities, and so on. Students should plan to complete many of these general requirements as well as some courses in communicative disorders during their first and second years on this campus.
Students are urged to consult with a department advisor as soon as they have decided to major in this field. Course sequencing in the major is not flexible. Certain courses are prerequisites for others. Many of the courses are offered only once a year. Students should begin taking courses in the major in the sophomore year. Typically, L&S students take Com Dis 201, 202, and 240 as sophomores.
The department is accredited in speech- language pathology and in audiology by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Therefore, academic and clinical practica in the Department of Communicative Disorders may be applied toward clinical certification (speech language pathology or audiology) by ASHA.
Com Dis 201 Speech Science, 3 cr
Com Dis 202 Normal Aspects of Hearing, 3 cr
Com Dis 210 Speech and Language Functions of the Brain, 3 cr
Com Dis 240 Language Development in Children and Adolescents, 3 cr
Com Dis 303 Speech Acoustics and Perception, 3 cr
Com Dis 315 Speech Pathology I, 3 cr
Com Dis 318 Speech Pathology II, 4 cr
Com Dis 320 Introduction to Audiology, 3 cr
Com Dis 371 Pre-Clinical Observation of Children and Adults, 2 cr
Com Dis 425 Auditory Rehabilitation, 3 cr
Com Dis 440 Child Language Disorders, Assessment and Intervention, 3 cr
Psych 201 (or 202) Introduction to Psychology, 3-4 cr;
a course in statistics such as Psych 210 or Stat 301;
at least one course from the following humanities courses: Linguis 101, Linguis 301, or Hist Sci 205;
at least one course from the following social science courses: Anthro 104, Asian Am 101, Chicana/o 201, Soc 134, or Soc 220;
at least one course from the following natural science courses: Anthro 105, Physics 103, Physics 109, Psych 354, Women St 103, or Zoology 101.
Students select one of the following programs. (Students are urged to check course offerings with the department at 262-3951.)
A major in this program allows students to receive a liberal arts and science education with an emphasis on communicative disorders. This is a pre-professional program for students wishing to be employed as speech-language pathologists or audiologists. Those employed in such positions are required to obtain a graduate degree. (For a description of the graduate program please consult the Graduate School Catalog.) The department wishes to point out that admission to most graduate programs in communicative disorders requires a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
All students earning a Letters and Science degree are required to fulfill the L&S requirement of at least 15 credits of upper-level work in the major completed in residence. Courses that count toward this requirement are Com Dis 303, 315, 318, 320, 425, 440, 503, 699.
A major through the School of Education leads to a bachelor's degree with a major in communicative disorders and allows students to complete many of the requirements for a teaching certificate from the State of Wisconsin. Application for admission to the School of Education should be made at B117 Education Building (262-4917). A graduate degree in communicative disorders is required for teacher certification in the State of Wisconsin. For more information please see the School of Education section in this catalog and consult the Graduate School Catalog.
Students interested in earning Honors in the Major should consult with the department honors advisor. Students should ordinarily declare to the department their intention to graduate with Honors in the Major at the end of their sophomore year or the start of their junior year, and must receive permission from the department honors advisor before being admitted to the department honors track. Students pursuing the Honors in the Major must have an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all courses taken at UW-Madison at the time of graduation.
Students majoring in communicative disorders who are not honors candidates may pursue a junior-senior honors curriculum and thereby earn Distinction in the Major, provided they obtain consent of the department honors advisor.
All classes listed in the course descriptions section will be offered regularly unless otherwise noted. Please check with the department office for information on specific courses.
110 Introduction to Communicative Disorders. I, II; 3 cr (S-E). Disorders of communications and their treatment. P: Open to Fr.
201 Speech Science. I, II; 3 cr (B-I). Anatomy, physiology, acoustics, and psychology related to the production and perception of speech. P: So st.
202 Normal Aspects of Hearing. I; 3 cr (B-I). Physical acoustics, anatomy, physiology, and psychology related to hearing. P: So st.
210 Speech and Language Functions of the Brain. II; 3 cr (B-I). Considers how speech and language are represented in, and controlled by, the central nervous system. Emphasizes language formulation and comprehension, brain structures and pathways thought to serve speech and language, and neurologic disorders of communication. P: So st or cons inst.
236 Bascom Course. Irr.; 3 cr (b-E). A low-enrollment course developing skills in critical reading, logical thinking, use of evidence, and use of library resources. Emphasis on writing in the conventions of specific fields. P: Successful completion of or exemption from Com A requirement. Open to Fr.
240 Language Development in Children and Adolescents. I, II; 3 cr (I). This course covers communication and language development from infancy to adulthood. P: So st.
303 Speech Acoustics and Perception. I; 3 cr (I). Basic aspects of general and speech acoustics are covered, with special emphasis on the source-filter theory of vowel production. Classical and contemporary theories of speech perception are discussed, along with experimental paradigms and data from the current speech perception literature. P: Com Dis 201, 202, Com Dis major or cons inst.
315 Speech Pathology I. I; 3 cr (A). Definition, classification, etiology and treatment of articulation disorders. Introduction to clinical procedures. Supervised observation and limited participation in evaluations, therapy and conferences in lab. P: Jr st or cons inst; Com Dis 201, 202, 240; com dis major.
318 Speech Pathology II. II; 4 cr (A). The material in this course will provide a basis for understanding the communication problems of individuals with voice disorders, orofacial anomalies, and fluency disorders. P: Com Dis 315, Com Dis major, or cons inst.
320 Introduction to Audiology. II; 3 cr (A). Hearing sciences, evaluation, conservation, and aural rehabilitation. P: Com Dis 303, com dis major or cons inst.
371 Pre-Clinical Observation of Children and Adults. I, II; 2 cr (I). This course is designed to provide pre-clinical experience and training with children and adults. Lectures, observation, and direct experience are used to introduce clinical issues. P: Jr st & Com Dis 240 & com dis major.
390 Practicum in Communicative Disorders. I, II; 2 cr (A). Supervised practicum experience with persons manifesting communication problems. Evaluation, rehabilitation, conservation of hearing, language and speech disorders in various settings. P: Com Dis 315, 371 & 440, cons inst, overall GPA 2.75 & major GPA 3.0, com dis major.
424 Manually Coded English (Sign Language I). I; 2 cr (I). Instruction and practice in producing and reading the manual alphabet and manual English signs for basic vocabulary. Signing principles will be introduced. Emphasis will be placed on developing basic sign language skills. P: Sr st and cons inst.
425 Auditory Rehabilitation. II; 3 cr (A). Speech reading, principles and techniques of auditory training for acoustically handicapped children and adults. P: Com Dis 320, Com Dis major, or cons inst.
434 Manually Coded English (Sign Language II). Irr.; 2 cr (A). An intermediate level course which emphasizes instruction and practice in the use of manually-coded English in communicative disorders. The course includes a lab, practice analyzing language samples obtained in total communication, and discussion of current research in sign language. P: Com Dis 424 or equiv, Sr st & cons inst.
440 Child Language Disorders, Assessment and Intervention. I, II; 3 cr (A). Language disorders in variant populations are covered, as well as means of assessment and intervention. P: So or Jr st, Com Dis 240.
455 Topics in Communicative Disorders. Irr.; 1-3 cr (I). Lecture-discussion with or without laboratory component on current topics in norman aspects of communication or identification, treatment and research in speech-language pathology and audiology. P: Open to all Undergrads.
503 Neural Mechanisms of Speech, Hearing and Language. I; 3 cr (I). Basic neuroanatomical and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the communication process. Neuropathologies and their associated communication disorders. P: Com Dis 201 recommended, Com Dis major, or cons inst.
631 Introduction to Augmentative Communication. (Crosslisted with RP&SE, Ther Sci) I; 3 cr (I). Overview of electronic and non-electronic augmentative communicative systems designed for persons with severe motor, cognitive, and perceptual disabilities. P: Jr st or cons inst.
681 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II; 3 cr (A). P: Sr st & cons of dept hnrs adv.
682 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II; 3 cr (A). P: Sr st & cons of dept hnrs adv.
698 Directed Study. I, II, SS; 1-6 cr (A). Cr/N. P: Jr or Sr st. Graded on a Cr/N basis; requires cons inst.
699 Directed Study. I, II, SS; 1-6 cr (A). Program of reading devised by a staff member in collaboration with the student. P: Jr or Sr st. Graded on a lettered basis; requires cons inst.