Communication Sciences and Disorders, Comprehensive Major

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

The following is a sample degree plan, based on the 2024-2025 catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.

To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core.  LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work.  Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements.  Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.

FIRST YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
CSD Elective: Recommended CSD 150 (LE-K2 & LE-R3)3
SW 100Introduction to Social Welfare (LE-R2 & LE-I1)3
LE Option: Knowledge 4 (LE-K4) Fine Arts3
Writing Requirement:2-5
Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1)
or
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1, 5 credits)
or
Accelerated Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1, 2 credits)
or
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing for Transfer Students (LE-S1, 2 credits)
SECOND SEMESTER
PSYC 100Introduction to Psychology (LE-K2)3
Human Biology Requirement (LE-K1) a3-5
CSD 235Undergraduate Research in Communication Sciences and Disorders3
IDIS 235Critical Evaluation of Research and Information in CSD1
LE Option - Consider SEIP 200 (LE-R3)3
TOTAL FIRST YEAR30
SECOND YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER b
CSD 256Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing4
CSD 262Phonetics: Theory and Application3
PSYC 260Educational Psychology (LE-K2)3
LE Option: Skills 1 (LE-S1) Written and Oral Communication3
LE Option: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities3
SECOND SEMESTER b
CSD 257Normal Communication Development3
CSD 353Speech and Hearing Science3
Physical Science Requirement - CHEM or PHYS (LE-K1) c3
MATH 246Elementary Statistics (LE-S2)4
Sign Language Requirement3
Introduction to Sign Language
or
American Sign Language I
TOTAL SECOND YEAR30
THIRD YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
CSD 358Speech Sound Disorders3
CSD 373Basic Audiology3
LE Option: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities3
CSD Elective d3
Elective3
SECOND SEMESTER
CSD 321Aural Rehabilitation3
CSD 331Child Language Disorders4
CSD Elective - Consider CSD 3703
Elective3
Elective3
TOTAL THIRD YEAR30
FOURTH YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
CSD 326Voice and Resonance Disorders3
CSD 440Neurological Aspects of Communication & Cognition3
CSD Elective - Consider CSD 470 (LE-S3 & LE-I1)2
LE Option: Responsibility 1 (LE-R1) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity3
Elective3
SECOND SEMESTER
CSD 485Serving Diverse Populations2
ES 385Social Foundations: Human Relations (LE-R1)3
LE Option - Consider PSYC 281 (LE-K2 & LE-I1)3
CSD Elective2-3
Elective3
TOTAL FOURTH YEAR30
TOTAL DEGREE CREDITS120

Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits 

a

Select one Human BIOL course from the following: BIOL 104, BIOL 105, BIOL 106, BIOL 130, BIOL 151, BIOL 196, BIOL 214, BIOL 221, IDIS 125

b

Complete one (1) of the following pairs of courses: CSD 256 AND CSD 262 or CSD 257 AND CSD 353.

c

Select one CHEM or PHYS course from the following: CHEM 100, CHEM 105 (& CHEM 106 - lab), CHEM 115, CHEM 127, CHEM 161, PHYS 100, PHYS 205, PHYS 211, PHYS 231, PHYS 308

d

CSD Electives: CSD 150, CSD 370, CSD 399, CSD 410, CSD 411, CSD 415, CSD 419, CSD 470, CSD 499

Electives need to be selected carefully to ensure students earn at least 39 upper division courses (300-400 level). 

NOTE: Enrollment in upper division courses, with the exception of CSD 301, 302, 353, 378, 410, 411, 415, 419, 495, and 499, is restricted to students who are CSD majors.  

* Denotes Lab Science course 


Scholastic Requirements: 

  • A minimum total GPA of 2.50 is required to take 300- and 400-level major courses, with the exception of CSD 353.   
  • A minimum CSD GPA of 3.50 and minimum total GPA of 3.0 are required to enroll in CSD 470. 
  • Students must complete all courses in the CSD major, one math course (statistics), one biological science course, one physical science course, and one social/behavioral science course with a grade of C or above by the time of graduation.   

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs) 

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices.  The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study AbroadIntercultural ImmersionInternship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire. 
Students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders major can select from the following HIP opportunities: CSD 470, CSD 471, Chippewa Valley Aphasia Camp, Chippewa Valley Aphasia Group, Aphasia Communication Partners, Blugold Brain Injury Group, Blugold Aphasia Group, student-faculty collaborative research projects, SoTL Lab, Instructional Internships, Departmental Honors, and/or Study Abroad. Study Abroad can be scheduled flexibly either semester of the sophomore or junior year.

Liberal Education (LE) Core Guidance

Liberal Education Core (LE Core) 

The LE Core comprises 17 learning experiences across 11 learning outcomes. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the LE Core. 

  • K1 – Natural Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K2 – Social Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K3 – Humanities; two experiences. 

  • K4 – Fine Arts; one experience. 

  • S1 – Written and Oral Communication; two experiences (one experience must satisfy the University writing requirement). 

  • S2 – Mathematics; one experience (must satisfy the University math competency requirement). 

  • S3 – Creativity; one experience (can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • R1 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; two experiences (one experience must meet the UW System Design for Diversity (DD) requirement). 

  • R2 – Global Perspectives; one experience. 

  • R3 – Civic and Environmental Issues; one experience. 

  • I1 – Integration; two experiences (one experience can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • SL—Service Learning; 30 hours 

Additional LE Core Information 

  • Most LE Core learning experiences are course based, and many courses meet more than one learning outcome (e.g., K3 and R2 or K1 and R3). 

  • Some learning experiences can also be met outside of a traditional course (e.g., undergraduate research (S3), study abroad (I1)). 

  • S1 – An English placement score that fulfills the University writing requirement fulfills one S1 experience. 

  • S1 – A foreign Language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 102 level satisfies one S1 experience. 

  • S1, R2 – A foreign language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 202 level satisfies one experience in S1 and the R2 experience. 

  • S2 – A math placement score that qualifies the student to enter Math 111, 112, 113 or 114 fulfills the S2 experience. 

  • S3 – Completion of two credits from any approved music ensemble fulfills the S3 experience. 

  • I1 – Any semester long study abroad program can fulfill one I1 experience.