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Degrees and Certificates
Communication Disorders
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Help Others Communicate
Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders
What a gift it is to help a child hear better so she can participate more fully in family and school activities. Or to help an adult who struggles with a speech disorder to confidently speak in front of his business peers. Or to help an elderly person learn to speak again after a stroke.
The passionate professionals who are recognized for this kind of work are audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Audiologists focus on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of hearing and balance problems. Speech-language pathologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of speech, language, and swallowing disorders. These are two separate professions, but they’re strongly connected in the category of human communication sciences.
The Department of Communication Disorders provides intimate, dynamic instruction and hands-on training for undergraduate students in both the theoretical and applied aspects of human communication sciences and disorders, preparing graduates for post-secondary study and multi-disciplinary career opportunities.
The academic and clinical faculty members in this AUM program hold certification by the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association and licensure via the Alabama Board of Examiners in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. The academic faculty teach the theoretical perspectives for both development and disorders, while the clinical faculty directs the student’s implementation of this knowledge.
You’ll enter the Communication Disorders curriculum after achieving junior standing at AUM. The next two academic years will be spent completing academic coursework in speech-language pathology and audiology and obtaining required clinical training and experience with patients through the Speech and Hearing Center on AUM’s campus. Students complete approximately 60 hours of supervised experience in speech-language therapy and assessment and treatment of patients with hearing disorders.
In the job market, to practice as a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist, you’ll need to earn the proper advanced degree from a nationally accredited program. With just this AUM undergraduate degree, however, you’ll be qualified to work in the public school systems of Alabama as an assistant to a licensed speech therapist.
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The Know How
What you will know with a Communication Disorders degree from AUM
We Prepare You For Graduate Studies
You’ll learn technical skills and “soft skills” like critical thinking, communication, and organizational skills—critical attributes for grad school and the job market.
We Give You A Positive Framework For Serving
Before you leave AUM with your degree, you will have experienced hands-on clinical care and experience with patients through the on-campus Speech and Hearing Center.
We Set The Bar For Ethics
Ethical standards in this program align with those of the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association and the Alabama Board of Examiners in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.
We Help You Launch A Sustainable Career
Upon graduation, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to seek graduate studies, leading to work settings which have a need for your expertise.
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Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth
The study of speech-language pathology and audiology. Professionals in the field evaluate, diagnose, and treat disorders of speech patterns, language development, hearing, processing, and balance disorders.
This bachelor’s degree is a solid foundation for a graduate degree; speech-language pathologists are required to earn a master’s degree and audiologists must earn a Doctorate of Audiology degree. Jobs are available in school systems, private practice, or a medical setting.
This is one of only a few in the country where undergraduate students receive direct clinical experience with patients. Our students obtain required clinical training and experience patients through the Speech and Hearing Center on campus.
Please contact the Communication Disorders department .
Degree Options
Is a Degree in Communication Disorders right for me?
With this bachelor’s degree as your educational foundation, you have many career possibilities.
| Career/Job Title | Entry-level Education Requirements | Job Growth 2020-2030 | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speech-Language Pathologists | Master's degree | 29% (Much faster than average) | $80,480 |
| Audiologists | Doctorate of Audiology degree | 16% (Much faster than average) | $81,030 |
Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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In-Class
Quick Facts
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
At AUM’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, you will have hands-on learning experiences, working side by side with scholars and researchers using state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment.
Our academic departments include the School of Nursing, Medical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and Communication Disorders. To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.
Official Name of the Communication Disorders Degree
Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders
Modality
This degree requires students to meet on campus. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.
Communication Disorders
Courses Include
To complete this degree concentration, you will need to complete courses in the university core, nursing, and electives. Contact the School of Nursing for a current listing of courses required to complete this program.
The course listings below are only a few of the classes this concentration requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor.
| Course # | Course Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
| CMDS 4570 | Neuropathy Aspects of Comm | Introduction to anatomy and physiology of the brain and nervous system. Relationship between neuroscience and communication disorders and hearing. |
| CMDS 4911 | Observations in Speech | Orientation and introduction to supervised clinical management of speech and language disorders. |
| CMDS 4410 | Phonetics | Basic study of the sound system of the English language. Includes principles of sound production, phonetic transcription, and the acoustical basis of phonetics. (Same as THEA 4413.) |
| CMDS 4530 | Language Development | Models of language development with emphasis on cognitive-linguistic-pragmatic aspects, along with theories of language acquisition and language development from birth to adolescence. |
| CMDS 4600 | Intro Audiology & Hearing Dis | Principles of auditory reception, the hearing mechanism, and the problems involved in measuring, evaluating, and conserving hearing. Types and causes of auditory disorders and basic principles of special auditory tests for site of lesion. |
| CMDS 4601 | Clinical Practicum I in Audiology | Orientation and introduction to supervised clinical management of hearing disorders. Hands-on learning exercises in clinical management of hearings disorders. |
