Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy (CDOT)
Steven Wheeler
Department Head
606 N. Razorback Road
479-575-4910
Email: wheelers@uark.edu
Speech and Hearing Clinic
Epley Center for Health Professions
606 N. Razorback Road
479-575-4509
The Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy offers an undergraduate major in communication sciences and disorders that leads to the B.S. degree and prepares students for graduate studies (master’s level) in speech-language pathology and/or the professional doctorate in audiology. The minimum requirements for all students in the college are listed under general studies.
The department also offers graduate programs in communication sciences and disorders and occupational therapy.
Requirements for B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Admission to the B.S. degree program in Communication Sciences and Disorders is competitive and consists of a three-stage process. Students must apply for formal admission and be accepted to the undergraduate B.S. degree program in Communication Sciences and Disorders prior to taking junior- and senior-level classes in the major.
Stage I: Pre-Communication Sciences and Disorders (PCDIS)
- Complete all program pre-requisites courses.
- Obtain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on all college level coursework.
- Complete the following courses with a “C” or better: ENGL 10103 and ENGL 10203, MATH 11003 or equivalent, and SPCH 10003.
- Obtain passing scores on the Core Academic Skills for Educator: Math, Reading, and Writing sections of the Praxis Core Exam.
Students who do not meet admission criteria for the B.S. degree program in communication sciences and disorders in any given year may reapply in subsequent years.
Stage II: Admission to the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program (CDIS)
- Submission of Communication Sciences and Disorders Application Form, Letter of Intent, and Curriculum Guide Form.
- Submission of transcripts for all coursework
- Submission of passing score on Math, Reading, and Writing sections of Praxis Core Exam
- Satisfactory completion of an admission interview with designated faculty
Stage III: Requirements for Program Continuation and Completion
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- In order to enroll in CSDI 40003 Clinical Practicum: Undergraduate, students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in the following courses: CSDI 22503, CSDI 31203, CSDI 32103, CSDI 32203, CSDI 32003, CSDI 42203 and a “B” in CSDI 32303. Clinical Practice is an elective for undergraduates and is taken for course credit hours, not a grade.
- Meet all university requirements for graduation.
Requirements for Communication Sciences and Disorders (CDIS)
| State Minimum Core | 35 | |
| Of which Communication Sciences and Disorders requires the following specific courses: | ||
| Principles of Biology (ACTS Equivalency = BIOL 1014 Lecture) and Principles of Biology Laboratory (ACTS Equivalency = BIOL 1014 Lab) (or higher level) | ||
| General Psychology (ACTS Equivalency = PSYC 1103) | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (ACTS Equivalency = ANTH 2013) | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Physics and Human Affairs and Physics and Human Affairs Laboratory (or higher level) | ||
| College Physics I (ACTS Equivalency = PHYS 2014 Lecture) and College Physics I Laboratory (ACTS Equivalency = PHYS 2014 Lab) (or higher level) | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry (ACTS Equivalency = CHEM 1214 Lecture) and Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (ACTS Equivalency = CHEM 1214 Lab) (or higher level) | ||
| Program specific course requirements for Communication Sciences and Disorders - 9 hours total | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced Composition | ||
| Essay Writing | ||
| Technical and Professional Writing (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 2023) | ||
| Honors Communication Disorders Thesis/Project 1 | ||
| SPCH 10003 | Public Speaking (ACTS Equivalency = SPCH 1003) | 3 |
| MATH 21003 | Principles of Statistics (ACTS Equivalency = MATH 2103) | 3 |
| Communication Sciences and Disorders Major Requirements (42 hours) | ||
| CSDI 22503 | Introduction to Communicative Disorders | 3 |
| CSDI 31003 | Introduction to Audiology | 3 |
| CSDI 32103 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism | 3 |
| CSDI 31203 | Normal Phonology and Articulatory Process (Normal Phonology and Articulatory Processes) | 3 |
| CSDI 32003 | Articulation Disorders | 3 |
| CSDI 32203 | Language Development in Children | 3 |
| CSDI 32303 | Introduction to Clinical Practice | 3 |
| CSDI 32503 | Culturally Responsive Practice in Communication Sciences and Disorders | 3 |
| CSDI 41303 | Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
| CSDI 42503 | Neurological Bases of Communication | 3 |
| CSDI 42703 | Communication Behavior and Aging | 3 |
| CSDI 42103 | Introduction to Speech and Hearing Science | 3 |
| CSDI 41803 | Clinical Assessment of Speech and Language Disorders | 3 |
| CSDI 42203 | Language Disorders in Children | 3 |
| Electives | 34 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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Option only for students successfully completing Honors Program
Communication Sciences and Disorders B.S.
Eight-Semester Plan
All CDIS students are accepted as tentative candidates and thus not eligible for the eight-semester degree plan. Students must apply for formal admission to the undergraduate B.S. degree program in CDIS prior to taking junior- and senior-level classes in the major. However, students who qualify to finish a degree in four years can follow the suggested order of classes below.
| First Year | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| ENGL 10103 Composition I (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 1013) (Satisfies General Education Outcome 1.1) | 3 | |
| MATH 11003 College Algebra (ACTS Equivalency = MATH 1103) (Satisfies General Education Outcome 2.1) | 3 | |
| Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.4: | 4 | |
BIOL 10103 Principles of Biology (ACTS Equivalency = BIOL 1014 Lecture) & BIOL 10101 Principles of Biology Laboratory (ACTS Equivalency = BIOL 1014 Lab)4 | ||
| U.S. History or Government State Minimum Core | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| ENGL 10203 Composition II (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 1023) (Satisfies General Education Outcome 1.1) | 3 | |
| Fine Arts or Humanities State Minimum Core (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.1 or 3.2)1 | 3 | |
| SPCH 10003 Public Speaking (ACTS Equivalency = SPCH 1003) (Satisfies General Education Outcome 1.2 and 5.1) | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 16 | 15 |
| Second Year | Units | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| ANTH 10203 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (ACTS Equivalency = ANTH 2013) (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.3)2 | 3 | |
| CSDI 22503 Introduction to Communicative Disorders | 3 | |
| PSYC 20003 General Psychology (ACTS Equivalency = PSYC 1103) (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.3)2 | 3 | |
| Choose one science/lab from the following (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.4): | 4 | |
CHEM 12103 Fundamentals of Chemistry (ACTS Equivalency = CHEM 1214 Lecture) & CHEM 12101 Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (ACTS Equivalency = CHEM 1214 Lab)4 | ||
PHYS 20103 College Physics I (ACTS Equivalency = PHYS 2014 Lecture) & PHYS 20101 College Physics I Laboratory (ACTS Equivalency = PHYS 2014 Lab)4 | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| MATH 21003 Principles of Statistics (ACTS Equivalency = MATH 2103) (Satisfies General Education Outcome 2.1) | 3 | |
| Social Sciences State Minimum Core (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.3)1 | 3 | |
| Fine Arts/Humanities State Minimum Core (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.1 or 3.2)1 | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 16 | 15 |
| Third Year | Units | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| CSDI 31203 Normal Phonology and Articulatory Process | 3 | |
| CSDI 32103 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism | 3 | |
| CSDI 32203 Language Development in Children | 3 | |
| CSDI 42703 Communication Behavior and Aging | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| CSDI 32003 Articulation Disorders | 3 | |
| CSDI 32303 Introduction to Clinical Practice | 3 | |
| CSDI 42203 Language Disorders in Children | 3 | |
| ENGL 20003 Advanced Composition or ENGL 20133 Essay Writing or ENGL 30503 Technical and Professional Writing (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 2023) or CSDI 498HV Honors Communication Disorders Thesis/Project | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Fourth Year | Units | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| CSDI 31003 Introduction to Audiology | 3 | |
| CSDI 42503 Neurological Bases of Communication | 3 | |
| CSDI 42103 Introduction to Speech and Hearing Science | 3 | |
| Electives (Recommend: CSDI 40003 Clinical Practicum: Undergraduate) | 4 | |
| CSDI 32503 Culturally Responsive Practice in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Satisfies General Education Outcome 4.1, 4.2, and 6.1) | 3 | |
| CSDI 41303 Introduction to Aural Rehabilitation | 3 | |
| CSDI 41803 Clinical Assessment of Speech and Language Disorders | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 13 | 15 |
| Total Units in Sequence: | 120 | |
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Students must complete the State Minimum Core requirements as outlined in the Catalog of Studies. The courses that meet the state minimum core also fulfill many of the university's General Education requirements, although there are additional considerations to satisfy the general education learning outcomes. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic adviser when making course selections.
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Required Social Science Core for CDIS majors.
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CSDI 498HV: Option only for students successfully completing Honors Program.
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or higher level