Communication
Disorders (CDO)
For information, please contact Renny Tatchell, Chairperson
774-3472, 443 Moore Hall
Why Study Communication
Disorders
Communication Disorder at
CMU
Communication
Disorder Major
Communication
Disorder Minor
The Faculty
CDO Course
Descriptions
Why
Study Communication Disorders?
One of every ten people has a speech, language, or hearing
problem. Communication disorders generally do not occur in a
vacuum-they can be related to other problems as well.
Social, emotional, educational, and vocational problems may
stem from or be aggravated by communication disorders.
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are trained to
prevent, identify and treat communication disorders. They
work primarily in educational settings, medical and health
facilities, and private practice.
Communication
Disorders at CMU
To work as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, you
are required to fulfill the academic and clinical
requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of
the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
This certification requires completion of a master’s
degree. Your study of communication disorders at the
undergraduate level must be carefully tailored to lead into
study at the graduate level.
At CMU, the undergraduate and graduate level programs are
designed to complement one another and to lead to ASHA
certification. To practice as a speech-language pathologist
in the Michigan public schools, you must hold elementary or
secondary teaching certifications. Teaching certification is
not issued at the conclusion of the baccalaureate degree. A
recommendation to practice as a speech-language pathologist
in grades K-12 will be given to students completing the
master’s degree program or equivalent. If you plan to work
as a speech-language pathologist in a setting other than
Michigan public schools, or if you plan to work as an
audiologist in any setting, select an academic path that
leads to ASHA certification but does not include elementary
or secondary education certification requirements. Whether
you elect to work in an educational or other clinical
setting, you can achieve ASHA certification only after the
successful completion of an appropriate master’s
degree.
Early advisement of students considering a major in
communication disorders can be very helpful. If you are
interested in a career as a speech-language pathologist or
audiologist, call the Office of Communication Disorders and
request advisement assistance.
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Major
Communication
Disorders Major
B.A.A.,
and B.S. degrees
With
the exception of CDO 494, courses taken Credit/No Credit do
not count toward a major.
Required
Courses (37 hours):
CDO 230 (3) Introduction to Speech, Language, and Hearing
Disorders CDO 330 (3) Language Development
CDO 331 (3) Introduction to Audiology
CDO 334 (4) Acoustic and Descriptive Phonetics
CDO 335 (4) The Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and
Hearing
CDO 338 (3) Introduction to Phonological Disorders:
Assessment and Treatment
CDO 339 (4) Clinical and Diagnostic Procedures in Speech-
Language Pathology*
CDO 440 (4) Child Language Assessment and Intervention
CDO 494 (3) Mentored Practicum in Communication
Disorders
CDO 495 (3) Clinical Experience: Communication
Disorders
CDO 531 (3) Aural Rehabilitation
Total:
37 semester hours
*
Students will fulfill 25 ASHA-required hours of on-campus
observation of speech, language and hearing services in
order to complete this course.
Additional
requirements for all majors:
1. 3.00 g.p.a. in the major.
2. Not less than a C in any single course in the
major.
3. Courses must be selected in consultation with an advisor.
4. Students will not be permitted to enroll in the same CDO
course more than twice.
5. Students must pass a speech-language proficiency
evaluation.
Additional
requirements for students seeking elementary teaching
certification with K-12 Speech-Language Endorsement:
1. Minimum of 40 hours of general education.
2. Required courses: SPE 126, ELE 107, HEV 100 OR ELE 280 OR
PSY 220, ELE 320, ELE 330, ELE 343, ELE 345, ELE 361, STT
432, STT 458, STT 466, ELE 493, ELE 495, and ELE 431**
3. This option requires a teaching minor from the B.S. in
Education, elementary emphasis.
4. Students are obligated to fulfill the prerequisites of
the above courses. Check course descriptions in this
Bulletin carefully.
**ELE
431 is required for teaching certification but not for
graduation on the degree program.
Additional
requirements for students seeking secondary teaching
certification with K-12 Speech-Language Endorsement:
1. Minimum of 40 hours of general education.
2. Required courses: SPE 126, PSY 220, SED 107, SED 290, SED
310, SED 325, SED 450, SED 495, STT 458 (6 hours).
3. This option requires a teaching minor selected from the
B.S. in Education, secondary emphasis; or a Child
Development or a Human Development minor (see CDO advisor ).
4. Students are obligated to fulfill the prerequisites of
the above courses. Check course descriptions in this Bulletin
carefully.
Note:
Completion of the Baccalaureate Degree in Communication
Disorders does not entitle one to be certified as a teacher.
For those students seeking teaching certification, the
teaching certificate will be awarded upon successful
completion of the professional education sequence courses,
and upon obtaining a Master's Degree in Speech-Language
pathology.
Additional
requirements for ASHA Certification:
1. Completion of an approved master’s degree.
2. Completion of the academic and clinical requirements for
a Certificate of Clinical Competence of the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). For de- tails,
see Department of Communication Disorders in the College
of Graduate Bulletin.
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Minor
Communication
Disorders Minor
B.A., B.A.A., B.S. degrees
This
minor will provide the student with some background in
communication disorders. However, it may not be considered a
minor for classroom teaching, and is not certifiable.
Courses taken Credit/No Credit do not count toward a minor.
Required
Courses (12 hours):
CDO 130 (3) Normal Speech and Language Acquisition
CDO 230 (3) Introduction to Speech, Language, and Hearing
Disorders CDO 331 (3) Introduction to Audiology
CDO 438 (3) Language Disorders in Special Education
Populations
Elective
Courses (8-10 hours) chosen from the following:
CDO 330 (3) Language Development
CDO 334 (4) Acoustic and Descriptive Phonetics
CDO 335 (3) The Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and
Hearing
CDO 338 (3) Introduction to Phonological Disorders:
Assessment and Treatment
CDO 440 (3) Child Language Assessment and Intervention
CDO 449 (3) Childhood Motor Speech Disorders
CDO 490 (1-4 Spec) Independent Study
CDO 503 (3) Principles and Application of Sign
Language
CDO 531 (3) Aural Rehabilitation
CDO 544 (3) Communication Disorders in the Aged
Other
electives chosen with consent of advisor.
Twenty-five
hours of guided observation of diagnostic and/or therapeutic
activities.
Total:
20-22 semester hours
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The faculty: Gerald T. Church,
Suzanne S. Coughlin, Katie Goward, Diana L. Hughes, Dan
Konkle, Mark Lehman, Lynn Marino, Deborah Martineau, Susan
Naeve-Velguth, Dawn Nelson, Michael A. Nerbonne, Taryn
Owens, Connie Parkhurst, Janet Patterson, Ann Ratcliff,
Sandra Rayner, Michael Stewart, Bradford L. Swartz, Renny H.
Tatchell, Karen Walton Ebnit, Gail Weddington
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