Application Process for Communication Sciences and Disorders Major
To be eligible to apply for the major, you must meet the application criteria:
- Be enrolled or have completed all of the pre-admission courses.
- CSD 230, CSD 278, CSD 330, CSD 331, CSD 335, and ENG 271*.
- GPA of 3.00 or higher in pre-admission courses.
- Grade of C or better in each pre-admission course.
*ENG 271 is required for students who did not complete CSD 330 prior to fall 2025.
How to apply to the CSD major
The application is available in the CSD advising Blackboard shell. If you have not been added to the CSD advising Blackboard Ultra shell or have trouble accessing or submitting the application, contact Dr. Richards, the CSD advisor, for a copy of the application.
When to submit your application
You will apply to the CSD major in the last semester of the pre-admission courses. Applications for continued enrollment in the spring semester are due December 1st and applications for continued enrollment in the fall semester are May 1st. All applications are submitted through the CSD advising Blackboard Ultra shell.
Applying and studying abroad
If you are planning to study abroad the semester after you will complete your pre-admission courses, it is possible to apply to the major before studying abroad and then have your position held until you return if you are accepted.
If you are planning to study abroad during the second (i.e., CSD 417SL, 439, 494) or third tier (i.e., CSD 463, 525, 551) of classes after being accepted into the major, you can take a semester off from CSD classes and start taking them again when you get back.
Determination of admission
The primary factor considered when making admission decisions is your GPA in the pre-admission courses. Some historical data from past applicants are provided in the table below to give you an idea of how the average range of GPAs changes from semester to semester depending on the applicant pool. The GPA calculator can be a useful tool to help you figure out your pre-admission GPA before applying to the major.
| Cohort | Number of applicants | Number admitted | Range of CSD GPA | Mean CSD GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2022 | 25 | 21 | 3.20-4.00 | 3.74 |
| Fall 2022 | 41 | 37 | 3.04-4.00 | 3.61 |
| Spring 2023 | 22 | 21 | 3.00-4.00 | 3.68 |
| Fall 2023 | 27 | 24 | 3.14-4.00 | 3.71 |
| Spring 2024 | 26 | 24 | 3.11-4.00 | 3.71 |
| Fall 2024 | 26 | 25 | 3.14-4.00 | 3.77 |
| Spring 2025 | 28 | 22 | 3.00-4.00 | 3.58 |
| Fall 2025 | 34 | 28 | 3.06-4.00 | 3.70 |
Notification of admission
You will find out if you have been accepted into the major after the final grades are posted. You will be emailed within two weeks after final grades are posted stating whether or not you have been accepted into the major. If you have been accepted, the email will also indicate that we will submit your major form through degree progress and add a status code to your student account that will allow you to register for the rest of your CSD classes.
Reapplying to the CSD major
If you do not get accepted into the major after your first time applying, you can apply again. However, you may want to consider retaking one or more of the pre-admission courses to improve your pre-admission GPA before reapplying. Each of those courses can be retaken once. If you withdraw from a course before the semester ends, that still counts as one attempt at taking the course. Although the university will allow you to retake each course twice, we prefer and recommend that students only retake a course once. To help you decide your course of action, it is recommended that you consult with an academic advisor. You should know that if you decide to retake a course, the grade from your second attempt will be the final grade for the course on your transcript, even if it is lower than the grade from your first attempt. Additionally, when you apply to graduate school, it is likely that both grades will be included in the calculation of your GPA.
Alternatives to the CSD major
If you are not able to get into the major after your second application, you may want to consider pursuing a CSD minor rather than a CSD major and finding a different major. Some other professions related to the field of communication sciences and disorders that you might consider include: vocational therapy, special education, counseling, child life specialist, recreation therapy, social work, teaching English as a second language, respiratory therapy, radiology therapy, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapy assistant, certified nursing assistant, rehabilitation counseling, vision therapist, personal care assistant, classroom assistant, substitute teacher, speech therapy assistant (depends on the state), rehabilitation aide, board-certified behavioral analyst or board-certified assistant behavior analyst, hospice care, respite care, psychologists, and early education provider. The Career Development Center and Office of Student Success can help you through the process of choosing a career path.