A liberal arts education is the foundation of the Department's undergraduate programs. All students who pursue degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders also meet the University's graduation requirements. Our undergraduate majors in Communication Sciences and Disorders are designed to introduce students to the scientific basis for the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology. Both a comprehensive major, meaning that it includes a major plus a minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders, as well as a standard major, which requires a separate minor are available to undergraduate students. The CSD coursework for both of these degrees is outlined in the current catalog.

Undergraduate degree programs focus on normal development and use of speech, language, and hearing as well as the nature, evaluation, and treatment of speech, language, and hearing impairments. Students engage in direct observation and participate in clinical activities, under faculty supervision, beginning in their junior year. Students pursuing a comprehensive major complete a clinical practicum in their senior year.

The Department's undergraduate programming leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. Students completing a comprehensive major in Communication Sciences and Disorders complete coursework within the department and from several other departments selected to represent a built-in minor. The comprehensive major was designed to include many courses needed for school licensure. The standard major consists of only Communication Sciences and Disorders coursework and the student must select a minor or develop a topical minor with the student's advisor. The student consults with his or her advisor to select the specific degree and the emphasis. Most of our students choose the teaching emphasis in the comprehensive major. This emphasis has most of the coursework required for a school license, granted by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Entering students will want to review the CSD First Year Advising Sheet.