​​​​​​​​​​​​​Program Description

One out of every 10 people has a speech, language or hearing problem. If you’re interested in helping others overcome these issues, CMU’s major in communication sciences and disorders is a perfect fit for you. As a graduate, you’ll be ready for graduate school in speech-language pathology or audiology.​​

Put Your Degree to Work

​U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sample data

Below is a list of potential careers, median salary over the course of the career and projected job growth.

JobMedian PayJob Growth through ​2026​
Speech language pathologist$76,610 per year18% (25,900 more jobs)
Audiologist$75,920 per year21% (3,100 more jobs)

For More Information

Visit the communication sciences and disorders website or contact:

CHP Student Service Center
Health Professions Building 1250
Email: chp@cmich.edu
Phone: 989-774-2315

Program Overview

The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires. For a full review of this program in detail please see our official online academic bulletin AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the General Education courses required for all majors and may not include some program specific information, such as admissions, retention, and termination standards.

(Click on the course name or number for a complete course description.)

Communication Disorders Major

Completion of this Major will provide a student with a background in Communication Disorders and a foundation for application to graduate school in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. Students will learn about the development and use of speech, language, hearing, and learn fundamentals of assessing and managing communication disorders. Students who major in Communication Disorders will complete a core of undergraduate courses and demonstrate the attributes and meet the expectations listed in the Technical Standards for CDO Major Program. Near the end of the four years of undergraduate education, students may apply for a master's degree program in speech-language pathology (SLP), or a professional doctorate degree program in audiology (Au.D.). With the exception of CDO 494, courses taken Credit/No Credit do not count toward a major.
Total: 40 semester hours Additional requirements for American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) clinical certification: 1. Completion of an accredited master’s in speech-language pathology or a doctoral degree in audiology. 2. Completion of the academic and clinical requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence as delineated on ASHA’s Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA) form. 3. A course in each of the following areas: a. Statistics b. Biology c. Physical Science, preferably Chemistry or Physics d. Social/Behavioral Sciences For details, see the Department of Communication Disorders in the Graduate Bulletin.
Required Courses
(40 hours)
CDO 278
Normal Speech Developmental/Descriptive Phonetics
3
CDO 330
Language Development
3
CDO 331
Introduction to Audiology
3
CDO 335
The Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
3
CDO 338
Introduction to Speech Sound Disorders
3
CDO 340
Child Language Assessment and Intervention
3
CDO 417
Introduction to Adult Communication Disorders
3
CDO 431
Audiologic Rehabilitation
3
CDO 439
Diagnostic and Intervention Methods in Speech Language Pathology
3
CDO 463
Introduction to Acoustic Phonetics
3
CDO 494
Mentored Practicum in Communication Disorders
4
CDO 525
Research Design in Communication Disorders
3
CDO 551
Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Clinical Focus
3