Education - Communication Disorders
The undergraduate degree in communication disorders provides the fundamental, prerequisite knowledge necessary for pursuing a graduate degree. Entry for practice in the field of communication disorders is an Au.D. for Audiology and a M.S. for speech-language pathology.
Other Information
Majors in communication disorders must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. No courses taken on a Credit/No Credit basis will be accepted for the purpose of fulfilling any of the required content, professional, or major speech-language pathology coursework. A minimum grade of "C" must be earned in all professional courses is required for the Bachelors in Communication Disorders program. All grades of incomplete and any new grades below "C" in these specific requirements must be removed. Candidates are responsible for contacting their academic advisor.
The undergraduate degree in communication disorders is a pre-professional degree which does not lead to a certificate or license. A doctorate degree is required for entry into the field of audiology. A master’s degree is required for entry into the field of speech-language pathology. Completion of the UNO undergraduate communication disorders program does not guarantee admission to the UNO speech-language pathology graduate program.
Communication Disorders
For students pursuing the Communication Disorders major, no application is required. To continue with Communication Disorders (CDIS) courses, students must maintain a 3.0 NU GPA or higher. The Praxis Core is required for the Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Application.
Early Admission to the Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Program via FAST track
CDIS undergraduates are able to apply for early admission to the UNO SLP graduate program. Interested candidates must meet the application requirements below:
- Apply March of Junior Year
- Application (minimum of 3.5 undergraduate GPA to apply)
i. Resume
ii. Statement of Purpose: Please include the following in your response: Your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in speech-language pathology; your preparation for this field of study; your viewpoint on the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of speech-language pathology; your academic plans or research interests; and why would UNO be a good intellectual fit for you?
iii. Transcripts (unofficial)
iv. Praxis Core (passing scores)
If selected, then applicants are eligible to enroll in a FAST track program. Applicants must meet or exceed minimum requirements throughout their senior year to be fully accepted into the graduate program at UNO.
Fast Track Program
The Communication Disorders Program has developed a Fast Track program for highly qualified and motivated students, thus providing an opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree while accruing graduate hours. Selected students may count six (6) graduate credit hours towards the completion of their undergraduate program as well as the graduate degree program. Students will work with both undergraduate and graduate advisors to set up a fast-track plan once accepted through early admission into the speech-language pathology (SLP) graduate program.
Program Specifics:
- This program is available for undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders desiring to pursue a master’s degree in speech-language pathology (SLP).
- Students must submit an application and be accepted into the early admission SLP graduate cohort.
- Students must be completing their junior year and have accrued at least 60 undergraduate credit hours. Students must have successfully completed the following courses: CSD 2550 (4550), CDIS 2420 (4420), CDIS 2380 (4480), CDIS 3390 (4490), CDIS 3450 (4450), CDIS 3460 (4460), CDIS 3370 (4370), chemistry or physics, biology, and statistics.
- Students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5.
- Students must complete the Fast Track Approval form and obtain all signatures and submit to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to first enrollment in a graduate course
- Students will work with their undergraduate advisor to register for the graduate courses (for a total of six [6] graduate credit hours).
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for the graduate coursework to remain in good standing.
- Students remain undergraduates until they meet all the requirements for the undergraduate degree and are eligible for all the rights and privileges granted undergraduate status including financial aid.
- Formal application to the graduate program in required by January 15 of the student’s senior year. The application fee will be waived. The applicant must contact the Office of Graduate Studies for a fee waiver code.
- Fast Track/Early Admission Candidates must successfully complete their undergraduate BS degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and all graduate courses with a 3.0 or better, be in good standing, and complete formal graduate admission application to be fully admitted into the speech-language pathology graduate program.
- The official admit term must be after the completion term of the undergraduate degree.
Fast Track Courses:
Fall of senior year:
- CDIS 8200 (2.0) Advanced Study of Pediatric Speech-Sound Disorders
- CDIS 8560 (2.0) Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Spring of senior year:
- CDIS 8500 (2.0) Basic Clinical Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology
Contact
- Office of Academic Advising and Field Experiences, Certification
- 204 Roskens Hall
- 402.554.2717
- unocoeadvising@unomaha.edu
- Dr. Shari DeVeney, Graduate Program Chair (GPC)
- 512 Roskens Hall
- 402.554.2993
- sdeveney@unomaha.edu
- Website
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Content Coursework | ||
| Candidates in communication disorders must take the following content coursework: | ||
| PSYC 1010 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I | 3 |
| PSYC 1020 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY II | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-5 | |
| PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY | ||
| BIOLOGY I | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| GENERAL PHYSICS I | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS | ||
| FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES | ||
| STATISTICAL METHODS I | ||
| Communication Disorders majors must take the following courses: | ||
| PSYC 2500 | LIFESPAN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| TED 2100 | EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS | 3 |
| CDIS 2550 | CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN SERVICE DELIVERY | 3 |
| CDIS 1400 | INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION DISORDERS | 3 |
| SPED 1500 | INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
| CDIS 2380 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SPEECH MECHANISM | 3 |
| CDIS 2420 | EARLY LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN | 3 |
| CDIS 3390 | HEARING SCIENCE | 3 |
| CDIS 3450 | PHONETICS | 3 |
| CDIS 3460 | SCHOOL AGE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| CDIS 3200 | WRITING FOR THE PROFESSION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY | 3 |
| CDIS 3430 | ARTICULATION AND PHONOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 3 |
| CDIS 4750 | INTRODUCTION TO CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE DISORDERS | 3 |
| CDIS 4480 | RESEARCH METHODS IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS | 3 |
| CDIS 4490 | INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES | 3 |
| CDIS 4500 | PRINCIPLES OF ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION | 3 |
| CDIS 3330 | AURAL REHABILITATION | 3 |
| CDIS 3370 | BASIC AUDIOLOGY | 3 |
| CDIS 4470 | NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE | 3 |
| Elective Coursework | ||
| Any related elective coursework must have adviser approval. 1 | 6-9 | |
| ACCOUNTING BASICS FOR NON-BUSINESS MAJORS | ||
| FOUNDATIONS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | ||
| ENTREPRENEURIAL FOUNDATIONS | ||
| BASIC CLINICAL PRACTICUM IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY | ||
| DEATH AND DYING | ||
| ISSUES IN AGING | ||
| HEALTH ASPECTS OF AGING | ||
| EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| CHILD PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| LEARNING | ||
| PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL TESTING | ||
| EQUITY, LANGUAGE, AND CULTURAL LITERACY | ||
| DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP | ||
| TEACHING AND LEARNING IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS | ||
| AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I and AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I LAB | ||
| AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II and AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II LAB | ||
| DEAF STUDIES | ||
| AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE III and AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE III LAB | ||
| AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE V and AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE V LAB | ||
| READING AND WRITING INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES | ||
| BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS | ||
| Total Credits | 79-85 | |
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENGL 1150 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| CMST 1110 | PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS | 3 |
| MATH 1300 | COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT | 4 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| Attend welcome events; other campus events | ||
| Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Join student group for major: NSSLHA | ||
| Note: ENGL 1150, ENGL 1160, CMST 1110 or 2120, and approved math (Quantitative Literacy) course should be taken and passed in the first academic year | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1160 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| PSYC 1010 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I | 3 |
| SPED 1500 | INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION | 3 |
| BIOL 1020 | PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY or ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY or BIOLOGY I | 4 |
| Global Diversity | 3 | |
| Advising appointment for fall: February – March | ||
| By end of freshman year establish NU GPA of 3.0 or higher. Graduate programs look for a GPA of a 3.7+ | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Summer | ||
| Humanities & Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| CDIS 1400 | INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION DISORDERS | 3 |
| TED 2100 | EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS | 3 |
| CHEM 1140 & 1140 | FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY or INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS or GENERAL PHYSICS I | 4-5 |
| PSYC 1020 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY II | 3 |
| Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Gain employment or volunteer work with populations that would use SLP services – the elderly, children, youth, individuals with disabilities, etc. | ||
| Must have NU GPA of 3.0 by end of first semester of sophomore year. | ||
| Credits | 13-14 | |
| Spring | ||
| CDIS 2380 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SPEECH MECHANISM | 3 |
| CDIS 2420 | EARLY LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN | 3 |
| CDIS 2550 | CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN SERVICE DELIVERY | 3 |
| PSYC 3130 | STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES | 3 |
| Advising appointment for fall: February – March | ||
| Academic goal: Establish NU GPA of 3.5 or higher. | ||
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| PSYC 2500 | LIFESPAN PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| CDIS 3390 | HEARING SCIENCE | 3 |
| CDIS 3450 | PHONETICS | 3 |
| CDIS 3460 | SCHOOL AGE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| CDIS 3370 | BASIC AUDIOLOGY | 3 |
| Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Visit Academic & Career Development Center for resume/cover letter building and editing Start thinking about graduate school options. | ||
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| CDIS 3200 | WRITING FOR THE PROFESSION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY | 3 |
| CDIS 3430 | ARTICULATION AND PHONOLOGICAL DISORDERS | 3 |
| CDIS 3330 | AURAL REHABILITATION | 3 |
| Elective to reach 120 | 3 | |
| Advising appointment for fall: February – March | ||
| Prepare to apply to graduate schools (apply to 2+ schools to increase chance of acceptance) | ||
| -Take GRE exam – if required by graduate program -Write personal statement | ||
| Update resume -Get application process organized -Letters of recommendation - ASHA EdFind | ||
| Credits | 12 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| CDIS 4470 | NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE | 3 |
| CDIS 4480 | RESEARCH METHODS IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS | 3 |
| CDIS 4490 | INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES | 3 |
| CDIS Approved Related Elective #1 of 2 or CDIS 4510 Clinic, if accepted | 3 | |
| Elective to reach 120 or other degree required course | 3 | |
| Advising appointment for spring: Sept. - Oct. | ||
| Submit app for CDIS 4510 Clinic by October 1st (for spring class) | ||
| Prepare to submit graduate school applications by December or prior to university deadline. Ask for letters of recommendation in October. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CDIS Approved Related Elective #2 of 2 or CDIS 4510 Clinic, if accepted | 3 | |
| Elective to reach 120 or other degree required course | 3 | |
| CDIS 4500 | PRINCIPLES OF ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION | 3 |
| CDIS 4750 | INTRODUCTION TO CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE DISORDERS | 3 |
| Prepare to graduate and start a graduate program in the fall; apply for graduation by deadline | ||
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120-121 | |
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
This plan is not a contract and curriculum is subject to change
Additional Information About this Plan:
University Degree Requirements:
The minimum number of hours for a UNO undergraduate degree is 120 credit hours. Please review the requirements for your specific program to determine all requirements for the program. In order to graduate on-time (four years for an undergraduate degree), you need to take 30 hours each year. Information based on 2023-2024 University of Nebraska at Omaha undergraduate catalog.
Placement Exams:
For Math, English, Foreign Language, a placement exam may be required. More information on these exams can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/enrollment-management/testing-center/placement-exams/information.php
**Transfer credit or placement exam scores may change suggested plan of study
GPA Requirements: Cumulative and major 3.0 NU GPA after program admission, but those admitted to a graduate program consistently earn a GPA of at least a 3.5-3.7 or higher.