Communication Sciences and Disorders is the profession devoted to helping people overcome disabilities of speech, language and hearing. The study of communication sciences and disorders may begin in the freshman or sophomore year. Students learn about speech, language, and hearing disorders through a combination of classroom instruction and observations in the campus clinic and elsewhere. Candidates for bachelors degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders must satisfy all departmental as well as University general education/Discovery and Writing Intensive requirements.

Students are advised to continue their professional education at colleges or universities offering graduate programs, since the minimal entry degree for practicing speech-language pathologists (SLPs) is a masters degree.  A doctoral degree is required for students wishing to pursue careers in audiology. Both of these career tracks lead to eventual certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 

Students should take note that admission to graduate programs across the USA is highly competitive, with many programs requiring cumulative grade point averages (GPA) of 3.50 or higher, along with satisfactory scores on the GRE exam, in order for students to be considered for admission.  UNH students do not receive preferential consideration for admission to the UNH graduate program.

Required Courses
COMM 520, Survey of Communication Disorders
COMM 521, Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
COMM 522, The Acquisition of Language
COMM 524, Clinical Phonetics
COMM 630, Organic Pathologies
COMM 631, Articulation and Language Disorders in Children
COMM 635, Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology
COMM 704, Basic Audiology

COMM 705, Introduction to Auditory Perception and Aural Rehabilitation 

COMM 777, Speech and Hearing Science

KIN    706, Neurology

A course in Statistics

15 Observation Hours

Department Electives
COMM 401, Elementary American Sign Language
COMM 536, Introduction to Deaf Studies
COMM 402, Intermediate Sign Language

COMM 575, Have you Heard? The Fundamentals of Hearing and Hearing Loss
COMM 734, American Sign Language III
COMM 735, American Sign Language IV

COMM 736, Clinical Assistant

COMM 738, Linguistics of American Sign Language

COMM 740, Treatment of Adults with Acquired Brain Injury 

COMM 798, Special Topics