Postbaccalaureate curriculum in communication sciences and disorders
Wayne State's postbaccalaureate curriculum in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) is a non-degree/certificate path for students interested in speech-language pathology or audiology, who currently hold a four-year degree in some field, but do not have their undergraduate degree in the discipline. These students are interested in obtaining their master's degree but need additional coursework before applying to our graduate program.
This curriculum offers the opportunity for students who have a degree in a field other than communication sciences and disorders to complete the academic requirements needed to apply for admission to an M.A. or Au.D. graduate program at Wayne State or another institution.
Important: Completing the CSD postbaccalaureate curriculum does not lead to a second bachelor's degree or certificate and does not guarantee admission to WSU's M.A.-SLP or Au.D. program.
Postbaccalaureate curriculum in communication sciences and disorders requirements
Post-bachelor courses are not required for students applying only to the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program.
- ASHA general education
Students who plan to pursue an M.A. in speech-language pathology or doctor of audiology (Au.D.) degree and the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) or Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) must complete undergraduate general education courses that meet the ASHA requirements below.
Only courses appearing on the student's official transcript will be counted as meeting ASHA requirements.
- College mathematics: Three semester hours (STA 1020 or equivalent required for WSU graduate programs)
- Biological sciences: Three semester hours
- Physical sciences: Three semester hours
- Behavioral-social sciences: Six semester hours
- Au.D. postbaccalaureate pre-requisite coursework
The Au.D. program requires a bachelor's degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0. Currently the department does not require any specific prerequisite courses to qualify for the AuD program.
- Au.D. advanced coursework
The Au.D. program requires a bachelor's degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0. Currently the department does not require any specific prerequisite courses to qualify for the AuD program.
- SLP pre-requisite foundational coursework
Course Title Credits Semesters offered SLP 5080 Phonetics 3 Fall, winter SLP 5090 Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech Mechanism 3 Fall, spring/summer SLP 5300 Introduction to Speech-Language Pathology 3 Fall, winter AUD 5400 Introduction to Audiology 3 Fall, winter SLP 5320 Normal Language Acquisition 3 Fall, winter - SLP pre-requisite advanced coursework
Departmental permission is required to register for advanced coursework. To be granted permission to register for advanced coursework, bachelor and post-bachelor program students must have successfully completed all foundational coursework above (SLP 5080, SLP 5090, SLP 5300, SLP 5320, AUD 5400).
Course Title Credits Semesters offered SLP 5120 Speech Science 3 Fall, winter SLP 5310 Clinical Methods 3 Fall, winter, spring/summer AUD 5420 Aural Rehabilitation 3 Winter, spring/summer SLP 6460 Language and Phonological Disorders 3 Fall, winter SLP 6480 Organic Disorders 3 Fall, winter
Coursework
For inquiries related to non-degree coursework, please contact Dana Johns (dana.johns@wayne.edu).
Entry-level degrees for clinical practice
To be employed as a certified speech-language pathologist or audiologist in any work setting, students must obtain a graduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology:
- The master of arts degree with a major in speech-language pathology is the entry-level degree that is required for clinical practice as a speech-language pathologist
- The doctor of audiology degree is the entry-level degree that is required for clinical practice as an audiologist
All places in these graduate programs are filled on a competitive basis. However, the department's postbaccalaureate coursework will provide students with the academic prerequisites to apply to other graduate programs in Michigan and nationwide. See ASHA's EdFind service for a complete listing of programs offering degrees in audiology and speech-language pathology.