Undergraduate Certificate in Communication Sciences & Disorders
Speech-Language Pathology: One of the Nation’s Best Jobs in Health Care
This certificate program is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in speech-language pathology or audiology. Coursework provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to transition to graduate-level education or can be utilized in a variety of health care and educational settings. Speech-Language Pathology is the third-best health care job and ninth-best job, overall, in U.S. News & World Report’s 110 Best Jobs rankings.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has stated that there is a critical need for Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) professionals to meet the growing demands of our health care system, along with our schools. This certificate program creates a pathway for students interested in the speech pathology profession by providing the foundational courses needed for graduate school admissions.
Preparing for a career in SLP begins with gaining the academic preparation, clinical insight, and professional readiness required for success in the communication disorders field and beyond. As a student in our certificate program, you are invited into the heart of our program – the Shenandoah University Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic. This hands-on observation environment allows you to witness the university’s mission in motion, serving the community while providing you with the foundational clinical hours required for graduate school admission.
To earn this certificate, you must complete all 7 courses (19 credits). As part of the requirements for the SLP 406, you are required to have 25 guided observation hours under the supervision of a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. You must have a 2.5 or higher GPA and a minimum passing grade of C- is required in each course to count toward this certificate.
The CSD Undergraduate Certificate also aligns with the admission standards of the Shenandoah University Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP), should you choose to pursue a graduate degree .
| SLP 400 | Introduction to Communication Disorders |
| SLP 401 | Normal Speech and Language Development |
| SLP 402 | Speech and Hearing Anatomy & Physiology |
| SLP 403 | Audiology |
| SLP 404 | Phonetics |
| SLP 405 | Speech Science |
| SLP 406 | Clinical Observations in Communication Disorders |
Katrina Miller