Bachelor's Programs
UCF School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Overview
The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at UCF offers two undergraduate degree options: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Both programs are designed to provide students with a strong scientific foundation that leads to employment in a variety of entry-level careers in health and human services or to graduate study in speech-language pathology, audiology or related disciplines.
The master’s degree is considered the entry level for employment in most speech-language pathology positions and for the Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The clinical doctorate is the entry level for audiology.
Health Sciences II Room 101
407-823-4798 – CSD front office
[email protected]
Advising
The School of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a full range of advising services, including academic and professional advisement.
Academic advisors are non-faculty, professional staff members who are knowledgeable about program requirements and university guidelines for admissions, registration, and graduation. Prior to registration for your first semester of study, the academic advisor will assist you in the academic plan of study. As you progress through your program, the academic advisor will continue to help you update your degree plan, aid in the selection of classes and advise you about graduation requirements. The advisor is available by appointment or virtual drop-in advising.
To make an appointment:
Use scheduling link to the right OR send your availability to [email protected] with preferred appointment mode (Phone call, Zoom meeting, In-person).
Include phone number if that was your choice. Appointment notice will be sent to your Knights email.
Freshman Advisor
Contact the Office of Student Academic Services at [email protected]
Advising for all other Students
Advising is offered by appointment and some days on a virtual drop-in basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for your interest in the Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders program at the University of Central Florida. We hope that some of your questions can be answered with the information provided below. For further information, contact us at [email protected].
General
A bachelor’s degree in CSD prepares students for careers in a variety of fields including healthcare, education, science, and public policy. Students engage in coursework related to speech, language and hearing development and disorders. In addition, a bachelor’s degree in CSD is the most common pathway to graduate education in speech-language pathology and/or audiology. A master’s degree is required to practice as a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and a doctoral of audiology degree (AuD) is required to practice as an audiologist.
Find more information: American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) Planning Your Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders
No; however, any student that gains undergraduate admission into UCF can declare Communication Sciences and Disorders as their major. Visit Undergraduate Admission for more information regarding admission criteria and deadlines.
No, however, the following courses are required for this major and can be taken before or after starting at UCF. Each one must be 3 credit hours with C- grade or better:
- *General Psychology
- *Developmental Psychology
- *Principles of Statistics (2000 level course)
- *Biological Science (BSC prefix)
- *Physical Science (PHY or CHM prefix)
See the Bachelor’s Programs Catalog for additional required courses for this major.
In addition to University Minimum Exit Requirements, students must achieve a minimum grade of “C-” (1.75) in all prerequisite courses, core courses, and restricted electives in the program. Students must also earn an overall minimum of 2.0 GPA in the courses used to satisfy the major.
To obtain an SLPa certification applicants must submit an application for licensure to the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Visit the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology for application requirements and processes.
Check your Knights Email frequently to ensure you are aware of important information and notices shared by the School of CSD. Follow @UCFCSD on Facebook and Twitter.
Registration And Degree Planning
Registration for courses is completed via myUCF (Student Self Serve –>Student Center). Registration dates vary per semester (mid-October for Spring & mid-March for Summer and Fall semesters) and student type (enrollment appointment viewable in Student Self Service). Reference the UCF Academic Calendar to locate date information.
View your myKnight degree audit in myUCF (Student Self Service –> Other Academic –> Dropdown Menu: Degree Audit–> myKnight Audit) and use the Pegasus Path interactive degree planning tool for course scheduling.
The degree audit is an advising tool for students and advisors to track progress toward the degree or certificate completion. Access and use your myKnight degree audit to determine which courses can be taken to satisfy the degree requirements. Click on hyperlinks within the degree audit to access lists of courses including electives and restricted electives. You can access your myKnight audit in your myUCF Student Center in the “Other Academic” dropdown box. For more information: https://undergrad.ucf.edu/as/myknight-audit/
Don’t contact the instructor.
If you are due to graduate and need to register for a full class or need to take a prerequisite concurrent with another class, then an override may be possible. Students meeting this requirement should contact their Academic Advisor during open advising hours to inquire about an override. (Please note: even if graduating, overrides into full courses for SPA 4555 or any ASL section cannot be granted)
If you are not graduating, sign-up for an available class waiting list. Continue checking for course openings. It is advisable to register for an alternate course in case the class remains closed.
If you receive an email stating, “You must DROP your _______ class in ______ semester immediately. In order to change the class to ______.” you must remove the current class from your schedule. Once all students have complied, you will be emailed again to add the class back, if it still fits your schedule.
Prior to choosing withdrawal, seek help from the instructor during his/her office hours or after class. If you choose to withdraw from a course, you will receive a “W” grade. You may repeat the course; however, the “W” grade will remain. Always check with Student Financial Assistance and Student Housing regarding the impact of your withdrawal (e.g. scholarships, financial aid, etc.). Withdrawing may impact your insurance rates (car or health). Check with those companies directly. You may not individually withdraw from lectures or labs that are combined as they are co-requisites.
Submit “Intent to Graduate” through myUCF. When you have registered in all other courses needed on your degree audit, you will be emailed the following month with instructions on how to register for SPA 4870- Capstone.
CSD Academic Advisors can assist you with specific needs and concerns. Also, view the CSD Advising FAQ for further information.
Advising
Check your Knights Email frequently to ensure you are aware of important information and notices shared by the CSD Advising via [email protected] and follow @UCFCSD on Facebook and Twitter.
Visit Grade Forgiveness at the Registrar’s Office for specific details on grade forgiveness.
Non-degree seeking students should connect with the graduate program advisor on the first day of the semester, even though requesting undergraduate level courses.
Scholarships
CSD has several scholarships available to both undergraduate and graduate students each year. The scholarship cycle typically runs during the Spring semester. Students can apply using the UCF Academic Works/Access to Opportunities (A2O) website.
After the general application is completed, you will be matched with scholarships for which you immediately qualify. No further action is required for application to those scholarships.
External (outside of UCF) scholarships are also available to students seeking financial support. The CSD Scholarship Committee is committed to sending announcements to our students so that each of you are aware of potential funding opportunities.
Related Experiences
No other activities are required; however, participation in undergraduate research and extracurricular activities (e.g. relevant organization memberships, leadership experience, volunteerism, shadowing professionals) are encouraged. View notes in Pegasus Path for additional recommendations and suggestions.
Many community organizations serve individuals with communication sciences and disorders provide opportunities for undergraduate students to gain valuable related experiences. Consider contacting organizations and activities that interest you to engage in volunteerism, membership, leadership roles, and shadowing of professionals. These could include:
- Local Public, Private or Charter Schools
- Local Hospitals, Outpatient Clinics, and other Healthcare Agencies
- Special Needs and Disability Organizations
- Speech-Language and Hearing Organizations (e.g. UCF NSSLHA)
- Registered Student Organizations and Clubs
Research
No; however, participation in undergraduate research prepares you for post-graduation plans. Valuable resources for students interested in research opportunities include:
Review the Office of Undergraduate Research’s checklist for important considerations when participating in undergraduate research.
Preparing For Graduate School
Visit the Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders website to learn about the graduate program.
The CSD Accelerated BA/BS to MA Track enables highly qualified UCF undergraduate majors to participate in CSD graduate coursework while completing their bachelor’s degree. Those interested in the Accelerated Track must submit an application for acceptance into the program. Once students complete the Accelerated BA/BS Track, they must apply and be admitted to the master’s degree program and follow a prescribed sequence of academic and clinical courses. https://www.ucf.edu/degree/communication-sciences-and-disorders-ma/accelerated-ba-bs-to-ma/
Letters of recommendations are best gained from individuals with whom you have a positive rapport. Create rapport with your instructors, and other individuals, through active participation, regular correspondence, and demonstration of exemplary work. Formally request letters of recommendation with ample notice via email, phone call, or in person and provide all relevant information the individual requests.