Cognate: Required Non-Departmental Courses

The minimum requirements below specify college-level coursework (i.e., not AP or CLEP credit)

Required Departmental Courses (minimum 39 hours)

• SLHS 2000 - Communication Disorders and Sciences Credits: 3 hours
• SLHS 2030 - Normal Language Acquisition Credits: 3 hours
• SLHS 2040 - Phonetics Credits: 3 hours
• SLHS 2041 - Phonetics Laboratory Credits: 1 hour
• SLHS 2050 - Speech Anatomy and Physiology Credits: 3 hours
• SLHS 2051 - Speech Anatomy and Physiology Lab Credits: 1 hour
• SLHS 2060 - Hearing Science Credits: 3 hours
• SLHS 2070 - Clinical Laboratory Credits: 3 hours
• SLHS 2071 - Clinic Observation Credits: 2 hours
• SLHS 2080 - Introduction to Audiology Credits: 3 hours
• SLHS 3510 - Phonemic Disorders Credits: 2 hours
• SLHS 3540 - Language Disorders in Children Credits: 3 hours
• SLHS 4560 - Rehabilitative Audiology Credits: 3 hours
• SLHS 4590 - Neuroscience for Communication Sciences and Disorders Credits: 3 hours
• SLHS 5010 - Principles of Speech Science Credits: 3 hours

Elective options

• SLHS 4500 - Clinical Apprenticeship Credits: 2 hours
• SLHS 5530 - Stuttering and Other Fluency Disorders Credits: 2 hours
• SLHS 5801 - Pediatric Audiology Credits: 3 hours
• IPE 3050 - Study Abroad and Global Learning in Health and Human Services Credits: 1 to 6 hours

Baccalaureate-Level Writing Requirement

Students who have chosen the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences major will satisfy the Baccalaureate-Level Writing requirement by successfully completing:

• SLHS 4590 - Neuroscience for Communication Sciences and Disorders Credits: 3 hours

Examples of Academic Minors

American Sign Language Studies
Anthropology
Biological Sciences
Communications
Gerontology
Global and International Studies
Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness
Psychology
Spanish

Continuance Policies for the undergraduate major in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

1. A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 in the University to remain in the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences undergraduate program. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.8, the student will be placed on Departmental Probation and will have one semester to raise the cumulative GPA to at least 2.8.

If after a semester of Departmental Probation, a student restores the cumulative GPA to at least 2.8, the student will continue to progress in the undergraduate major. If, after a semester of Departmental Probation, a student fails to achieve at least a 2.8 cumulative GPA, the student will be dismissed from the undergraduate program. 

2. Students in the major must receive a grade of “C” or higher in each required Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences course. Students in the major may repeat one required Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences course one time to raise a grade. No more than two registrations for the same SLHS course will be permitted. If a grade lower than “C” is earned upon repeating the course, the student will be dismissed from the undergraduate program in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.
3. Transfer courses must be reviewed and approved for transfer by a department advisor. A grade of “C” or better must be earned for a course to transfer.
4. A student must maintain professional behavior as determined by the Code of Ethics of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (www.asha.org/Code-of-Ethics) and the WMU Student Conduct Code (www.wmich.edu/conduct/code). Violations of these standards shall be cause for sanctions including dismissal from the program.
5. A student who fails to meet any of the above criteria will be notified of this in writing by the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences undergraduate program coordinator.

Honors in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Students admitted to the undergraduate major who are members of the Lee Honors College and/or who meet the academic requirements listed below are eligible to join the Departmental Honors Program for undergraduate majors in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. The academic requirements include 1) completion of a minimum of 40 semester hours, and 2) a minimum university GPA of 3.5. Further information and specific requirements of the departmental honors program are available through the departmental undergraduate advisor.

Licensure and Certification

Completion of the curricular requirements, together with the completion of a master’s degree program in speech pathology or doctoral program in audiology, typically satisfies all academic and practicum requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for a Certificate of Clinical Competence in the emphasis area (speech-language pathology or audiology). In addition, as individuals, states regulate the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology, and students must consult with the state’s regulatory boards and department of education for licensure requirements.