COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS
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COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS MARY MCDERMOTT, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, Chairperson Speech Language Pathologists are medical professionals that prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults. The Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at Gannon University is established as a baccalaureate program that involves a theoretical and practical professional curriculum consisting of liberal core studies, introductory and advanced courses in CSD, and clinical experiences relevant to the discipline and required to achieve the baccalaureate degree in this profession. This curriculum is carefully aligned with the necessary foundation to pursue an advanced degree in speech-language pathology and audiology and licensure requirements for the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). The Communication Sciences and Disorders undergraduate program prepares students to become health care professionals and educators who provide the highest standard of evidenced-based clinical and person-centered service to a multicultural and diverse population. This undergraduate program provides an academically comprehensive curriculum that prepares students with the theoretical foundation, scientific research, and ethical issues to become compassionate clinicians, critical thinkers, and developing servant leaders. Gannon’s undergraduate 4-year Communication Sciences and Disorders curriculum follows the Liberal Studies core courses and the necessary prerequisite standard courses for admission to an accredited graduate program in speech-language pathology as qualified by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. The 3 + 2 program in Communication Sciences and Disorders/Speech-Language Pathology involves the undergraduate study of Communication Sciences and Disorders with direct admission to the Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the Ruskin campus. This track enables a student to fulfill their undergraduate Liberal Studies core courses and the prerequisite courses for direct admission into the graduate program in Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3. At the end of the spring semester in Year 4, with completion of the first two semesters of the graduate curriculum, they will have successfully acquired the necessary 128 credits to graduate with the B.S. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. With successful completion of all six semesters of the graduate curriculum, the student will achieve the Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. 4-Year Bachelor of Science Admission Requirements • Overall high school GPA of 3.0 or higher • SAT Score of 1090 or higher or ACT score of 21 or higher • Completion of math, biology, and chemistry courses in high school • Complete application 3 + 2 BS CSD/MS Speech-Language Pathology Admission Requirements • An overall high school GPA of 3.0 or higher. • SAT score of 1120 or higher with an ACT score of 24 or higher. • Minimum of one Letter of Recommendation • A demonstrated interest through personal essay or experiential education in the field of speech-language pathology. • Demonstrated proficiency in high school biology and chemistry coursework. The student’s overall GPA will be reviewed at the end of Freshman and Sophomore year. The prerequisite GPA will be reviewed at the end of the Junior year for admittance to the graduate program.