Communication Sciences and Disorders

The study of Communication Sciences and Disorders involves the examination of human communication, its development and disorders. The ability to communicate may be our most distinctive characteristic as a species. Human communication is essential to learning, work and social interaction. Communication disorders affect the way people talk and understand. These disorders range from simple sound substitutions to total impairment of the ability to use language. Impaired communication can affect every aspect of a person’s life. Students who study communication sciences acquire a broad general background relevant to careers or graduate study in such fields as speech-language pathology, audiology, education, and health care.

The undergraduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Maine provides a general education in speech, language, and hearing sciences. In addition it prepares students for graduate study in a variety of fields and equips majors with pre-professional competencies that should enable them to undertake master’s study recommended for entrance to the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology. The Master’s program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Maine is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Majors must complete three credits in mathematics or statistics, three credits in the biological/physical sciences, six credits in the behavioral and/or social sciences, fifteen credits in basic normal communication processes and nine credits in non-departmental cognate areas including PSY 100. A list of acceptable courses is available from the Department. Students taking department courses to satisfy requirements within the Communication Sciences and Disorders major must have a C (2.0) or better in each course.

Students also are required to complete nine semester credits in the following areas (at least one course in two of the three areas):

1. Statistics and computer science,
2. Writing, and
3. Language and critical thinking

These nine credits help students develop useful tools for studying communication behaviors. A list of specific courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement is available at the department office in Dunn Hall, Room 336.

All students in Communication Sciences and Disorders are expected to take advantage of the laboratory and service opportunities provided through the department’s scientific laboratories as well as through the Conley Speech and Hearing Center. The scientific laboratories provide opportunities for research under faculty supervision, and the Conley Speech and Hearing Center provides training opportunities for those preparing for careers as speech-language clinicians and provides services for persons who are speech, language, or hearing impaired.