Communication Sciences and Disorders

The School of Health Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, as well as a post baccalaureate certificate in the Speech, Language & Pathology Assistant program. These programs prepare students for graduate work in speech-language pathology or audiology. Speech-language pathology is the study of disorders of communication and swallowing, including their characteristics, assessment, and treatment. Audiology is the study of disorders of hearing and balance, including the evaluation and rehabilitation of individuals with hearing problems.

The bachelor’s degree program provides a broad scientific base for the understanding of normal development of the basic human communication and swallowing process. The undergraduate program provides an introduction to the study of disorders of communication and swallowing, including their characteristics, evaluation and treatment.

The bachelor’s degree program in communication sciences and disorders meets the guidelines of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as appropriate for an undergraduate program. However, to be eligible for ASHA certification, students must earn a graduate degree from an accredited program. The Master of Science program in speech-language pathology at Rockhurst University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. 

For a list of current certification requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, see Certification Requirements for graduates in the CSD Masters program . View upcoming certification changes: Crosswalk of certification requirement changes in 2020 .

Students are required to earn a grade of C or better in all CSD undergraduate courses (a grade of C- will not satisfy the requirement). Students are encouraged to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the major as well as an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, as most graduate programs require a minimum GPA of 3.0 for admission.

Freshman Pre-Admission into the graduate program

Exceptional students may be awarded a freshman pre-admission status based on a combination of ACT or SAT scores, high school grades, and ability to complete the essential functions of the program. Once admitted, students must fulfill specific requirements for maintaining pre-admission status. Students will complete their graduate school application to the CSD program according to published deadlines. Contact the department for additional information regading the Freshman Pre-Admission program.

CSD Graduate Scholars Program

Rockhurst undergraduate students with outstanding academic work may apply for advanced graduate admission status through the CSD Graduate Scholars Program. To apply for acceptance into the CSD Graduate Scholars Program, students complete the application for admission by the published deadline. If admitted, students must fulfill specific requirements for maintaining CSD Graduate Scholar status. Please contact the CSD Department for more information.

Admission to the Graduate Program

The CSD Graduate Program accommodates multiple points of acceptance for interested students. For the Rockhurst undergraduate CSD major, these include Freshman Pre-Admission, the CSD Graduate Scholars Program, and regular acceptance during the final year of undergraduate coursework.