Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

SLPs are health care professionals who provide intervention, diagnostic, and therapeutic services to children and adults having a communication disability such as a speech and/or language disorder. SLPs are employed by school systems, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practices, and numerous other health-related systems. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) provides more information for prospective students on their Web site.

Audiologists are health care professionals who provide intervention, diagnostic, and therapeutic services to children and adults having a hearing disability. Audiologists are employed in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practices, and in numerous other health related systems. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) provides more information for prospective students on their Web site. The American Academy of Audiology (AAA) also provides information on their website concerning careers in audiology.

The requirements for a SLP include an undergraduate and graduate degree (master’s) in CSD, a paid work experience called a Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) following the master’s degree, and passing a national examination. Once these requirements are completed, an individual is eligible for a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in SLP issued by ASHA and a state license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology. The master’s degree must be obtained from a graduate program accredited by ASHA to obtain a CCC. If a student does not have an undergraduate degree in CSD, the master’s degree program is typically three rather than two years.

Currently, an audiologist must have a doctoral degree (Au.D.). The Au.D. will require 75 semester hours of post-baccalaureate credit hours and becomes effective for persons who apply for ASHA certification after December 31, 2006. The requirement for an Au.D. is necessary for persons who apply for ASHA certification after December 31, 2001.

One of the best sources is the internet. The search engine key words would include speech pathology, language pathology, audiology, and speech-language pathology. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national association responsible for many aspects of the profession including certification, public awareness, governmental issues, developing guidelines for practice, publications, and setting standards for the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology. The American Academy of Audiology (AAA) is a professional organization devoted to the profession of audiology. AAA develops guidelines for scope of practice, public awareness, governmental issues, and practice policies for audiologists.

SLP and Audiology are both listed in the top ten health care professions in the United States. The job market for both SLPs and audiologists has been holding steady for the last ten years and is expected to increase over the next five years, especially as the baby boomer generation continues to retire.

Opportunities should be particularly favorable for those with an ability to speak a second language, such as Spanish.

The median annual earnings for speech-language pathologists was $79,770 in May of 2017 according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The median annual earnings for audiologists was $80,040 in May of 2017 according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The job market is more limited for someone with only a bachelor’s degree. This occurs because people with only a bachelor’s degree do not have sufficient academic or clinical training.

A master’s degree in CSD is the minimal entry-level degree to work as a SLP, and a doctoral degree (Au.D. or Ph.D.) is required to work as an audiologist in the profession because every state requires that SLPs and audiologists be licensed to practice.

Among other things, the requirements for licensure include a master’s degree. Students thinking about a career as a SLP must be prepared to obtain a master’s degree in CSD. Students thinking about a career in audiology must be prepared to obtain a doctoral degree in audiology.

Students with a bachelor's degree in CSD and who are searching for employment opportunities should consult the list of alternative careers with a CSD degree.

Further information about the CSD undergraduate program can be found on the CSD Web site, or by contacting a CSD Academic Adviser.

The major requires a minimum of 120 credits, including 45 credits for General Education and 54 credits of course work in the CSD major. Students can finish the degree requirements in four years (eight semesters, no summer sessions) by taking 15–16 credits per semester.

Students wishing to explore CSD as a possible major should consider taking one or more of the following courses:

1. CSD 146 (US, IL) - Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders (3 cr)
2. CSD 230 - Introduction to Audiology (3 cr)
3. CSD 269 (GS; US, IL) - Deaf Culture (3 cr)

Students can declare CSD as their major using Update Academics in LionPATH after they have completed 29.1 credits. Typically, this is after the spring semester of their first year.

Students who declare CSD as their major after their fifth semester and have not taken any CSD courses typically will not be able to finish the major in four years and may need to extend their time to complete the degree.

Students should relocate to the University Park or Harrisburg campus by the beginning of fall semester of their third year.

If a student relocates in the fall semester of their third year, they must have already earned at least 58 credits in order to graduate in four years. Students at campuses other than University Park or Harrisburg should take as many General Education requirement courses as possible at their campus and are encouraged to work with the appropriate adviser at their intended campus, University Park or Harrisburg, to determine which courses should be taken in preparation for the CSD degree.

Students must have regular meetings with their adviser to develop their course schedule. Since several CSD courses have to be taken in a sequence and several CSD courses have prerequisites, it is possible that a student’s entire academic plan can be determined at the first meeting with their adviser. However, students are responsible for meeting with their adviser at least once per semester to review their work and develop course schedules.

Prescribed courses in the major are those courses that each student must take. The CSD major has 14 prescribed courses. Students must also take additional courses; however, students can select a course within each topic area. The CSD major has four topic areas (statistics, learning theory, child development, and family development). Consequently, students are required to take four additional courses; that is, one from each topic area.

Yes. Several CSD courses have to be taken in a sequential order. This occurs because several CSD 300-level courses are prerequisites for CSD 400-level courses. See the Student Advising Resources for information on appropriate course sequencing.

No. CSD instructors can ask you to leave the class if you do not have the prerequisite course(s).

Students should select their electives with the advice of their adviser. With careful planning, many students utilize elective credits to complete a minor in an area of interest. The more courses that a student has in physical and natural sciences, biology, and genetics, the better off they will be when applying to graduate school.

For a listing of recommended courses, see the Courses page.

The CSD major can be completed at University Park or Penn State Harrisburg. These are the only campuses where the full curriculum of the CSD major is offered.

• CSD 100 (optional GHW; US) is offered through the World Campus every fall, spring and summer semester.
• CSD 146 (required for the major) is occasionally offered at select Commonwealth campuses.
• CSD 218 (optional elective in American Sign Language) is occasionally offered at select Commonwealth campuses.
• CSD 269 (required for the major; GS; US, IL) is offered through the World Campus every fall, spring and summer semester. 

Some CSD courses may be offered. Students should check with their adviser concerning summer course offerings during the middle of spring semester. Students can also check the list of courses given by the department for any semester or summer session by going to the Registrar’s Web site, www.registrar.psu.edu. It should be noted that summer courses can be canceled at the last minute because of low enrollment.

Yes. This is a common practice called “double-dipping” or “double-counting.” For example, PSYCH 100 counts as a Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Science, as well as a prescribed course in the CSD major. HDFS 129 or PSYCH 212 counts as a Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Science as well as an additional course in the CSD major. EDPSY 101 or STAT 200 counts as a Gen Ed Quantification as well as an additional course in the CSD major.

It should be noted that even though one course can be used to complete two requirements, students do not receive double the credits for the course. Every time that one course counts for two requirements (“double-dipping”), the number of elective credits will increase by the number of credits of the “double-dipped” course.

No. Typically, CSD majors take BISC 2 or BISC 4, a Physical Science, and another Natural Science course to fulfill the GN-Natural Science Gen Ed requirement.

For certification, ASHA requires one human biological science (BIOL or BISC) and one physical science (PHYS or CHEM), so students should select courses from these areas. However, CSD students are strongly encouraged to take as many science courses as possible, especially in the area of human biology, anatomy, and physics. Additionally, some SLP and Au.D. graduate programs do require a science laboratory course, so students should research those programs ahead of time.

University policy requires that each department must designate several courses in its major as "C or better" courses. The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has decided that all prescribed CSD courses are "C or better." This means that any CSD course in which a student earns a D or F must be repeated.

Students who receive a D or F in a prescribed CSD course must repeat the course to earn a grade of C or better. All prescribed CSD courses are "C or better." If the student retakes the course and obtains a C or better grade, the credits earned for retaking the course will be applied to the students GPA and the number of credits needed for graduation; however, the credits obtained the first time the course was taken will not count towards the number of credits needed for graduation. This occurs because the same course was taken twice and the Penn State duplicate course rule applies. Further, the first grade and the retake grade will not be averaged into one grade. Each grade will appear on the student’s transcript. If a CSD major receives a grade of F, D, or even a C in a CSD course, it should serve as a very strong warning that the student’s overall GPA and GPA in the major might not be high enough to meet graduate school requirements.

If you have concerns about a grade in a CSD course, contact the instructor of that course immediately. If a resolution cannot be made, please refer to the published Grade Mediation Procedure.

No. CSD majors do not have to complete credits of course work within the College of Health and Human Development that are not CSD courses. However, students typically take HDFS 129 and 229 to complete additional requirements for the major.

Yes. Taking CSD 459 fulfills this University requirement.

Typically, all prescribed CSD courses are offered every spring and fall semester. There are occasionally some exceptions, however, so it is up to you to contact a CSD academic adviser.

A minor is not necessary, but it can be very helpful. About 15–20 percent of CSD undergraduates obtain a minor in areas such as Human Development and Family Studies, Disability Studies, Rehabilitation and Human Services, Gerontology, Psychology, Special Education, Health Policy and Administration, Spanish, or another area of interest.

Students interested in obtaining a minor should meet with their CSD adviser as soon as possible to make sure that they have enough elective credits that can be used to complete a minor. Typically, minors require 18 credits in the minor area, where 6 of the 18 credits must be in 400-level courses. A listing of minors can be accessed in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Yes. However, students must plan well in advance and consult with their CSD adviser beforehand. Within the CSD program, students can study abroad during any summer session, fall semester, or spring semester after their freshman year. Students typically take some of their General Education, elective, or minor courses during their study abroad experience.

Yes. The Department has a policy concerning the rules and procedures for transferring any course(s) taken at another university into the CSD major. These rules and regulations must be followed. Students should meet with their adviser prior to taking a course at another university to see if it will transfer into the CSD major.

Yes. Students should meet with their academic adviser to be sure that the General Education course they wish to transfer will be accepted by Penn State. Students can also look up a potential credit transfer by accessing the Penn State Transfer Credit Tool.

Once the courses(s) is completed, students should request an official transcript from the institution(s) offering the course(s), and send that official transcript to:

Undergraduate Admissions Office
The Pennsylvania State University
201 Shields Building
University Park, PA 16802

Yes. The more you know about the profession and observe the work of SLPs and audiologists the better. However, undergraduate students cannot obtain an internship to practice speech-language therapy or audiology since it is against the law without certification and licensure.

ASHA requires 25 documented shadowing hours with an ASHA-certified speech pathologist or audiologist for admission into graduate school. Accumulation of these hours can only begin after a student has enrolled in CSD 146. See the Clinical Observation Guidelines.

Volunteer work of any type is very good to list on a résumé when applying for graduate school.

Yes. The CSD faculty strongly encourages students to visit with them during their office hours. Several CSD faculty allow students to serve as teaching assistants and/or complete an independent study with their ongoing research projects.

The latest degree audits and other information are available on LionPath.

Yes. NSSLHA members have monthly meetings concerning topics in CSD, can receive ASHA journals at a very reduced cost, and are entitled to a reduced ASHA membership fee. Also, this is a very good way to meet students already in the major. For more information contact Eileen Kowalski (814-863-3118; emk15@psu.edu), or Kelly Webb (814-863-3115; kdw5@psu.edu)

Yes. The PSSLO has regular meetings and welcomes all students, regardless of sign language ability. Joining the PSSLO is a very good idea for students who want to work with the hearing impaired and deaf. Further, this is a good way to meet students in different majors who have an interest in sign language. For more information contact Sommar Chilton (814-865-6110; sah152@psu.edu).

Yes. The Penn State Audiology Club is a student organization that brings people with a passion for helping the deaf and hard-of-hearing together. This organization has offered many opportunities for its members to get involved in the field of audiology. For more information contact Dr. Leslie Purcell (814-865-0797; lxp80@psu.edu).

Yes. The CSD Journal Club meets monthly to read and discuss current research in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology. Each meeting is organized by a theme and 2-3 student volunteers present a research article of their choice. All attendees are asked to read and critique the articles prior to the meeting. At least one professor from the CSD department will attend to help facilitate discussion. Come learn how to read, critique, and discuss current issues in our field as well as to gain valuable research experience. For more infomation, please contact Nicole Etter (814-863-2021, nme2@psu.edu).

Yes. At the end of each semester, students must constantly evaluate their overall GPA and GPA within the CSD major. This occurs because entrance into graduate school is very competitive and GPAs are a major criteria used by graduate schools.

As a general rule, the higher the GPA, the more likely it is that a student will be admitted to a graduate school. Students with a GPA of less than 3.5 or those who have received a C or C+ in CSD courses must be realistic in their expectations for grade improvement and chances of getting into a graduate school, and are strongly encouraged to talk with their academic adviser.

No. CSD undergraduate students graduating with a bachelor of science degree are not eligible for a Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) teaching certificate. The only students recommended for a PDE teaching certificate are those who have completed the CSD master’s degree program and several other requirements. If an undergraduate student wants to be a public school SLP following their master’s degree, they should consider taking the following courses as electives: CI 280, SPLED 400 and 403A/B, and HDFS 129 and 229.

The best source is a ASHA EdFind devoted to listing ASHA-accredited graduate programs.

Every graduate program has their own requirements. Students should research admission materials for any graduate program they may plan to attend, read the materials very carefully, and determine if they meet or exceed the admission requirements before applying.

As a general rule, most graduate programs require at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, a 3.0 GPA in the major, and/or a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 credits taken (some graduate schools require a GPA of at least 3.2–3.5). Most graduate schools also require Graduate Record Examination scores greater than the fiftieth percentile on the verbal and quantitative sections and a 4 or above on the writing section, excellent letters of recommendation, and a well-written, strong personal statement or cover letter. Even though a student may have credentials that meet or exceed the requirements of a graduate program, this will not ensure acceptance by that graduate program.

Students should talk to their adviser and several CSD faculty members to get their input. U.S. News and World Report also ranks graduate schools.

Information about the CSD graduate program can be found on our website.

Typically, students look up information from several schools during the spring and summer prior to their senior year. Students then decide on which graduate programs they are going to apply to and start the application process during the fall semester of their senior year. Typically, all applications are completed by the end of fall semester (though by the beginning of Thanksgiving break is strongly recommended), which is well in advance of most graduate programs’ due dates.

Typically, students can get an online GRE Information Bulletin or hard copy from the information booth in Kern Building or at the Career Center located in the Bank of America Career Services Center. The bulletin lists test dates and other information about the GRE. Students should select test dates so that, if necessary, they can re-take the GRE if they are not satisfied with their scores. For instance, we typically recommend that CSD undergraduates take the GRE for the first time during the summer between their sophomore and junior years, and for a second time during the summer between their junior and senior years. The GRE is a very important requirement for many graduate programs. Thus, it is strongly recommended that students use GRE study guides and/or take advantage of a GRE class or tutor prior to taking the GRE.

Yes, provided students meet the admission requirements and have credentials that are equal to or exceed applicants from other undergraduate programs.

The undergraduate program in CSD well prepares students for admission to graduate programs. Over the past 3 years, 96% of our students applying to graduate school were accepted.

An undergraduate degree in CSD is a solid foundation for graduate work in other areas including education, special education, counseling, social work, health and human development, vocational rehabilitation, health policy and administration, etc. Further, if a student does not get accepted into a graduate school in CSD, they might wish to sit out a year, take more undergraduate courses to improve their GPA, earn continuing education units, re-take the GRE, and/or work in a CSD-related field, then re-apply to graduate schools in CSD or a related profession. Students should also consult the Alternative CSD Career List.