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B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Launch your communication and Sciences disorders career at Saint Xavier University

The Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Saint Xavier University consists of courses that introduce students to the anatomical, physiological, neurological, psychological, developmental, linguistic and acoustic bases of speech and language development. Students also are introduced to the nature, assessment and management of communication disorders.

In this program, students will learn the biological and physical aspects of speech, language, hearing and swallowing processes, they will develop an understanding of speech and language disorders and how they may warrant clinical intervention. Students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program participate in 25 hours of guided observation.

Why Earn Your B.A. in Communication sciences and Disorders?

A degree in communication sciences and disorder is intended for students interested in discovering the world of speech-language pathology and audiology. This degree can lead to a fulfilling career in health care and human services or serve as a stepping stone for graduate study in speech-language pathology, audiology, or related fields. Students will explore the study of typical speech, language, swallowing and hearing development as well as assessment and treatment of communication disorders.

Student Doing Activities With Adult Client With Communication Disorder

 

 

About the Program

The Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) program at Saint Xavier University offers undergraduate students the opportunity to earn a degree, select a minor, and take undergraduate courses that prepare students to enter a post-graduate program in speech-language pathology. Students who are earning a degree have the opportunity to earn clinical hours in our on-campus Ludden Speech and Language Clinic. 

Students who choose to prepare for graduate study in speech-language pathology or audiology and who demonstrate strong academic capability may be eligible for clinical practicum in the on-campus Ludden Speech and Language Clinic. This clinic serves persons of all ages with communication disorders.

Student practicum experiences are directly supervised by faculty who hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Students have the opportunity to earn treatment hours before they begin their graduate programs in speech-language pathology and benefit from these experiences.

The Communication Sciences and Disorders undergraduate program at Saint Xavier University offers several different notable opportunities for students to get experience that supercede sole in-class work, including membership into the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) and access to an on-site clinical practicum. 

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of the principles of biological and physical sciences as they apply to the development of speech, language, hearing and swallowing processes.
  • Students will examine basic human communication and swallowing processes and their normal development.
  • Students will analyze certain speech and language disorders and how these may warrant clinical intervention.
  • Students will interpret and evaluate contemporary professional issues and current research in the field of speech-language pathology.
  • Students will demonstrate competence in critical thinking and in oral and written language skills.

Saint Xavier University combines classroom learning with application-based learning to produce well-rounded graduates.

  • Students have the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and strong collaboration skills through a clinical experience at the Ludden Speech and Language Clinic.
  • Our faculty have expertise in a variety of speech and language disorders across the lifespan and create challenging courses that are interactive and student-focused.
  • Small class sizes allow for close interaction with professors and student colleagues.
  • Students will develop a habit of lifelong learning that will prepare them for the ever-changing health care profession.
  • With core values of service, integrity and excellence exemplified throughout campus, students will become more effective citizens and assets to their communities.

Academic Plan

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Speech-Language Pathology

Learn about the graduate Speech-Language Pathology Program.

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Direct Admission Policy for SXU Undergraduate Students

Direct admission to the graduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is available for students who meet specific criteria.

Criteria for direct admission include the following:

  • Senior status (90+ credit hours accumulated by the start of the fall semester of senior year) in the SXU undergraduate CSD program.
  • Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 across all coursework completed at the college/university level.
  • Achieve a minimum GPA in the major of 3.5 by the end of the junior year with all A and B grades in CSD courses.
  • During the final undergraduate year, students must continue to meet the overall and CSD GPA and grade requirements and complete CSDI 310: Clinical Methods and CSDI 355: Clinical Practicum.
  • Admission is conditional based on completion of the bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Saint Xavier University; all CSD courses must be taken at SXU.

Process for direct admission:

  • Students who wish to be admitted into the graduate program under this process need not complete an application through the Common Application System (CSDCAS) for SXU.
  • By September 21 of senior year, students will submit:
    • Faculty support form. Faculty support forms will be sent via email to students who meet the above criteria. The form must be submitted with the signatures of three full-time faculty members endorsing direct admission (in lieu of letters of recommendation).
    • Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended to the CSD undergraduate program director (this includes transcripts from SXU, and any other university or community college attended, even if those transcripts have already been sent to the University as part of an initial application).
  • Students who meet all the eligibility requirements will be sent a confirmation letter by the undergraduate program director.
  • Students who meet the eligibility criteria and wish to reserve their place in the graduate class must submit a $500 non-refundable deposit by April 15 of the final undergraduate year.

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Get Hands-On Experience

The Ludden Speech and Language Clinic serves adults and children with different communication disorders who live in and around our community. By serving nearly 200 clients per academic year, student clinicians can earn a large portion of their required clinical hours on our own campus.

Choose an Accredited Program

The academic and clinical curriculum is accredited through the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. Accreditation standards ensure a core set of skills and knowledge required for entry into independent professional practice.

Understand Communication Processes

Obtain robust foundational knowledge of the normal development of human communication processes as well as the nature, causes, evaluation, and treatment of disorders of swallowing and communication.

Get Clinical Experience

Program instruction is built for clinical work in a variety of employment settings, such as public schools, clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private practice. Clinical supervisors with diverse clinical backgrounds provide support to cultivate strengths and foster growth through direct supervision and weekly meetings.

Learn From Expert Faculty

Students learn from expert faculty passionate about the field of speech-language pathology and their students' success. 67% of CSD faculty have doctoral degrees.

Benefit From Quality curriculum

The curriculum fulfills the requirements for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to work with students with speech-language impairments in the public schools of Illinois through the Professional Educator License endorsed with the Speech-Language Pathology Non-Teaching certificate. The curriculum also fulfills the requirements for professional licensure in the state of Illinois through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

Build Confidence

Build confidence for your future career by obtaining competence in clinical diagnosis and intervention, interaction with families of individuals with communication impairments, and collaboration with other professionals for effective and efficient management of persons with complex disabilities.

Experience Diversity

Students gain experience in assessment and treatment with a diverse client population. This allows students to apply skills learned through coursework across patient populations.

Find Your Specialty

By working with patients with a variety of diagnoses and ages, students learn more about their personal strengths and interests in the different areas of speech-language pathology. This allows students to gain a better understanding of which populations they would most like to serve following graduation.

Find Employment Upon Graduation

Within one year of graduation, 100% of Saint Xavier's speech-language pathology graduates are employed.

Prepare to Pass the Praxis Exam

SXU boasts a 100% Praxis Exam pass rate among graduate speech-language pathology students who took the exam.

Get Lifelong Support

Students will be empowered to function independently as lifelong learners. Students will obtain strong community education with lifelong support to bridge the gap from graduate clinician to licensed professional.

Learn More About the Graduate Program

Graduate Program In-Person Visit Day

Find an upcoming Speech-Language Pathology In-Person Visit Day.

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Graduate Program Virtual Information Session

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Meet the Faculty

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Ernest Cherullo

Ernest Cherullo

Lecturer
Phone: 773-298-3281
Email: e.cherullo@sxu.edu

Aaron Doubet

Aaron Doubet

Assistant Professor
Phone: 773-298-3903
Email: doubet@sxu.edu

Melanie Greenspan

Melanie Greenspan

Assistant Professor
Phone: 773-298-3566
Email: greenspan@sxu.edu

Giselle Nunez

Giselle Nunez

Academic Director - CSD
Phone: 773-298-3563
Email: gnunez@sxu.edu

Lisa Osier

Lisa Osier

Director of Clinical Educ
Phone: 773-298-3564
Email: osier@sxu.edu

Miriam Rodriguez-Guerra

Miriam Rodriguez-Guerra

Assistant Professor
Phone: 773-298-3469
Email: rodriguez-guerra@sxu.edu

Kristy Simak

Kristy Simak

Lecturer
Phone: 773-298-3568
Email: simak@sxu.edu

Carry Zaras

Carry Zaras

Lecturer
Phone: 773-298-3559
Email: zaras@sxu.edu