Communication Disorders Minor (SPCD)

The Communication Disorders minor is open to all matriculated students who, in their careers, will want or need a professional orientation to individuals with speech. language, or communication disorders. The course of study introduces students to the various types of communication problems found in children and adults and the clinical and educational needs associated with the various disorders. Students do not need permission to enroll in these courses or in the minor.

The Communication Disorders minor also provides the prerequisites necessary to prepare students for graduate study in speech/language pathology. The minor consists of five courses (plus one optional course), considered by the accrediting agency, The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), as essential for students seeking admission to graduate programs in the field. While admission criteria may differ for various graduate programs, the Communication Disorders minor has been designed to meet most, if not all, of the undergraduate prerequisites required for admission to these graduate programs. These courses would be elected, and taken, in addition to the student’s designated undergraduate major. Students should follow the Program Planner for this minor relative to which semester(s) specific courses are offered.

The Department of Special Education, Language and Literacy administers the Communication Disorders minor. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association-certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists teach courses in the minor. Students should contact Dr. Alan Cohen, Coordinator of the Communication Disorders minor for more information and for an application.

Required Courses:

SLP 304 Audiological Assessment and Management of Hearing Loss

SLP 305 Acoustic Phonetics

SLP 307 Communication Disorders: Nature, Diagnosis and Treatment

SLP 308 Anatomy & Physiology of Speech & Hearing Mechanism

SLP 102 Language, Speech and Communication Development

* An additional course in Speech Science is currently in the process of being approved for those students considering applying to a graduate program in speech-language pathology.

Eligibility for the minor requires:

1) A Minor Grade Point Average of 2.0

2) Students may repeat, only once, any departmental course in which a grade of D or F has been received.

The Records & Registration Forms page also provides a link to the Minor Application. This application can be completed at any time but at least one semester before graduation. The code for the Communication Disorders minor is SPCD.

 

Please note the college's policy on minors: "Minors are optional. Minors consist of five full courses units (or four full course units plus an approved experience). Only one course taken as a part of the student’s major may also be counted toward the student’s minor; however, correlate courses to the major may be applied freely to the minor. Multiple minors may overlap by only one course. One-half of the courses required for the minor must be completed at TCNJ or through a prior approved course exchange program. Minors will be recorded along with majors on the student’s transcript. Students are encouraged, but not required, to pursue a minor in order to add an additional dimension to their studies. However, the College cannot guarantee that a student will be able to complete a minor because of limited space availability in certain courses and because of complexities of scheduling. To complete a minor, students must receive approval of the department offering the minor and then submit a Declaration of Major/Minor Form in the Office of Records and Registration. Students follow the course of study set out in the appropriate department section of the bulletin for the year in which they declare that minor. Students should declare a minor as soon as possible but no later than the semester prior to graduation. A minor cannot be completed after graduation."