Mission

The mission of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is to engage in the generation, dissemination, integration, and application of knowledge specific to evaluation of and intervention for speech, language, and hearing impairments. Members of the department conduct research that contributes to the knowledge base of the field, and provide high-quality educational programs that (1) prepare undergraduate students with a broad foundation in communication sciences and disorders, (2) prepare graduate students in speech-language pathology for professional practice, and (3) prepare students to continue their professional growth beyond their formal education. The department also provides clinical services to the Milwaukee community for a variety of communication disorders.

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Academic Goals

1. To provide students with an appropriate theoretical and scientific base in communication sciences and disorders.
2. To provide students with an understanding of individual and cultural variability as they relate to communication development and disorders.
3. To develop oral and written communication skills that students will need to function effectively as professionals in communication sciences and disorders.
4. To encourage students to participate in a variety of research and scholarly activities.
5. To provide students with an understanding of other academic disciplines as they relate to and enhance the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology.
6. To encourage students to view education and professional growth as ongoing processes.

New College Students

On your application for admission to UW-Milwaukee, select “Communication Sciences & Disorders” as your intended area of study. You will be classified as “Communication Sciences & Disorders-Intended” upon admission to the University.

Apply to UWM

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Transfer Students

If you meet UWM standard admission requirements, you will be admitted directly into the College of Health Sciences as a “Communication Sciences & Disorders-Intended” major.

Apply to UWM

Transfer from UW Colleges

Transfer from Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)

The BS Communication Sciences & Disorders Program provides the pre-professional foundation for graduate study.

A career as a speech-language pathologist requires a master’s degree. The UWM MS Communication Sciences & Disorders Program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in Speech-Language Pathology. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction also has approved the undergraduate/graduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

A career as an audiologist requires a doctoral degree (AuD or Doctor of Audiology). In Wisconsin, an AuD consortial program is offered by UW-Madison and UW-Stevens Point.

The following courses are prerequisites for admission to the major:

1. A minimum cumulative UWM GPA of 2.750
2. A minimum GPA of 3.00 in COMSDIS 220, 230, and 240, earned the first time
3. Completion of 58 credits
4. Completion of UWM’s GER for Oral and Written Communication – Part A competency
5. Completion of UWM’s GER for Quantitative Literacy – Part A competency
6. Completion of an application (PDF) for admission to the major
7. Endorsement by the Program Coordinator of your application

You will receive written notice of the admission decision. A meeting with your advisor to discuss the program of study is required immediately following admission to the major.

Apply to the CSD major

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Appeal Procedures

• If you who are refused admission to the major you may appeal the decision by writing to the department chairperson and enumerating the reasons you believe your case is exceptional and merits additional consideration.
• If possible, the appeal should be accompanied by written support from one or more of the faculty, and should include documentation of any extenuating circumstances cited in support of the appeal.
• A committee composed of the entire faculty of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will consider your appeal for admission to the major.
• You are notified in writing of the faculty’s decision concerning the appeal.

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You are also encouraged to meet with a Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty member to discuss the requirements and challenges of a career as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. Seniors should meet with your advisor to review your final year of study and discuss opportunities for graduate study.

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Who is my advisor?

Aggie Northrup, MS
414-229-2758 • witowski@uwm.edu

You can also contact your advisor in your student center in PAWS .

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120 credits are required for the Communication Sciences & Disorders Major.
Download the curriculum (PDF)

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General Education Requirements (GERs)

Electives should be used to meet general education requirements .

COURSE	GER	Credits
English: Must earn "C" or better in ENGLISH 102 Prerequisite: placement test	OWCA	3
Math: Must earn "C" or better in Math 105 or 108 Prerequisite: placement test	QLA	3
Foreign Language Satisfied with 2 years of a single language in high school	FL	0
Natural Science Satisfied through CSD program required courses	GERN	0
Social Science Satisfied through CSD program required courses	GERS	0
Cultural Diversity Satisfied through CSD program required courses	GERC	3
Arts Select course from the approved GER Arts list	GERA	3
Humanities Select course from the approved GER Humanities list	GERH	6
Total Credits:		18

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Freshman Year: 1^st Semester

Course	Credits
BIO SCI 202: Anatomy & Physiology I	4
COMSDIS 210: Survey of Communicative Disorders	3
HS 222: Language of Medicine	3
CHS 100: New Student Seminar in Health Professions	1
Elective	2
Total Credits:	13

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Freshman Year: 2^nd Semester

Course	Credits
ANTHRO 102: Intro to Anthro: Culture and Society (or SOC 101)	3
PSYCH 101: Introduction to Psychology	3
BIOSCI 203: Anatomy & Physiology II	4
Electives	4
Total Credits:	14

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Sophomore Year: 1^st Semester

Course	Credits
ENGLISH 205: Business Writing OR ENGLISH 207: Health Sciences Writing	3
COMSDIS 230: Introduction to Phonetics*	4
COMSDIS 250: Interprofessional Communication in the Health Sciences	3
PHYS 120: General Physics I (Non-Calculus Treatment)	4
HS 102: Healthcare Delivery in the US	3
Total Credits:	17

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Sophomore Year: 2^nd Semester

Course	Credits
PSYCH 260: Child Psychology	3
COMSDIS 220: Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Language and Hearing Mechanisms*	4
COMSDIS 240: Normal Speech and Language Development*	3
COMSDIS 245: Client Diversity in Health Sciences	3
ED POL 375: Cultural Foundations of Education	3
Total Credits:	16

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Junior Year: 1^st Semester

Course	Credits
COMSDIS 350: Clinical Process I: Articulation & Phonology Disorders**	3
COMSDIS 380: Bases of Hearing Science**	3
LING 350: Introduction to Linguistics	3
KIN 270: Statistics in the Health Professions	3
Electives	3
Total Credits:	15

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Junior Year: 2^nd Semester

Course	Credits
COMSDIS 351: Clinical Processes II: Child Language Disorders**	3
COMSDIS 450: Bases of Fluency and Voice Disorders**	3
HCA 203: Human Life Cycle	3
ED PSYCH 330: Introduction to Learning and Development	3
HIST 263: North American Indian History Since 1887 OR AIS 203 OR ACT 31 Workshop	3
Total Credits:	15

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Senior Year: 1^st Semester

Course	Credits
COMSDIS 460: Survey of Adult Neurogenic Language and Speech Disorders**	3
COMSDIS 470: Introduction to Audiology**	3
EXCEDUC 600: Survey of Exceptional Education OR EXCEDUC 300: The Exceptional Individual	3
Electives	6
Total Credits:	15

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Senior Year: 2^nd Semester

Course	Credits
COMSDIS 480: Speech Science**	3
COMSDIS 490: Aural Rehabilitation**	3
COMSDIS 520: Counseling in Communication Sciences & Disorders**	3
COMSDIS 661: The Role of the SLP in Literacy** OR CURRINS 537**	2
Electives	4
Total Credits:	15

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*Course may not be repeated and must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.

**Course is generally taught only once per year, during the semester listed.

COMSDIS 220, 230, 240 may not be repeated and students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in these classes for admission to the major.

By completing the following courses included in this curriculum, you have met a subset of the requirements toward Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for School Certification in Speech-Language Pathology: ED POL 375 (or ED POL 500 or ED POL 530), ED PSY 330, COMSDIS 661 (or CURRINS 343), EXCEDUC 300 (or EXCEDUC 600), and HIST 263 (or AIS 203, or Act 31 – 1 Day Workshop).

National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA)

NSSLHA is the organization for undergraduate and graduate students interested in the study of normal and disordered human communication behavior. You may join the UWM campus chapter and/or the national organization which is affiliated with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Members of the national organization receive several journals and a reduction in dues the year they initially join ASHA. The campus chapter provides opportunities to network with other students, socialize, provide service through fundraising events and learn more about the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology.

Contact

Carol H. Seery, PhD, CCC-SLP, Faculty Advisor
Associate Professor
414-229-4291
cseery@uwm.edu

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The following requirements must be met to graduate:

1. Complete the required 120 credits
2. Satisfactory completion of the required courses in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, those required outside of the department
3. Complete all of UWM General Education Requirements
4. Have a cumulative UWM GPA of 2.5
5. Completion of the last 30 credits in residence at UWM

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Proficiency Requirements

There are no proficiency requirements at the undergraduate level.

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Certification Requirements for Professional Practice

Because a Master’s Degree is required for professional practice as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, you are certified at the graduate level.

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Use UWM’s Graduation website to review campus-wide graduation requirements, graduation application deadlines, applying for graduation, and ordering your cap and gown.

Earnings

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , the median annual wage for speech-language pathologists was $79,120 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $49,840, and the top 10 percent more than $121,260.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , the median annual wage for audiologists was $77,600 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $54,010, and the top 10 percent earned more than $120,750.

ASHA’s SLP Health Care 2019 Survey (PDF) reported a mean annual salary of $81,560 (n=630) for speech-language pathologists employed in medical and nursing-related facilities.

ASHA’s SLP Schools Survey 2020 (PDF) reported a median 9-10 month salary of $66,000, and a median 11-12 month salary of $80,000 for speech-language pathologists employed in school-based settings.

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Expected Growth

Employment of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 25 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Employment of audiologists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth will result in only about 1,800 new jobs over the 10-year period.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Speech-Language Pathologists ; Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Audiologists .

Visit these websites for current information and other resources regarding our profession.

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• American Academy of Audiology
• Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Association
• National Student Speech Language Hearing Association