Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Science, offered by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), provides a strong foundation in communication sciences, preparing students for a wide range of careers. While it is a necessary course of study for those pursuing a career in speech-language pathology or audiology, it also serves as strong preparation for careers in education, linguistics, neuroscience, psychology, public health, and other healthcare professions.
Students in this program can gain valuable experience through clinical observations, hands-on work with clients, and research opportunities, equipping them with analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills that are highly sought after in many fields. Whether students plan to enter graduate school or seek careers in healthcare, education, or research, this degree offers a versatile and impactful path forward.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: HP-SPLH-BA
Accelerated BA + MA Program
The Bachelor of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Science and the Master of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Science may be completed through an accelerated 5-year program, if you are eligible at the time of application before the first year of undergraduate coursework. Learn more about this accelerated program.
Direct Admission Program
The Bachelor of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Science may be completed with direct admission into the Master of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Science at the time of completion, if you are eligible at the time of application before the first year of undergraduate coursework.
Certificates
Many students in the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences major choose to pursue one or both of the offered certificates in our department. These include the Certificate in American Sign Language and the Certificate in Linguistics. Academic advisors can help students build a plan that can accommodate courses so that they can take the required courses for the certificate(s) and complete a distinguishing expertise.
Distinction in the Major
Students with a strong academic record and an interest in research should consider pursuing Distinction in the Major. Graduating with distinction is a special designation noted on your transcript and in the graduation booklet. Typically, students would prepare for this by becoming involved in one of our many research labs that are directed by our research faculty. If students need help becoming involved in a lab in the CSD department, they are encouraged to reach out to our program director for guidance on each lab.
Requirements for Distinction in the Major in CSD:
- GPA of 3.50 or better in the major and overall.
- No grade below B in the major.
- Complete a proposal for 3-credit independent study course, CSCD 4979 Honors in Communication Sciences, with the help of your research mentor. This proposal should be written in the semester before the Fall or Spring of your final year of the BA program. If the proposal is approved, the course is then taken in the final semester, and must include the following requirements:
- Completion of a research manuscript related to the approved project.
- Completion of 20 hours of volunteer work in consultation with the advisor.
Note: You do not have to be a university honors student to take CSCD 4979, but university honors students can count this course as one of their elective honors courses.
Contact Information
Felicidad Garcia, PhD, CCC-SLP, Associate Professor of Instruction, Program Director
Paley Hall, Room 340G
215-204-7180
felicidad.garcia@temple.edu
Lisa Bedore, Chair
Paley Hall, Room 345E
215-204-4490
lisa.bedore@temple.edu
Kara Black, MA, Academic Advisor
Paley Hall, Room M160P
215-204-2063
kara.black@temple.edu
Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Science.
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2026-2027. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2026 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
The Bachelor of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Science may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty upon the satisfactory completion of 121 credit hours. A grade of C is the lowest acceptable final grade for courses required of majors as well as departmental electives taken by majors. A grade of C- (C minus) is the lowest acceptable grade in GenEd courses. The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders requires that students show a basic level of proficiency in a language other than English. This requirement may be met by taking college-level courses up to or beyond the equivalent of the 1002-level or by showing similar knowledge through a placement examination. Students may take American Sign Language to satisfy this requirement.
Summary of Requirements
University Requirements
Students must complete the requirements of the General Education (GenEd) program.
All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive (WI) courses as part of the major. The specific writing-intensive courses that are required for the Speech-Language-Hearing major are CSCD 1296 and CSCD 4496.
College Requirement
Students must complete the College Core Course, HRPR 1001 Public Health: The Way We Live, Work and Play.
Major Requirements
All of the following major requirements must be passed with a grade of C or better in order to successfully complete the major.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Sciences & Disorders | ||
| CSCD 1107 | Introduction to Communication Disorders | 3 |
| CSCD 1108 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| CSCD 1296 | Studies in Psycholinguistics (WI) | 3 |
| CSCD 2108 | Phonetics | 3 |
| CSCD 2203 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism | 3 |
| CSCD 2301 | Development of Speech and Language | 3 |
| CSCD 2303 | Foundations in Hearing Science | 3 |
| CSCD 3203 | Audiology | 3 |
| CSCD 3403 | Foundations in Speech Science | 3 |
| CSCD 3503 | Foundations in Human Neuroscience | 3 |
| CSCD 4221 | Speech and Language Disorders: Children | 3 |
| or CSCD 4222 | Speech and Language Disorders: Adults | |
| CSCD 4302 | Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
| CSCD 4496 | Diagnosis and Treatment in Speech-Language Pathology (WI) 1 | 3 |
| Related Discipline Courses | ||
| PSY 1001 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 2301 | Foundations of Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| Biology or Kinesiology Course | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Human Biology | ||
or BIOL 1012 | General Biology II | |
| Principles of Anatomy and Physiology I | ||
| Physics or Chemistry Course | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| The Science of Sound | ||
| Introduction to General Physics I | ||
| Chemistry: The Study of Matter I | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry I | ||
Another course in physics or chemistry may be substituted with advisor approval. | ||
| Foreign Language | ||
| Two semesters of a foreign language / ASL at the introductory level or one at the intermediate level. | 3-8 | |
| Statistics | ||
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Statistics for Psychology | ||
| Social Statistics | ||
| Elements of Statistics | ||
| Biostatistics and Public Health | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 57-64 | |
- 1
Indicates writing capstone for major.
Repeating a course in the curriculum may result in delayed progression and/or delayed graduation. Students who are out of sequence due to unsuccessful completion or withdrawal must consult with their academic advisor or program director to develop a remediation plan, including a revised plan of study.
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Arts in Speech, Language and Hearing Science
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2026-2027 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| CSCD 1107 | Introduction to Communication Disorders | 3 |
| CSCD 1108 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| HRPR 1001 | Public Health: The Way We Live, Work and Play | 3 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSY 1001 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Physics or Chemistry Course | 3-4 | |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CSCD 1296 | Studies in Psycholinguistics [WI] | 3 |
| CSCD 2108 | Phonetics | 3 |
| CSCD 2203 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism | 3 |
| Foreign Language/ASL I | 3-4 | |
| Biology or Kinesiology Course | 3-4 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CSCD 2301 | Development of Speech and Language | 3 |
| CSCD 2303 | Foundations in Hearing Science | 3 |
| Foreign Language/ASL II Requirement | 3-4 | |
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CSCD 3203 | Audiology | 3 |
| CSCD 3403 | Foundations in Speech Science | 3 |
| Statistics Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CSCD 3503 | Foundations in Human Neuroscience | 3 |
| PSY 2301 | Foundations of Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CSCD 4221 or CSCD 4222 | Speech and Language Disorders: Children or Speech and Language Disorders: Adults | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 2-1 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-13 | |
| Spring | ||
| CSCD 4302 | Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
| CSCD 4496 | Diagnosis and Treatment in Speech-Language Pathology [WI] | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3-0 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 121 | |
Accelerated Programs
Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.
The following +1 program has an accelerated academic plan for students in the Speech, Language and Hearing Science BA. The undergraduate student will be required to complete the bachelor's degree by the end of the Fall semester in their senior year: