Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders

ENMU offers both on-campus and online courses in CDIS (see the online link in the menu bar on the right for additional information about online courses). All required courses are offered at least one time per year in both traditional and distance education formats; however, many courses have pre-requisites and online courses tend to enroll very quickly so careful advising is required.

ENMU CDIS undergraduate courses can be used for 3 purposes:

• To complete undergraduate requirements for the Bachelor of Science in CDIS.
• To satisfy an emphasis area requirement for the Bachelor of University Studies (BUS) degree.
• To satisfy leveling requirements necessary to gain admittance into a Graduate Program in Communicative Disorders.

Students completing these courses may additionally be eligible for licensure as an Assistant Speech-Language Pathologist (ASL)/Speech-Language Pathology Apprentice (SLPA). Requirements vary from state to state and students interested in this option must consult their State Regulation and Licensing Board for exact requirements. ENMU does not guarantee licensure from any state following the completion of our courses; it is the student's responsibility to be advised of state licensing requirements and to work with their advisor to develop a course of study which meets the standards for bachelor's level practice.

About the Professions...

Professionals trained to assess and treat speech and language disorders are called speech-language pathologists (sometimes informally referred to as speech therapists). Speech-language pathologists also assist clients with swallowing disorders. Professionals trained to assess and treat hearing and balance disorders are called audiologists. Audiologists also select, fit and dispense amplification systems such as hearing aids.

Speech-language pathologists and audiologists help clients maximize their speech, language and hearing abilities. We treat clients who have difficulty with:

• Language
• Articulation (pronunciation)
• Swallowing
• Fluency (stuttering)
• Voice (pitch, loudness)
• Hearing

Speech-language pathologists also work with:

• Accent and dialect reduction
• Augmentative and alternative devices
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Learning disabilities
• Neurological disorders
• Vestibular or balance disorders

Speech-language pathologists and audiologists treat clients who range from infants to the elderly in a variety of settings, such as schools, clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private practice and state agencies.

The CDIS degree at ENMU

ENMU's undergraduate communicative disorders program provides pre-professional instruction in normal and disordered processes of speech, language and hearing. It prepares the student for a master's program and eventual certification and licensure in speech-language pathology or audiology. 

A bachelor's degree in communicative disorders does not assure entrance into a graduate program, either at ENMU or elsewhere. Students are strongly encouraged to maintain high levels of academic performance as undergraduates to increase their chances of acceptance into a graduate program. At ENMU, a student must have junior status with an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 to enroll in any 300-level CDIS courses. To enroll in any 400-level CDIS courses, a student must have senior status with an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or better.

Beginning with all Fall 2009 degree plans, the CDIS degree is a composite major and no minor is required. Students wishing to complete their B.S. in CDIS completely online must declare their major in CDIS and have a degree plan on file with the Advising Center at ENMU. Ensuring that general education and other degree requirements are met in a timely manner requires careful planning/scheduling, particularly when students need to secure seats in online courses that are not scheduled in the CDIS Program. General education and other non-CDIS course requirements for the Bachelor's degree may not be offered online using a set rotation. This requires that students must be vigilant about advising each semester.

Degree Requirements

Students must successfully complete UNIV 101 (3), HPE 142 (1), and IS 151 (3) or the ENMU computer technology assessment. The B.S. degree requires a minimum of 40 hours of upper division courses. Developmental courses (EDF 097, ENG 097, MATH 094, MATH 097, RED 097, UNIV 097, and any courses whose numbers begin with 0) will not be counted toward graduation requirements.

General Education Requirements (41 hours...please see the catalog),

Communicative Disorders Course Requirements (40 hours).

• CDIS 250 Speech/Language Development (3)
• CDIS 252 Phonetics (3)
• CDIS 300 Speech-Language Anatomy/Physiology (3)
• CDIS 302 Hearing/Vestibular Anatomy/Physiology (3)
• CDIS 311 Articulation Disorders (3)
• CDIS 320 Issues in Disability (3)
• CDIS 332 Language Disorders in Children (3)
• CDIS 342 Basic Audiology (3)
• CDIS 400 Speech Science (3)
• CDIS 421 Neuroscience of Communication (3)
• CDIS 434 Aural Rehabilitation (3)
• CDIS 441 Speech-Language Preclinical (1) OR
• CDIS 445 Speech-Language Practicum (1)
• CDIS 454 Speech and Language Assessment (3)
• CDIS 143 Introduction to Communicative Disorders (3) OR
• CDIS 433 Medical Aspects of CDIS (3)

Required courses in other areas (31 hours).

• PSY 101 Introductory Psychology (3)
• PSY 201 Child Psychology (3) OR
• PSY 202 Adolescent Psychology (3)
• PSY 335 Introduction to Psychological Statistics (3)
• 3 hours of upper division psychology electives (3)
• SWK 345 Working with Aging Populations (3)
• SWK 447 Impact of Child Abuse and Neglect (3)
• STAT 213 Statistical Methods I (4)
• ENG 325 Professional and Technical Writing (3)
• 6 hours of any foreign language (6)

Note: For foreign language requirements, courses do not have to be in the same language and ASL course work is acceptable.

Electives to complete a minimum of 128 hours: Students should meet with their advisor each semester to choose these electives carefully.

Recommended electives include:

• Any course with a CDIS prefix
• Any foreign language or linguistics course
• SWK 201: Introduction to Social Work and SWK topics on mental health or family violence
• PSY 336: Experimental Psychology, PSY 430: Seminar in Behavioral Analysis, and PSY 435: Cognition
• NURS 312: Global Health Care and NURS 320: Pathophysiology

Due to national certification requirements for the credentialing of speech-language pathologists, it is strongly recommended that CDIS students select both a life science and a physical science during their completion of general education courses. The Program recommends:

• BIOL 207/L: Applied Anatomy and Physiology or BIOL209/L: Anatomy and Physiology I for the life science component
• PHYS 113: Survey of Physics or PHYS 123: Physics of Music for the physical science component.

Fall 2011 - Summer 2012 Rotation

A suggested course of full-time study for students wishing to take on-campus classes is listed below. Alternate matriculation schedules may be possible with advisor approval. Many courses have pre-requisites so please note those requirements prior to changing this suggested course of study.

Students interested in part-time matriculation should consult with their advisor to construct a plan for completing their coursework across more than 4 years.

CDIS Minor

Interested students may also pursue a minor in CDIS (15 hours).
Note: Students who earn a major in CDIS may not minor in CDIS.

• CDIS 143 Introduction to Communicative Disorders (3)
• CDIS 144 Introduction to American Sign Language (3)
• CDIS 250 Speech/Language Development (3)
• CDIS 332 Language Disorders in Children (3)
• CDIS 320 Issues in Disability (3)

ADA Compliance

Students, faculty, staff, and clients of the Communicative Disorders Program are treated equitably without regard to gender, sexual orientation, age, race, creed, national origin or disability. The institution and program comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and executive orders.

Our department's strategic plan and assessment plans are available for public review in the Program Documents section on this website.

More Information

View Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders degree plans here. View ENMU Undergraduate Catalogs here.

• Please browse our information page for future students here.
• 2007-2009 degree requirements and course descriptions for the undergraduate program in CDIS can be accessed via the web in the Undergraduate Catalog. CDIS descriptions begin on page 125. Please review our sample degree plan.
• 2009-2011 degree requirements and course descriptions for the undergraduate program in CDIS can be accessed via the web in the Undergraduate Catalog. CDIS descriptions begin on page 143. Please review our sample degree plan and the Summer 2010 revision.
• 2011-2013 degree requirements and course descriptions for the undergraduate program in CDIS can be accessed via the web in the Undergraduate Catalog. The CDIS program begins on p. 87 and descriptions begin on page 136. Please review our sample major degree plan. Begnining in 2011-2013, CDIS also offers a minor degree plan for interested students.
• Declare your major and request your degree plan here.
• Graduate leveling course information is also available.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact the department office at 575.562.2156 or the department chair,
Dr. Suzanne Swift at 575.562.2724.