Undergraduate Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with UF Online
It is the time to voice, act, and capitalize on your potential. Be the voice that helps those affected by communications disorders.
Students earning a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders study the human communication processes related to speech, language, hearing, and swallowing. Students in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at UF will study normal communication across the lifespan, anatomy and physiology of the speech mechanism, and get an overview of disorders related to speech, language, hearing, balance, and swallowing, as well as the clinical treatments associated with these disorders.
The UF Online Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) degree with a major in Communication Sciences and Disorders serves primarily as the stepping-stone to graduate studies in audiology, speech-language pathology and doctoral-level education in research in these areas. This BHS provides the foundation necessary for students planning to pursue clinical graduate education and find a rewarding career in speech-language pathology or audiology. While the majority of students pursue graduate or professional training in a health field (e.g., speech language pathology, audiology, or other doctoral degree programs), our BHS in Communication Sciences and Disorders graduates are also prepared to use their training to work in a variety of settings immediately after earning their BHS degree. Our online bachelors program equips students with the foundational skills necessary for understanding speech, language and hearing processes.
For those interested in a rewarding profession in the healthcare industry, the UF Online Bachelor of Health Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders is the place to start. A bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders is instrumental and highly valuable to enter graduate and PhD programs in speech and hearing sciences. Students who wish to pursue the opportunity to work with patients who suffer from disorders, such as hearing loss, stuttering, aphasia, childhood apraxia and dyslexia, and lead careers in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics or schools are encouraged to plan for graduate and professional training beyond the BHS in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Students planning to enter graduate education to be speech-language pathologists or audiologists will be able to work with individuals of all ages, from infants to the elderly, who present with difficulties in communication, balance, and swallowing.
Students interested in graduate school in Communication Sciences and Disorders should visit the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences’ master’s program to learn more.
Notes on the application process:
- UF Online’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program is a limited access program in which students are expected to be enrolled full-time. Please see the undergraduate catalog for complete information about critical tracking courses and plan of study.
- Freshman applicants (0-11 credits) and Lower Division transfer applicants (12-59 credits): You must complete all general education requirements and prerequisites prior to starting upper division coursework. Upper division coursework begins every Fall.
- Upper Division Transfer (AA or 60+ credits) Applicants: You must complete all general education requirements and prerequisites prior to being admitted to UF Online’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program. Transfer admission to UF Online’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program is offered every Fall. For full details, read about the admissions criteria below.
- This program is not designed for individuals who want to earn a second bachelor’s degree. Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another major, but are in need of the prerequisites to apply to graduate school in speech-language pathology or audiology, may apply to the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences’ online Post-Baccalaureate Program.
Admissions Requirements
Bachelor of Health Science
Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders
Public Health and Health Professions
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Career Tracks and Opportunities
What professions will a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders prepare me for?
While the majority of students pursue graduate or professional training in a health field after earning their BHS in Communication Sciences and Disorders, some students seek employment immediately after earning their BHS in opportunities such as:
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
- Rehabilitation Aid (in a hospital or nursing home)
- Therapeutic Support Staff
- Speech-Language Educator
Please visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or Career One Stop for additional suggestions on further career pathways and opportunities.
Admissions Requirements
- If you have 0-11 transferable college credits, review the Freshman admissions requirements.
- If you have 12-59 transferable credits, review the Lower Division Transfer admission requirements.
Freshman (0-11 credits) and Lower Division Transfer Applicants (12-59 credits): You must complete all general education requirements and prerequisites prior to starting upper division coursework. Upper division coursework begins every Fall.
Upper Division Transfer (students with 60 or more college credits earned): You must complete all general education requirements and prerequisites prior to being admitted to UF Online’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program. Transfer admission to UF Online’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program is offered every Fall.
Upper division applicants (students with an AA or 60+ college credits earned) are required to have:
- An Associate of Arts degree from a Florida public college OR 60 or more college credits with all general education requirements met at the time of application.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (typical GPA for students who are admitted to the major is 3.50 or above)
- Completion of the following required prerequisite courses:
- General Psychology (PSY 2012)
- An additional psychology course (DEP 3053, PSB 3002 or CLP 3144 are recommended)
- A general biology course (BSC 2005, BSC 2007, BSC 2009 or BSC 2010)
- An additional biology course (Human Physiology with Lab APK 2105C, strongly recommended)
- Statistics (STA 2023)
- A physical science course (must be Chemistry or Physics, 3 credits)
*Note:
- All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
- Unsuccessful attempts in prerequisite courses may lower competitiveness.
- Unsuccessful attempts in additional courses in the desired major may lower competitiveness.
- Out of state courses used to meet prerequisites may need to be evaluated by the appropriate department upon admission.
**UF Online’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program is a limited access program in which students are expected to be enrolled full-time. Please see the undergraduate catalog for complete information about critical tracking courses and plan of study.
***This program is not designed for individuals who want to earn a second bachelor’s degree. Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another major, but are in need of the prerequisites to apply to graduate school in speech-language pathology or audiology, may apply to the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences’ online Post-Baccalaureate Program.
Why choose UF Online?
At the University of Florida, our passion goes beyond our walls – and so do our opportunities.
With such a wide range of people affected by communication disorders, our online Bachelor of Health Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders offers students the foundation for graduate studies and the rewarding opportunity to help others. Courses are taught by the same faculty who teach our highly regarded programs in audiology and speech-language pathology. Many UF Online faculty are involved in research and have years of clinical experience. The UF Online program has your convenience in mind, for a fraction of the cost of comparable degree programs.
Designed for students whose commitments make traditional campus attendance impractical, our online program stands at the forefront, providing flexible academic options with the same elite faculty and rigor that makes us a leading university and top research institution. We connect people with opportunities, remove barriers and set the standard for online higher education. UF Online graduates earn the same elite degree they would receive on campus, and they will be at the top of the list for the best employers in the country.
