Special Things about CDS Undergraduate Program
This is a comprehensive brochure about the undergraduate program in Communication Disorders & Sciences at EIU with contact information for questions. We would love to have you visit, email, or call.
High Student Satifaction
- Each year we ask graduating seniors and graduating graduate students about their experience in Communication Disorders (CDS) at EIU. Each year, 90-100% of students say they had a wonderful learning experience in CDS; they feel ready for graduate school or work as a speech-language pathologist; and if they had the choice to make over again-- they would definitely choose EIU again.
- See this brochure with some student comments as well as EIU CDS Praxis scores compared to state and national averages.
Classes
- Core Communication Disorders & Sciences (CDS) courses prepare you for graduate school in speech-language pathology or audiology, which are both rewarding careers helping people, with many job openings in schools, hospitals, and private practice. The careers page has more information and videos about being a speech therapist or audiologist.
- You can major in Communication Disorders & Sciences with a variety of minors, options, or study plans such as pre-occupational therapy coursework, bilingual studies, early childhood, pre-med, business administration to best meet your goals. The advising page tells you more about these various study options and has a handout for each linked.
- Independent study opportunities are available to explore other specific interests in CDS
- Class sizes are small in CDS (usually 30 or less); you will find friends with classmates and faculty will know your name and care about your learning.
- Courses are rigorous but functional, with many clinical cases and examples, taught by faculty who worked as SLPs and who make teaching their first priority
- ¨Open-Door” policy—It's easy to stop by and ask a faculty member a question or just to chat. Tutoring in CDS courses is often available from graduate assistants
- Seats in CDS courses guaranteed; coursework foundation is good no matter where you go to graduate school
- "Fast Track" 3 year bachelors degree study plan with Early Admission to Graduate School
Clinical Experiences as an Undergraduate
- EIU is the only Illinois public university that offers clinical practicum for undergraduate students
- You first participate in a full semester structured clinical shadowing experience in EIU clinic where you assist a graduate student clinician. You are in all therapy sessions; you help take data, lead an activity then half a session and by the end of the term you lead a whole session. You participate in the weekly meetings with the graduate clinician and faculty supervisor. You take a companion clinical methods course (CDS 3900) to learn about clinical techniques.
- As a senior, you treat your own client for a full semester in the EIU clinic (CDS 4900) with 1:1 supervision and weekly meetings with your faculty supervisor (if you attend EIU as an undergrad for 2 1/2, 3 or 4 years). It is a wonderful experience treating one client before starting graduate school and treating multiple clients each term.
Study Abroad Opportunities
- CDS faculty–led study abroad (therapy abroad with our partners at Mico CARE Centre in Jamaica) usually offered in May
- CDS faculty advisors can help you find other study abroad opportunities such as spring break, summer, or full semester in universities abroad with speech-pathology programs
CDS Honors Program and Other Research Experiences
- Go out to the schools or other clinical settings and assist faculty with research as part of an independent study
- Opportunity to work on a individual research project for an honors thesis with a faculty mentor over a 2-year period. Present at state and national conferences. Click here to learn more about the departmental honor's program for CDS.
CDS Faculty Member as Your Advisor
- A faculty member gets to know you in their role as your advisor
- Faculty give advice about minors, service learning opportunities, summer work suggestions, study strategies, study abroad options, graduate school applications, and general guidance as needed
Scholarship Opportunities
If you plan to work as a speech-language pathologist in Illinois schools for a period of time after graduation, EIU CDS students are elligible to apply for the ISAC scholarship for Special Educators Teacher Tuition Waiver
CDS students also often have success with EIU Merit Scholarships, Honor's Program Scholarships and other EIU scholarships such as First Generation, Community Ambassador, and Legacy.
