Communication Science, BA

Course Requirements for the Undergraduate Major in Communication Science

(Total credits required = 120)

Students can contact the Director of CSD Undergraduate Education, Dr. Janice Vance, jvance@pitt.edu or 412-383-6562, for specialized advising as a freshman and/or sophomore.

Basic Skills Prerequisites

(15 credits)

• Basic Writing (or exemption) - 3 Credits

• English Composition (ENGCMP 0200  or higher) - 3 Credits

• Mathematics (MATH 0031  or higher.) - 3 Credits

• Second Language: First and Second Levels - 6 Credits

  • (Spanish, Latin, ASL, etc.)

  • (May also be satisfied by three years of high school second language.)

General Education Requirements

(21 to 24 credits)

• English or American Literature - 3 Credits

• Writing Intensive (W)* - 3 Credits

*May be combined with another requirement (e.g., literature, history, etc.)

• Music or Art - 3 Credits

• Second Literature / Music / Art or Creative Expression - 3 Credits

• History - 3 Credits

• International Culture - 6 Credits 

• International Culture (non-western) - 3 credits

Basic Science

(9 credits)

• Behavioral Science - PSY 0010 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY    - 3 Credits

• Biological Science - A course in human biology (i.e.,BIOSC 0850  , BIOSC 0815  , or BIOSC 0150 ) or human anatomy and physiology. - 3 Credits

• Physical Science -Suggested courses include: PHYS 0091  , PHYS 0110 , or PHYS 0174   - 3 Credits

Additional Requirements

(15 credits) 

Five additional courses must be completed, one from each of the areas listed below. These courses are designed to ensure that the student is well educated in related disciplines, in keeping with the place of communication science and disorders at the confluence of several realms of study.  Some are also required for professional certification. Consult with the CSD Advising Office for more course options.

1. Statistical Methods - STAT 0200  or STAT 1000 . 

2. Neurological and Cognitive Foundations of Language - PSY 0405 , PSY 0422 , PSY 0505 , PSY 0510 , NROSCI 0080 , or NROSCI 1000 .     

3. Philosophy of Science -HPS 0515 , HPS 0608 , HPS 0611 , HPS 0612 , HPS 0613 , HPS 1653 , PHIL 0350 , PHIL 0610 , or PHIL 1610 .        

4. Sociocultural Studies - ANTH 0620 , ANTH 0780 , PSY 0105 , HIST 1090 , LING 1235 , LING 1263 , LING 1267 , LING 1722 , LING 1724 , SOC 0007 , SOC 0312 , SOC 0317 , SOC 0352  , SOC 0477 , or SOC 1450 .              

5. Lifespan Development -  PSY 0310  

Major (Core) Courses (41 credits)

Most of the core courses in Communication Science are taken after admission to the Communication Science program.  Four of the core courses are available to freshman and sophomore students. These four courses can also be as part of the Communication Science program of study.  Several core courses have prerequisites resulting in a sequence of courses.  The course sequence is represented in the example Plan of Study.  Interested students should be aware that the core courses or sequence of courses may change.

Related Area / Minors and Certificates / Directed or Independent Studies

No additional related area is required for this undergraduate degree.

Many students are able to complete certificate programs or minors in addition to the requirements for the BA in Communication Science. In recent years, students have attained certificates in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine, Latin American studies, American Sign Language, and Children’s Literature and minors in Neuroscience, Linguistics, Social Work and Sociology, among others. These are only a few of the many certificate and minor programs available at the University of Pittsburgh.

In some locations, employment within an educational setting requires additional courses and/or certification. Students considering work in educational settings should consider enrolling in education courses (i.e., IL) as electives. Students can consult with Dr. Erin Lundblom (lundblom@pitt.edu) in the CSD Advising Office for more information about teaching certification or state licensure.

Students may consult with Dr. Janice Vance (jvance@pitt.edu), Director of CSD Undergraduate Education, about the possibility of pursuing a directed or independent study with a member of the faculty as a formal approval process is required.