Prerequisite Courses

The courses listed below are descriptions of the 15 credits in communication sciences and disorders needed to apply as a matriculated student. Prospective applicants may take the same types of courses as those described below at any other accredited institution. 

These classes are open to Hunter College undergraduate seniors and non-degree students who have earned a bachelors degree. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required to enroll in these courses. Advisement may be offered via Zoom calls by appointment. Please contact Ms. Joanne Johnson at comsc@hunter.cuny.edu for further inquiry about advisement Zoom calls. 

The 15 credits of pre-requisite coursework in Communication Sciences and Disorders are offered by Hunter College as non-matriculated coursework. The courses are only offered by Hunter College once a year and in the following sequence:

Foundations Courses (Pre-requisites) in Speech-Language Pathology

Summer Semester

COMSC 620 Introduction to Speech Language Pathology
Introduction to organic and behavioral correlates of human communication; its development and disorders. The influence of culture, heritage, and socioeconomic status on the disorders of voice, articulation, fluency, and language.

COMSC 640 Introduction to Audiology
Etiology and pathology of hearing disorders, basic properties of the auditory stimulus: measurement of pure tone thresholds by air and bone conduction. Overview of the audiologist in diagnosis and management of hearing disorders.

Fall Semester

COMSC 615 Speech and Its Production - Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms
An overview of the structure of speech and the basic mechanisms involved the production of speech sounds; a foundation for a more in-depth study of speech science and its application to clinical practice in speech-language pathology and audiology; structure and organization of the ventilatory, laryngeal, supralaryngeal and orofacial mechanisms; issues in basic speech acoustics and perception.

COMSC 604 Introduction to Language Science
An introduction to the relationship between language and communication. Topics include components of the linguistic system, relationship between verbal and non-verbal communication, artificial language, language acquisition and second language learning.

Spring Semester 

COMSC 607 Phonetics of American English 
Phonetic features of oral American English and dialectal variations of American English and non-native English speech.

To apply as a non-matriculated student you must follow the directions at this Hunter College website.

When applying to the Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology MS program, applicants must ensure each foundation course carries at least a 3-credit load and a grade of B. Two credit courses will only partially fulfill the requirement. See the table at the bottom of this page for course equivalents at other CUNY schools.

In addition to the 15 credits of prerequisite communication sciences and disorders courses listed above, applicants must also fulfill the following requirements at either an undergraduate and/or graduate level with a B or better in each course: English (3 credits), social science (6 credits), biological science (3 credits - no lab necessary), physical science (3 credits - no lab necessary, but must be in physics or chemistry), statistics (3 credits).

Advanced placement (A.P.) credits are accepted so long as the credits are on the college transcript.
College Level Examination Program (C.L.E.P.) are not accepted by the department.

Acceptable courses in biological sciences should emphasize a content area related to human or animal sciences (e.g., biology, human anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, human genetics, veterinary science). Acceptable courses in physical sciences should include physics or chemistry. Acceptable courses in social/behavioral sciences should include psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health. A stand-alone course in statistics is required. Research methodology courses in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) may not be used to satisfy the statistics requirement. A course in biological and physical sciences specifically related to CSD may not be applied for certification purposes to this category unless the course fulfills a university requirement in one of these areas. (from ASHA certifcation Standard IV-A)