Online Bachelor 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.
For students comparing speech language pathology degree online pathways, UF Online’s Bachelor of Health Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders provides academic preparation before graduate clinical study. The program covers speech, language, hearing, swallowing, and communication disorders while helping students build a foundation for graduate study in speech language pathology, audiology, or related research fields.
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
Start Your Journey Today
Learn more about a UF Online Degree
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)
- Biology (BSC 2005 or BSC 2010)
- Statistics (STA 2023)
- Additional Social and Behavioral Science course: Sociology (SYG), Anthropology (ANT), or Psychology (PSY) courses are recommended (separate from PSY 2012)
- An additional biology course (APK2105C, BSC2085C/BSC2086C or BSC2093C/BSC2094C) is highly recommended. A 3-credit course with a BSC- or MCB- prefix will also be accepted.
- A 3-credit physical science course, must be Chemistry (CHM) or Physics (PHY)
- A 1-credit science lab if not fulfilled by a course above
*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.
FAQs
Many students use this degree as preparation for graduate study in speech language pathology, audiology, or doctoral level research. Graduates may also pursue support roles after earning the BHS, including positions such as Speech Language Pathology Assistant, Rehabilitation Aid, Therapeutic Support Staff, or Speech Language Educator. Opportunities may vary by employer, state requirements, and individual credentials. Explore UF Online’s career and networking resources as you plan your academic and professional future.
Students interested in audiology can use the BHS in Communication Sciences and Disorders as a foundation for future graduate study. The program introduces topics related to hearing, communication disorders, and clinical pathways, but students should review each graduate program’s prerequisites because audiology licensure requirements are completed at the graduate level.
This Bachelor of Health Science program is not a licensure program in speech language pathology. The online Communication Sciences and Disorders degree provides the academic foundation needed for graduate study in speech language pathology, audiology, or related fields. Clinical certification as a speech language pathologist requires a graduate degree and applicable supervised clinical requirements.
A bachelor degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders prepares students for graduate programs in speech language pathology, but it does not grant clinical licensure on its own. Students who want to become speech language pathologists typically need a graduate degree and must meet applicable clinical and licensing requirements.
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 provides flexible academic options with the same faculty and rigor that make UF a leading university and top research institution. We provide an affordable path to earning a communication sciences and disorders degree with plenty of career and networking resources for our students that meet both their academic and professional goals.
