The Speech-Language Pathology Prerequisites (SLPP) Program is comprised of 24 credits of undergraduate, upper-division speech pathology & audiology core coursework completed in 4 semesters (2 courses each semester) offered through CU Continuing Education. SLPP classes are online/asynchronous, but also may have some optional timed events such as office hours or class meetings. The courses are only offered in the sequence detailed below.
| Summer 1 |
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SLHS 3116: Anatomy, Physiology, and Science of Speech. Provides a basic understanding of the structural organization (anatomy), function (physiology), and neural controls of the structures used to produce speech, swallowing, respiration, and related behaviors in humans. |
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SLHS 3006: Phonetics. Focuses on production of speech sounds, transcribing speech using the International Phonetic Alphabet, analyzing the acoustic properties of speech sounds, and understanding how speech sounds vary depending on the context. Provides a foundation for understanding normal and atypical speech development, atypical speech problems and patterns, regional and foreign accents, and speech recognition by computers. |
| Fall 1 |
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SLHS 4560: Language Development. Covers the development of language in childhood and into adult life, emphasizing the role of environment and biological endowment in learning to communicate with words, sentences, and narratives. |
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SLHS 3106: Hearing Science. Focuses on the three main aspects of the hearing process: sounds in the environment (physical acoustics), sounds encoded within the auditory system (physiological acoustics), and perception of sound (psychological acoustics). |
| Spring 1 |
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SLHS 4704: Audiological Evaluation. Studies basic principles and techniques of hearing evaluation, including pure-tone, speech, immittance, and advanced audiometry; hearing conservation in hospital, school, and industrial settings; and identification and evaluation of auditory pathologies. Required projects in screening and pure-tone audiometry. |
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SLHS 4512: Speech Disorders Across the Lifespan. Provides students with an introductory understanding of the causes, characteristics, assessment and treatment of speech disorders including those involving articulation, voice, resonance, and fluency. Examines a variety of disorders including stuttering, speech sound disorders, cleft lip and palate, vocal pathology, as well as dysarthria and apraxia due to stroke, trauma, and progressive neurological diseases. |
| Summer 2 |
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SLHS 4502: Language Disorders Across the Lifespan. Provides students with an introductory understanding of the causes, characteristics, assessment and treatment of developmental and acquired language disorders in children and adults. Examines a variety of disorders including specific language impairment, learning disabilities, and language and cognitive disorders due to brain damage. Considers the challenge of identifying language disorders in children and adults from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. |
| SLHS 4714: Audiological Rehabilitation. Covers basic principles and techniques related to the habilitation and rehabilitation of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing: amplification, speech, language, auditory, speech reading, and educational issues. Prerequisite: SLHS 4704: Audiological Evaluation |
| Optional Courses |
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SLHS 4576: Communication Neuroscience. Provides an introduction to neuroscience with an emphasis on the systems that support human communication including speech perception and production, language, memory and cognition. Topic areas will include auditory processing, language, memory and motor systems. Development of brain systems and structures will be explored, as well as neurologically based disorders. Neuroscientific methods surveyed will include MRI, fMRI, EEG, MEG, NIRS, lesion studies and electrophysiology. |
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SLHS 4100: Introduction to Clinical Observation. Provides students with the knowledge and skills to conduct, record, interpret and analyze clinical observations of assessment and intervention of clients with communication disorders. Students will complete 25 hours of clinical observation using Master Clinician Network, an online platform for guided observation and development of clinical skills in speech-language pathology. |
SLPP courses follow the CU academic calendar. Summer courses use Term D.
SLPP faculty include instructors from the University of Colorado, the University of Northern Colorado, and Metropolitan State University of Denver. SLPP courses are developed to be consistent with CU campus-based courses in SLHS. Each online course is unique and designed by the instructor. Generally, coursework is completed according to student timelines with the exception of scheduled events such as course chats or exams (which may be offered during a time window to accommodate varied student schedules).
Single Course Availability
If we have space available in fall, spring, or summer 2 courses, we do allow students not enrolled in the SLPP program to register for those courses. Interested students:
1. Complete the online Continuing Education Non-Degree Undergraduate Application.
2. To receive information on single course availability and registration instructions, find the course you're interested in above. Look at the term it's offered and email slpp@colorado.edu on or after the following dates depending on the term:
| Summer 1 | No course availability for non-cohort students |
| Fall | August 1 |
| Spring | December 1 |
| Summer 2 | May 1 |