Communicative Disorders (CMDS)

Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.

500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.

Course Fees

Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.


CMDS 563. Clinical Phonetics3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Only

Prerequisite(s): Must be at least a Junior or Senior undergraduate student to register.

Description: The International Phonetic Alphabet and other symbol systems are utilized in transcription of speech sounds. A description of speech sounds in terms of acoustics and physiologic dimensions. Special emphasis on speech disorders and dialects.

Note: Cross-listed with CMDS 463.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 564. Normal Speech and Language Development4 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Description: Reviews normal development of language and speech across the lifespan including syntax, semantics, morphology, pragmatics, and phonology. An overview of dialectical, cultural, and bilingual aspects are discussed as well as basic language sampling and analysis procedures.

Note: Cross-listed with CMDS 464.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 570. Clinical Observation in Speech Pathology and Audiology1 Unit

Grading Basis: Pass/Fail

Prerequisite(s): Restricted to graduate students only.

Description: Observations in speech pathology and audiology. Additional observations may be assigned to introduce students to the variety of practicum opportunities available in the program.

Note: Cross-listed with CMDS 470.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 571. Functional Neuroanatomy3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Description: An overview of general neuroanatomy and neuroanatomical principles applied to communication and communicative disorders including hearing, speech, language, cognition, swallowing, and emotion.

Note: Cross-listed with CMDS 471.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 572. Anatomy and Physiology for Communication Sciences4 Units

Prerequisite(s): Restricted to graduate students only.

Fee: An additional $50.00 is charged for this course.

Description: Structure and function of speech, auditory/vestibular mechanisms. Includes neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of communication. Emphasis on clinical applications. Dissection of human cadaver material.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 574. Multicultural Issues in Communicative Disorders3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Description: An overview of the research arena as applied to communication disorders. Techniques and applications of literature review, research design, statistical methods, and effective writing will be covered.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 600. Research Methods in Speech-Language Pathology2 Units

Description: This course will introduce speech-language pathology graduate students to the various aspects of research including: where to find journal articles, how to read journal articles, basic statistical approaches, and research design. The course will include guest speakers from clinical and basic sciences and expose students to the plethora of research careers.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 602. Speech Sound Disorders3 Units

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 563.

Description: This course covers the study of vowel and consonant characteristics; sequence of development of phonology and articulation; and procedures for diagnosing and treating phonological and articulation disorders.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 606. CMDS Independent Study1-5 Units

Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.

Description: Individualized course with topics to be determined by the instructor. May be repeated.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 611. Practicum in Speech Pathology1-5 Units

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 563.

Corequisite(s): CMDS 564.

Description: Diagnostic and therapeutic contact with individuals who exhibit communication disorders. Practicum obligations include treatment planning, report writing and patient/parent counseling. Advanced students will be assigned to outside practicum sites with the consent of the instructor.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 612. Early Childhood Language Assessment & Intervention3 Units

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 564.

Description: This course covers early childhood language assessment and intervention - including phonology - for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children. Emphasis is placed on typical development as well as disordered populations.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 618. Counseling and Interviewing3 Units

Description: An online course that reviews the speech-language pathologists' roles and responsibilities related to the techniques associated with counseling patients and their families. The course will review contemporary theories of counseling and will provide strategies for interviewing and reporting results.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 620. Motor Speech Disorders3 Units

Corequisite(s): CMDS 572.

Description: Motor speech disorders are speech disorders resulting from neurological damage that affects the motor control of speech muscles or motor programming/planning of speech movements. The most common motor speech disorders are dysarthria and acquired apraxia of speech. This course will cover diagnosis and treatment.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 630. Aural Rehabilitation for the Speech-Language Pathologist3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Spring Only

Prerequisite(s): AUDI 605 and CMDS 572.

Description: This course provides an overview of the various hearing impaired habilitative/rehabilitative programs/techniques for pediatric through geriatric populations. Topics may include: speech/language development for children with impaired hearing; physiology and psychosocial impact of hearing loss in older adulthood; cochlear implants; educational management for children with impaired hearing; an overview of hearing aids; and assistive listening devices.

Note: Cross-listed with CMDS 430.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 652. School-Age Language Assessment and Intervention3 Units

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 564.

Description: This course covers school-age language assessment and intervention - including phonology - for school-age children and adolescents. Emphasis is placed on typical development as well as disordered populations and emphasizes phonological and pragmatic aspects of language along with semantics, morphology and syntax.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 658. Interprofessional Education and Practice1 Unit

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Description: Reviews the speech-language pathologist' roles/responsibilities when collaborating with other professionals in medical and/or educational settings. The course emphasizes learning about, from, and with other professionals in order to deliver the highest quality of care across settings.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 663. Voice Disorders3 Units

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 572.

Description: Study of abnormalities of voice production including dysphonia, psychogenic disturbance, and resonance imbalance. Incorporates laboratory demonstrations and exercises to develop skills using the following technologies: video stroboscopy, videoflouroscopy for VPI, manometry, the Visi-pitch, etc.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 665. Fluency Disorders3 Units

Description: Examines fluency disorders of children and adults. Reviews the literature on etiology and theories of dysfluency. Assessment procedures and therapeutic management are discussed. Includes a review of current technological applications.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 667. Aphasia3 Units

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 620.

Description: Historical review of the neurological basis of language processing. Emphasis on the speech and language disorders, diagnosis and remediation of patients experiencing right and left cerebral vascular accidents.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 668. Professional Issues in Audiology and Speech Pathology3 Units

Description: Survey of social, political, business and professional issues in health care delivery related to communicative disorders. Other topics include: curriculum vitae preparation, professional interviews, professional liabilities, contracts, and funding sources, quality assurance mechanism, etc. Pass-fail grading only.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 669. Cognitive-Communication Disorders3 Units

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 620 and CMDS 572.

Description: This course focuses on the cognitive-communication disorders that may result from dementia, neurological disorders, metabolic and drug-induced delirium and traumatic brain injury.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 690. Dysphagia3 Units

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 572.

Description: Evaluation and treatment of pediatric and adult patients with swallowing disorders. Specific emphasis on bedside dysphagia evaluations, modified barium swallow procedures, FEES, assistive devices, treatment techniques, and diet modifications.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 691. Advanced Dysphagia2 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall Only

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 690.

Description: CMDS 691 is an elective course that investigates complex clinical issues in dysphagia assessment and management; includes discussion regarding end-of-life care and ethical situations.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 694. Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing3 Units

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 690.

Description: This course will focus on pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders from a whole body perspective. The course will cover typical feeding development, characteristics and ramifications of atypical feeding development, underlying diagnoses that may contribute to feeding problems, assessment, and treatment techniques from infancy through adolescence.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 696. Augmentative/ Alternative Communication3 Units

Prerequisite(s): CMDS 652.

Description: Provides exposure to the area of augmentative/alternative communication (AAC). Topics include functional dimensions of AAC systems; symbol systems; transmission techniques; and intervention strategies.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes

CMDS 699. Research Project1-3 Units

Description: This course is the equivalent of a master's level thesis. The student will complete a research project that is suitable for future publication. The project is composed of developing a research question,completing a through review of the literature,developing the methodology to implement and conduct research, analyzing the data, and formulating conclusions, and need for future research. The completed project will be submitted to an appropriate journal for publication.

For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes