Learning Outcomes and Goals

Undergraduate Program Learning Goals (PLGs)

1. Adopt an interdisciplinary perspective in evaluating human communication across the lifespan
2. Understand the influence of culture and linguistic background on human communication, speech, language, swallowing, and hearing
3. Learn how to use a wide range of techniques to better understand human communication, speech, language, swallowing, and hearing in people with and without communication disorders
4. Use critical thinking to explore, analyze and interpret the human communication interactions

Degree Learning Outcomes (DLOs)

1. Anatomy, physiology, and neurobiology: Describe and explicate basic human communication processes including anatomy, physiology, and neurobiology of speech, language, swallowing, and hearing.
2. Processes of communication: Use and analyze data from a wide range of physiologic, behavioral, and neurophysiological methods to describe speech, language, swallowing, and hearing disorders across the life span.
3. Cultural and linguistic competency: Explain how individual, cultural, and linguistic differences contribute to our understanding of language and communication.
4. Critical Thinking:  Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills and their role in evidence-based practice to issues in speech, language, swallowing, and hearing disorders.
5. Ethics: Demonstrate knowledge of professionalism and ethical standards as they apply in working with people with speech, language, swallowing, and hearing disorders.

Curriculum Matrix

The curriculum map explains how the various courses in our program address learning goals for the major and at what level you might expect those learning goals to be addressed in a given course. The curriculum map is not the same as the degree map, by which you track your progress to degree in consultation with your advisor.

Levels of Degree Learning Outcomes

I = Introduced to the DLO; Students first learn about key ideas, concepts or skills related to the outcome. This usually happens at a general or very basic level, such as learning one idea or concept related to the broader outcome. This would be appropriate for most introductory courses.

D = Developed the DLO; Students gain additional information related to the outcome. They may start to synthesize key ideas or skills and are expected to demonstrate their knowledge or ability at increasingly proficient levels.

M = Mastered the DLO; Students are expected to be able to demonstrate their ability to perform the outcome with a reasonably high level of independence and sophistication. This would be appropriate for most upper-division courses.