This course introduces research, theory, and practical applications pertinent to first language acquisition. The development of language is explored through its five major components: phonology, pragmatics, semantics, morphology, and syntax. Stages of acquisition are traced from pre-linguistic communication in infancy through adolescents' use of abstract thinking and expressions. Distinctions between language disorders and developmental differences are considered, as are relationships between language and literacy skills (reading and writing).

This course provides students in the Speech-Language Assistant concentration with a series of introductory fieldwork experiences during which they will observe Speech-Language Pathologists as they provide speech and language therapy to clients. Students gain practical experience in observing techniques and theories as applied in a therapeutic setting. Twenty-five hours of observation are required for each two-credit practicum, in settings approved by the clinical faculty.

This course introduces basic concepts, theories, and methods in the discipline of sociology that reveal the relationship between the individual and society and challenge students to develop a sociological perspective. Students are exposed to diverse cultures and social structures with an emphasis on the dynamics of power and inequality on the local, national, and global levels as they are influenced by the social constructs of race, ethnicity, class, gender and sexuality.

This course provides an examination of child maltreatment from a variety of perspectives, including theoretical, cultural, historical, and legal. It offers definitions of the types of child abuse and neglect, and allows students to reflect on how culture and history play roles in the defining process. Students learn to identify signs and symptoms resulting from maltreatment, and take an in-depth look at how trauma affects all areas of child development. The roles of child protection workers, the complex child protection system, and the legal systems are explained. Students have the opportunity to critically review current research and debate emotionally charged ethical issues. This course challenges students to consider the dynamics that may lead people to harm children and connect the development of prevention strategies to these variables.