The Communication Disorders (ComD) major is a limited enrollment program and 100-110 students are admitted to the major each year. Students interested in majoring in ComD should declare Pre-ComD as a major and will need to apply for admission to the ComD major after completing the prerequisite requirements.

How to Apply

When you have completed all four of the prerequisite courses - COMD 133, STAT 121, CELL 220 (preferred) or CELL 210, and PHSCS 167 - you may apply to the major by completing the Applicant Questionnaire which includes one short essay. If you have any questions, please contact the ComD department office (136 TLRB beth_nisar@byu.edu), or the Education Advisement Center (350 MCKB tara_goulding@byu.edu).

A "pass" in an AP Statistics course does not yield the letter grade which is required for evaluation of the application to the ComD major. A challenge examination from the Department of Statistics can provide the needed letter grade. The student should contact the Department of Statistics (223 TMCB) for specific information.

Please note: CELL 210/220 was previously named PDBIO 210/220 which is also acceptable as a prerequisite course.

How are admissions decisions made?

Admission is based on both the grade point average for the four prerequisite courses (ComD 133, Stat 121, CELL 220 (preferred) or CELL 210), and Physics 167; and the short essay in the application. In recent admissions, the GPAs of those accepted into the major have ranged from 4.0 (A) to 3.10 (B) for the four classes with the mean being approximately 3.69. Students will be notified of an admission decision about two weeks after grades are posted. During the last two admission cycles for the 2021-22 academic year, we have admitted 110 students with the following average statistics:

  • Mean: 3.685
  • Median: 3.39
  • Min: 3.10
  • Max: 4.00

Application Due Date

Applications are due on April 15, or October 15 of each year, with approximately 50 applicants admitted in December and August. Students who are taking the last of the prerequisite classes right before turning in an application may note that on the form (as "currently enrolled"), and the department will look up and enter the class grade when it becomes available. This allows a student to turn in an application before  semester grades are not yet available.

What if a student is not admitted to the major?

Each of the four prerequisite classes may be repeated only once, and the student may re-apply. We advise a student who is turned down twice for admission to the ComD major to visit the University Advisement Center in the WSC or the McKay School's Education Advisement Center office to learn about other possible majors.

For more information, see the ComD Undergraduate Handbook.