Graduate Course Catalog 2012-2013
Graduate School
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Communication Sciences and Disorders (COMM)
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This program is offered in Durham.
Degree Offered: M.S.
The Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders offers a master of science degree. Students are prepared to practice in a variety of job settings within the field of speech-language pathology and to meet the academic and practicum requirements of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for the certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of ASHA.
The graduate program integrates an array of academic and clinical experiences to prepare students for a variety of careers in speech-language pathology. The program offers a master of science degree program in communications sciences and disorders. Students can elect to self-design their program, choosing from an array of required and elective courses that best suit their career objectives. This is referred to as the "no option" concentration. Two additional options, language/literacy disabilities and early childhood, are available to those students seeking particular expertise in one of these areas. Irrespective of which of the three options students select, the program of study will prepare them to treat the full range of communication disabilities across the life span.
Faculty and students are actively engaged in research activities. Their projects include examinations of the efficacy of language intervention for adults with aphasia, management of motor speech deficits, functional outcomes of augmentative and alternative communication, role of communication in fostering inclusive education, relationships between language and literacy, and ways of enhancing the process of clinical supervision.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission should possess a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders or its equivalent. The following courses, or their equivalents, are undergraduate prerequisites for the master's program: COMM 521, Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism; COMM 522, Language Acquisition; COMM 524, Clinical Phonetics; COMM 704, Basic Audiology; COMM 777, Speech and Hearing Science; and KIN 706, Neurology. In addition, a course in statistics is required. Students are also required to have accumulated knowledge in typical human development, cultural diversity, and both biological and physical sciences in preparation for fulfillment of ASHA requirements.
Applicants with degrees in related fields may be admitted to the Graduate School as provisional students, with the expectation that they will complete the above prerequisites prior to, or concurrent with, graduate courses. Acceptance to the communications sciences and disorders program is based primarily on grade-point average, GRE scores, and a written statement. Applicants must submit current scores (within five years) from the general test of the GRE. Generally, students must have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.2 to be considered for admission. Letters of recommendation are considered, particularly for the awarding of scholarships, assistantships, and other sources of support.
Degree Requirements
M.S. Degree Requirements
Three options are offered: no option, option in language/literacy disabilities, and option in early childhood (minimum 56 credits). The following core courses are required of all students: COMM 876 , Ethics/Professional Issues in Speech Language Pathology , 2 cr.; COMM 880, Diagnosis of Speech and Language Disorders, 3 cr.; COMM 890, Advanced Audiology for Speech-Language Pathologists, 3 cr.; COMM 903, Therapy Process, 2 cr.; COMM 915, Counseling Clients and Families with Communications Disorders, 2 cr.; COMM 910, On-Campus Clinical Practicum, 3 cr.; COMM 911, Off-Campus Clinical Practicum, 8 cr. Students are also required to take a course in research methods approved by the department.
No Option
In addition to the core courses listed above, students enrolling in the master of science degree program (no option) will take the following required courses:
COMM 900 Phonological Disorders in Children 3 cr.
COMM 901 Dysphagia 3 cr.
COMM 902 Stuttering 3 cr.
COMM 905 Motor Speech Disorders 3 cr.
COMM 906 Voice Disorders 2 cr.
Students will select 6 of the following courses (two of which must be in language):
COMM 875 Advanced Language Acquisition 3 cr.
COMM 904 Aphasia in Adults 3 cr.
COMM 907 Advanced Seminar in Aural Rehabilitation 3. cr.
COMM 908 Disorders of Language and Literacy I 3 cr.
COMM 909 Disorders of Language and Literacy II 3 cr.
COMM 912 Language Disorders Birth to Five 3 cr.
COMM 913 Cognitive Communication Disorders 3 cr.
COMM 914 Augmentative and Alternative Communication 3 cr.
COMM 916 Autism Spectrum Disorders 3 cr.
Other approved courses outside the department
Option in Language/Literacy Disabilities
In addition to the above core courses, required courses for this option are:
COMM 875 Advanced Language Acquisition 3 cr.
COMM 900 Phonological Disorders in Children 3 cr.
COMM 901 Dysphagia 3 cr.
COMM 902 Stuttering 3 cr.
COMM 905 Motor Speech Disorders 3 cr.
COMM 906 Voice Disorders 2 cr.
COMM 908 Disorders of Language and Literacy I 3 cr.
COMM 909 Disorders of Language and Literacy II 3 cr.
COMM 912 Language Disorders Birth to Five 3 cr.
Students will also take two elective courses from the following:
COMM 904 Aphasia in Adults 3 cr.
COMM 907 Advanced Seminar in Aural Rehabilitation 3 cr.
EDUC 907 Foundations of Literacy Instruction 4 cr.
COMM 913 Cognitive Communication 3 cr.
COMM 914 Augmentative and Alternative Communication 3 cr.
COMM 916 Autism Spectrum Disorders 3 cr.
Other approved courses outside the department
Option in Early Childhood
In addition to the core courses listed above, required courses for this option are:
COMM 900 Articulation and Phonological Disorders in Children 3 cr.
COMM 901 Dysphagia 3 cr.
COMM 902 Stuttering 3 cr.
COMM 905 Motor Speech Disorders 3 cr.
COMM 906 Voice Disorders 2 cr.
COMM 908 Language/Literacy Disorders I 3 cr.
COMM 912 Language Disorders Birth to Five 0-5 yr. 3 cr.
COMM 916 Autism Spectrum Disorders 3 cr.
EDUC 856 Supporting Families of Individuals with Exceptionalities 4 cr.
Students will take two of the following courses:
COMM 904 Aphasia in Adults 3 cr.
COMM 907 Advanced Seminar in Aural Rehabilitation 3 cr.
COMM 909 Language/Literacy Disorders II 3 cr.
COMM 913 Cognitive Communication Disorders 3 cr.
COMM 914 Augmentative/Alternative Communication 3 cr.
EDUC 941 Diversity and Child Development 4 cr.
HHS 898 Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders 1 to 8 cr.
Other approved courses outside the department
Clinical Practicum
Students will select clinical practicum experiences according to the desired option to develop practical skills in that area of interest. The number of hours needed by students may vary depending on previous undergraduate experiences. All students are required to complete two on-campus (total of 3 credits) and two off-campus (minimum of 6 credits) clinical practicum rotations.
Clinical practicum experiences are scheduled only in sites that are approved by the department. Students are responsible for meeting the health and criminal record clearances established by their practicum sites. In addition, students are responsible for transportation to off-campus clinical practicum sites and other community learning experiences and must purchase liability insurance. Practicum sites may require proof of immunization such as poliomyelitis, rubella, and hepatitis; and a physical examination, including tuberculin test as well as health insurance.
Concluding Experience
Students must elect a comprehensive examination or thesis as a concluding experience.
Comprehensive Examination (non-thesis): All students, except those writing a thesis, must pass a written comprehensive examination designed to assess their mastery of the professional concepts of communication sciences and disorders in the area of normative processes, pathologies, and remediation. Performance is evaluated by all graduate faculty.
Thesis: Students may choose to conduct thesis research. Upon completion of the thesis, students must defend the project in an oral examination and must gain approval of the thesis committee. In addition to the required coursework specified above, students must register for 6 credits of COMM 899.
Courses
| Abbreviation | Course Number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM | 825 | Cued Speech | 3 |
| COMM | 875 | Advanced Language Acquisition | 3 |
| COMM | 876 | Ethical and Professional Issues in Communication Sciences and Disorders I | 2 |
| COMM | 880 | Diagnosis of Speech and Language Disorders | 3 |
| COMM | 890 | Advanced Audiology for Speech-Language Pathologists | 3 |
| COMM | 895 | Special Topics | 1 to 3 |
| COMM | 899 | Master's Thesis | 1 to 6 |
| COMM | 900 | Articulatory and Phonological Disorders in Children | 3 |
| COMM | 901 | Dysphagia | 3 |
| COMM | 902 | Stuttering | 3 |
| COMM | 903 | Therapy Process | 2 |
| COMM | 904 | Aphasia in Adults | 3 |
| COMM | 905 | Motor Speech Disorders | 3 |
| COMM | 906 | Voice Disorders | 2 |
| COMM | 907 | Advanced Seminar in Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
| COMM | 908 | Disorders of Language and Literacy I | 3 |
| COMM | 909 | Disorders of Language and Literacy II | 3 |
| COMM | 910 | On-Campus Clinical Practicum | 1 to 3 |
| COMM | 911 | Off-Campus Clinical Practicum | 1 to 4 |
| COMM | 912 | Language Disorders Birth to Five | 3 |
| COMM | 913 | Cognitive Communication Disorders | 3 |
| COMM | 914 | Augmentative and Alternative Communication | 3 to 4 |
| COMM | 915 | Counseling Clients and Families with Communication Disorders | 2 |
| COMM | 916 | Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| COMM | 917 | Research Methods Comm Sci Dis | 3 |
| COMM | 920 | Graduate Seminar | 1 to 6 |
Important Note:
As of Fall 2013, program requirements for the Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders will change. Adjustments to the curriculum will result in an increase in the total number of credits from 56 to 61. For specific information regarding these changes please contact the department.
