Master's Program in Communication Disorders

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
March 1st

The Department of Communication Disorders offers programs leading to the Master of Science degree in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Students are admitted for the fall semester. To be considered for admittance, the application process must be completed by March 1st.

Students may be admitted to graduate study from a variety of undergraduate majors. Individual programs are designed for each candidate to meet the requirements for certification in speech-language pathology and audiology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and Connecticut licensure and teacher certification. When necessary, graduate programs are developed to include prerequisite courses in normal speech and language development, speech and hearing science, anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism, and introductory courses in communication disorders. A total of 350 hours of supervised clinical experience is required for graduation with a minimum of 250 hours at the graduate level. Twenty-five hours of observation prior to beginning clinical work are also required. Registration for all courses requires departmental permission. (Students graduating in the fall 2004 term or later must meet the new ASHA requirements for certification which will go into effect January 1, 2005. Under these standards a total of 375 hours of supervised clinical experience plus 25 hours of observation will be required for graduation with a minimum of 325 hours obtained at the graduate level.)

The graduate academic programs of the Department of Communication Disorders are accredited in speech-language pathology and audiology by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (These programs are accredited through December 31st, 2010. Clinical services offered by the departmental Center for Communication Disorders hold ASHA Professional Services Accreditation. These services are accredited through December 31st, 2004. For more detailed information regarding programs, please visit our departmental web
site.

DEPARTMENTAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To be accepted into the Department of Communication Disorders, candidates must meet the following criteria in addition to the all University requirements. They must have a cumulative undergraduate quality point ratio of 3.0 or higher, and they must demonstrate professional promise and scholastic ability. If eligibility for a teaching certificate in speech pathology is desired, all teacher certification entrance and exit requirements must be met. Refer to the section entitled “Admission to Teacher Certification Programs” in the beginning of this catalog under “Application and Admission” for additional information regarding acceptance to a certification program and PRAXIS examinations.

In addition, the Communication Disorders Department requires that candidates submit:

• Scores obtained on the GRE
• Aminimum of three recommendations attesting to their professional promise and academic ability
• A 250-300 word essay on a personal challenge and how it was handled, or on a project initiated and maintained independent of parental or school assistance

Pre-Professional Program
Persons who do not meet all departmental admission requirements may be permitted to enroll in the department's Pre-Professional Program. Applicants accepted into this program will receive provisional acceptance into the department and conditional matriculation into the School of Graduate Studies. Students may be permitted to enroll in a maximum of 20 credits of prerequisite courses. Upon completion of assigned prerequisite courses, maintaining a grade of "B" or higher in each course, students will be evaluated for full acceptance into the graduate program. Prerequisite courses will be assigned after transcript review and an interview with the graduate program advisor. Students will be requested to repeat prerequisite courses in Communication Disorders for which a grade of "B-" or lower has been earned at the undergraduate level. Further, students may be requested to repeat prerequisite courses which do not meet all departmental content requirements regardless of the grade earned.

Students will be admitted to this program on a first-come, first-served basis. The department holds a limited number of places for Pre-Professional students. Students should apply to the program following the guidelines set for application and admission. A statement indicating interest in the Pre-Professional Program should be included.

PREREQUISITE COURSES FOR ALL PROGRAMS
CMD 200 — Introduction to Developmental Communication Disorders
CMD 201 — Introduction to Communication Disorders in Medical Settings
CMD 203 — Phonetics and Phonological Systems (4 credits)
CMD 317 — Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Mechanism
CMD 319 — Language Development: Ages Birth to Five
CMD 320 — Introduction to Hearing Science
CMD 321 — Introduction to Audiology
CMD 418 — Neurological Bases of Communication
CMD 419 — Language Acquisition: School-Age — Adolescence
CMD 420 — Speech Science (4 credits)
CMD 461 — The Clinical Practice of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology

AUDIOLOGY
James J. Dempsey, Ph.D., Program Coordinator, Tel. (203) 392-5962
The Master of Science degree in audiology prepares students to function in clinical settings, including hospitals and rehabilitation centers, and in schools as audiologists.

Area of Specialization
All students enroll for 30 credits of required audiology core courses; a minimum of 6 credits of speech-language pathology; 30 credits of practicum; and either CMD 605—Special Projects for 3 credits, or CMD 590—Thesis Seminar for 6 credits, depending on track selected.

CMD 530 — Measurement and Diagnosis in Audiology
CMD 532 — Medical Audiology
CMD 533 — Audiological Assessment for the Difficult to Test: Pediatrics
CMD 553 — Amplification Systems
CMD 554 — Electrophysiological Measures of Auditory Function
CMD 555 — Audiology and Audiometry II
CMD 559 — Educational Audiology
CMD 574 — Environmental Audiology
CMD 575 — Central Auditory Processing Disorders in Children
CMD 630 — Adult Aural Rehabilitation Practica
CMD 560 — Speech and Language Practicum A (3 credits only)
CMD 568 — Audiology Practicum

Master’s Thesis
The student enrolls in CMD 590 and completes a thesis.

Special Project
The student enrolls in CMD 605 and is required to complete a special project.

ASHA National Examination
Successful passage of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Examination in Audiology (Praxis II) is required for graduation.

SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
Frank E. Sansone Jr., Ph.D., Program Coordinator, Tel. (203) 392-5954
The Master of Science degree with a major in Speech-Language Pathology prepares students to practice in public and private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and in private practice as speech-language pathologists.

Area of Specialization
All students enroll for 30 credits of required core courses; 30 credits of practicum; 3 credits of electives; and either CMD 605 — Special Projects for 3 credits, or CMD 590 — Thesis Seminar for 6 credits depending on track selected. An additional course, CMD 530 — Measurement and Diagnosis in Audiology, may be assigned if preparation in this area is required. Courses in health, special education and psychology may be required for teacher certification. (Credit enrollment for the degree is subject to modification according to previous academic and clinical work.) The 30 credits of required courses are:

CMD 503 — Research Methods in Communication Disorders - 3 credits
CMD 527 — Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders - 3 credits
CMD 531 — Disorders of Phonology - 3 credits
CMD 537 — Cognitively Based Communication Disorders in Adults - 3 credits
CMD 545 — Disorders of Fluency - 3 credits
CMD 550 — Language Acquisition Disorders: Birth to Five - 3 credits
CMD 551 — Language Disorders: School-Age - 3 credits
CMD 559 — Educational Audiology - 3 credits
CMD 583 — Voice and Velopharyngeal Disorders - 3 credits
CMD 627 — Dysphagia - 3 credits

In each course students study current literature and prepare projects. Different clinical approaches are presented with emphasis on the use of recent technology. Each course includes study of the impact of multicultural, linguistic and sociological factors in the design of assessment and intervention procedures. Information on augmentative communication methods is included in appropriate contexts.

The 30 credits of practica are:
CMD 560 — Speech and Language Practicum A — 5 credits
CMD 561 — Speech and Language Practicum B — 5 credits
CMD 562 — School Practicum — 6 credits
CMD 564 — Diagnostic Practicum in Speech and Language Pathology — 5 credits
CMD 568 — Audiology Practicum — 3 credits
CMD 569 — Neuropathologies Practicum — 6 credits

These practica combine both on-campus and off-campus experiences. The on-campus work is completed in the Department’s Center for Communication Disorders. The offcampus work is completed in Connecticut public schools, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers. In order to participate in a public school practicum, the Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test must be passed or waived. Students should complete this requirement prior to enrollment or during the first semester of graduate work. Special Education courses are selected with adviser’s consent for teacher certification School Health Education courses are selected with adviser’s consent for teacher certification

Master’s Thesis
The student enrolls in CMD 590 and completes a thesis.

Special Project
The student enrolls in CMD 605 and is required to complete a special project.

ASHA National Examination
Successful passage of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Examination (Praxis II) is required for graduation.