DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY

Chair: Stephen B. Hood (380-2600)
Professors: Hood, Sellers
Associate Professors: Besing, Dagenais, Evans
Assistant Professors: Chase, Rubin
Adjunct Associate Professors: Brown, Sinnott

The primary objective of the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology is to develop scholarship in speech and hearing sciences and to assist students in the application of that scholarship to improve the communicative skills of persons with speech, language and hearing disorders. The undergraduate program is preparation for professional study on the graduate level. Upon completion of the Bachelor's and Master's programs, students will have met all academic and practicum requirements for national certification (ASHA-CCC) and the Alabama State License.

Students may register for SPA courses which have an SPA prerequisite only if a grade of "C" or better was achieved in the prerequisite course. Speech and Hearing majors are expected to maintain an overall grade-point average acceptable for admission to a graduate program.

Course requirements for the baccalaureate degree are outlined below.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN SPEECH AND HEARING SCIENCES

American Literature: EH 225, 226 - 6 credits
Anthropology: AN 100 - 3 credits
Biology: BLY 101, 151, 152 - 12 credits
Computer and Information Sciences: CIS 150 - 3 credits
English: EH 101, 102 - 6 credits
Fine Arts Elective - 3 hours selected from: ARH 100, ARS 101, MUL 101, DRA 110
History: HY 101 or 235 - 3 credits
Mathematics: MA 112 - 3 credits
Philosophy: PHL 110, 121 or 131 - 3 credits
Physics: PH 104 - 4 credits
Psychology - 12 hours selected from: PSY 120, 220, 310, 340, 420, 430, 450, 465
Speech Communication: CA 110 - 3 credits
Sociology: SY 109 - 3 credits
Statistics: ST 210 - 3 credits

Electives - 18 hours selected from:

1. Issues in Aging: 6 hours selected from PSY 352, BLY 207, HSC 450, 457, SY 372, SY 472, LS 479.

2. Multicultural Issues: 6 hours selected from EDF 315, AN 200, AN 458, SY 421, SY 426, SY 445, SY 455, PSY 270.

3. Human Development: 6 hours selected from PSY 250, PSY 350, EPY 251, EPY 451.

Prior to enrolling in SPA courses at the 300- and 400-level, students must complete BLY 151, BLY 152, CIS 150, SPA 291, and at least one course from areas A, B, and C as shown above. Student must have achieved an overall GPA of 2.5 in order to enroll in SPA 300- and 400-level courses.

REQUIRED SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY COURSES
45 credits as given below:

A special course fee is assessed in each of the following courses:

PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS HOLDING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ANOTHER DISCIPLINE
The Pre-Professional Preparation Program in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology offers appropriate prerequisite undergraduate course work to individuals who hold a bachelor's degree in an area other than speech and hearing science, speech language pathology, audiology, or communication disorders. Additionally, this program adequately prepares students for competitive admission consideration to the department's M.S. programs in speech-language pathology and audiology. Successful completion of this program does not guarantee admission to the M.S. programs in speech and hearing sciences.

Given the structured curriculum in this special track, students are admitted Fall Semester only. It is expected that students admitted to the program will complete the program in one academic year. Students who do not complete the program in one academic year may reapply to the department on a competitive, space available basis. Students interested in this program should contact the Department for an application packet prior to the May 1 deadline.

Admission requirements for the Pre-Professional Preparation Program include:

1. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale)

2. A score of at least 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination (Verbal+Quantitative subtests)

3. Supporting course work in biology, mathematics, statistics, computer and information sciences, english, and psychology equivalent to such requirements in the undergraduate speech and hearing sciences major (see previous pages in this Bulletin).

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SPEECH AND HEARING SCIENCES
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Speech and Hearing Sciences serves either as professional preparation for clinical certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or as preparation for graduate study leading to the Ph.D. degree. The M.S. program provides a broad range of basic science courses and specialized offerings emphasizing evaluation and treatment of language, articulation, fluency, voice, hearing, and neurologically-based communication disorders. Students are prepared for careers as clinicians in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and community clinics. Clinical practicum opportunities are available at the on-campus Speech and Hearing Center and many affiliated clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools, and hospitals. Within this framework, students who elect an emphasis in speech pathology or audiology must meet the academic and practicum requirements for national certification (The Certificate of Clinical Competence awarded by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) and State of Alabama Licensure in their major professional area. Students may elect to satisfy requirements of the Alabama State Department of Education for Class A certification. For specific requirements consult the Department Chair (334)380-2600. Those students who choose an emphasis in communication sciences follow an individualized program of studies consistent with their career goals. Depending upon undergraduate preparation, the M.S. program typically extends for five academic semesters, including one partial semester of clinical externship. Graduate assistantships and tuition fellowships are available annually on a competitive basis. Applications for admission and assistantships are accepted throughout the academic year with enrollment beginning in the Fall Semester only. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is March 1. Specific information about the Masters program is available from the department.

The academic (i.e., Master of Science) and clinical programs are fully accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation and Professional Services Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
Students are admitted in the Fall Semester only.
The following criteria supplement the Graduate School criteria (see Categories of Admission):

REGULAR ADMISSION

1. Score of at least 1000 on GRE General Test (Verbal plus Quantitative subtest scores).

2. For students who have had a structured clinical practicum experience, evidence of acceptable clinical performance in undergraduate practicum is required. Some students may be expected to enroll in SPA 480.

3. Overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and,

4. Three letters of recommendation. Of these three letters, at least two should be from doctoral faculty members and one letter from an additional faculty member or clinical supervisor. These letters are to be in narrative letter form. Letters that do not conform to this requirement will not be considered.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION

1. Score of at least 850 on GRE General Test (Verbal plus Quantitative subtest scores).

2. For students who have had a structured clinical practicum experience, evidence of acceptable clinical performance in undergraduate practicum is required. Some students may be expected to enroll in SPA 480.

3. Overall undergraduate GPA of 2.5 and,

4. Three letters of recommendation. Of these three letters, at least two should be from doctoral faculty members and one letter from an additional faculty member or clinical supervisor. These letters are to be in narrative letter form. Letters that do not conform to this requirement will not be considered.

Because the number of applicants is greater than the number of vacancies in the program, students will be admitted on a competitive basis, based on the criteria stated above. Because of limited course sequencing, students are admitted in Fall Semester only. Students should submit complete applications by March 1 of the year in which they intend to matriculate.

In addition, students should have a course in human anatomy and physiology, an adequate background in psychology, and one course each in basic statistics and computer science. In order to meet ASHA certification requirements, students are strongly encouraged to complete course work in areas dealing with multicultural issues, aging/gerontology, and human development. Students with a bachelor's degree in other fields will be expected to meet PPP program requirements in speech pathology and audiology.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREE
The Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences degree requires a minimum of five semesters of full-time academic study. A portion of the final semester is spent off campus completing the externship.

Schematics of the M.S. curricula with emphases in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology are illustrated below.

COURSE SEQUENCE
Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Speech-Language Pathology Emphasis
Year 1

Year 2

COURSE SEQUENCE
Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences
Audiology Emphasis
Year 1

Year 2

A special course fee is assessed in each of the following courses:

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in Communication Sciences and Disorders offers students specialization in speech and language pathology, communication science, or audiology. The doctoral program is designed to provide a formal course of training and advanced research in communication sciences and disorders that produces significant, original contributions to the professional discipline. Supplementary course work in experimental research design and statistics and optional interdisciplinary medical rotations maximize the student's ability to engage in original research and scholarship. A doctoral student is admitted to candidacy upon passing a written and oral comprehensive examination.

The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology offers two doctoral program options depending upon the student's academic background. Option A (Non-Traditional Track) is a post Bachelor's doctoral program while Option B (Traditional Track) is a post Master's doctoral program. Each track is described below.

Option A: Non-Traditional Track (Post Bachelor's Program)

Students in the Non-Traditional Track enroll in Master's level course work for the initial portion of their program. They also enroll in CSD 600 (Doctoral Colloquium) to afford them, at the outset, an opportunity to interact with other doctoral students. During the Summer Semester of the first year, Option A students begin directed independent research. The Non-Traditional doctoral track usually takes a minimum of four years of full-time study to complete.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
Minimum admission consideration requirements are as follows:

1. Bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology or audiology, or successful completion of undergraduate equivalency course work in the professional area for which the degree is sought.

2. Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.2 (based on 4.0).

3. Minimum undergraduate GPA in the professional area of 3.5.

4. Combined score of at least 1500 on the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

5. Three letters of recommendation.

6. A written statement of the applicant's research goals and purpose(s) for pursuing the Ph.D. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Students should contact the department for specific details.

Option B: Traditional Track (Post Master's Program)

Students in the Traditional Track initially enroll in doctoral level core course work followed by directed research experience culminating in the dissertation over the remaining years in the program. The Traditional Track usually takes a minimum of three years of full-time study to complete.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
Minimum admission consideration requirements are as follows:

1. Master's degree in speech-language pathology, audiology, speech and hearing science, or equivalent.

2. An overall graduate GPA of 3.5 (based on a 4.0-point system).

3. Three letters of recommendation.

4. A written statement of the applicant's research goals and purpose(s) for pursuing the Ph.D. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and

5. For assistantship/fellowship applicants, official GRE scores are required.

6. Foreign applicants must also demonstrate competence, fluency, and intelligibility in both written and spoken English.

Students should contact the department for specific details.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
CURRICULUM
The Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Communication Sciences and Disorders requires a minimum of 66 semester hours of approved graduate course work beyond the Master's degree. Refer to the doctoral handbook for specific requirements.

APPLICATION
Applications for admission and assistantships are accepted throughout the academic year with enrollment beginning in the Fall Semester. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is
March 1. Specific information about each doctoral program option may be obtained from the department.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS/TUITION FELLOWSHIPS
Graduate assistantships and tuition fellowships are available annually on a competitive basis.

TRANSFER CREDIT
Normally, students are not permitted to transfer doctoral level credits. Exceptions to this policy would require approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate School.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
A comprehensive examination and professional presentation will be administered and passed during the semester in which all academic work will be completed, and prior to the time the student defends the dissertation prospectus.

CANDIDACY
Admission to candidacy will be achieved upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination and professional presentation. The doctoral candidate is, therefore, a student who has fulfilled all preliminary requirements for the Ph.D. and has only the dissertation research as the remaining program requirement.

DISSERTATION/DISSERTATION DEFENSE
While only 21 semester hours of dissertation research may count towards the degree, a student must continually enroll in CSD 699 (Dissertation Research) until the final dissertation document has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The final oral defense of the dissertation is scheduled after the dissertation is completed. Additional revisions of the dissertation may be required as a result of the defense or Graduate School evaluation.

TIME LIMIT
Students have three years from the time they begin the doctoral program to reach candidacy. After reaching candidacy, students have a maximum of two years to complete the dissertation.

Descriptions of all Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPA) courses

College of Allied Health Professions

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA We welcome your questions and comments about our site. Please E-mail the Webmaster. Last changed: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 03:11:26 PM URL: http://www.southalabama.edu/bulletin/bulletin9899/allspa.htm