Communication Disorders (MA)

Affiliation: School of Health Sciences & Education

The graduate program in communication disorders is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and has been offering the Master of Arts degree since 1967. ASHA explicitly recommends that the best preparation for graduate work in communication disorders is a strong undergraduate background in liberal arts and sciences. Building on such a background, the graduate program provides the specialized coursework and practicum experiences that prepare and qualify successful candidates for careers in speech-language pathology.

The chief components of the program are: 1) advanced coursework in the assessment and treatment of disorders of speech, language, and hearing; 2) advanced clinical practicum experiences with a diverse clinical population including children and adults in the Truman State University Speech and Hearing Clinic; 3) a sequence of major projects (clinical process commentaries) that provide opportunity for students to demonstrate knowledge and expertise through both oral and written presentation; and 4) fulltime, off-campus internships in two diverse clinical settings. The Truman graduate program in communication disorders is characterized by high academic and professional standards, close collaboration between students and faculty, and strong, broad-based professional preparation.

Students who wish to pursue graduate study in communication disorders should contact the Department Chair in Communication Disorders (660-785-4669) for information. Students who have undergraduate majors in related fields of study such as English, linguistics, psychology, biology, or others are encouraged to obtain information early, so that an appropriate individualized program of study can be planned.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Master of Arts in Communication Disorders program is to prepare speech-language pathologists who will serve all people with communication disorders. The program provides students who have a strong foundation in liberal arts and sciences with advanced academic, research, and clinical opportunities designed to help them acquire professional knowledge, skills, and values consistent with excellence in the field.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

1. To recruit highly qualified students who demonstrate the academic potential, interpersonal skills, emotional stability, and commitment requisite for success in a clinically-oriented graduate program in communication disorders.
2. To ensure that all program graduates meet the rigorous requirements for obtaining a complete set of professional credentials: national certification and Missouri state licensure.
3. To prepare graduates who will be qualified to meet the ongoing state and national shortage of speech-language pathologists in rural and urban schools, medical centers, rehabilitation facilities, private practice, and other work settings.
4. To provide academic and clinical experiences, in accordance with program accreditation standards, that prepare graduates to provide comprehensive speech-language pathology assessment, consultation, intervention, and rehabilitation services.
5. To explicitly validate the concept of the clinician-researcher and encourage the possibility of doctoral study by providing research experience for all graduate students. In addition, to provide opportunities for students to form mentor relationships with faculty, collaborate closely with peers and faculty, and explore topics of individual interest through learning communities, special assignments, independent study, and/or selection of the thesis option.
6. To model and promote ethical principles and procedures in the conduct of clinical practice, academic achievement, and research.
7. To model and promote professional values that include a respect for diversity, the importance of lifelong learning, and the rewards of service to clients, the community, and the profession.
8. To provide special opportunities to explore a) emergent literacy in children at risk, b) the use of new technologies in communication disorders, and c) the role of speech-language pathologists in rural health and education settings.

SPECIAL FACILITIES AND SERVICES

The Communication Disorders Department staffs and maintains the Truman State University Speech and Hearing Clinic. The clinic has individual and group therapy rooms, observation facilities, and video recording capabilities to facilitate supervision and observation by student clinicians and client family members. An audiological testing suite is available for complete hearing evaluations. The Kenneth M. McGuire Clinical Media Center houses the Clinic’s extensive collection of diagnostic and therapy materials and is used by student clinicians as they prepare for therapy and complete other case management tasks. Student clinicians make use of the Assistive Technology Lab to explore and prepare clinical applications of computers for direct use with clients.

The Clinic is open throughout the academic year and summer semesters, serving a local and regional population of all ages. Members of the University community including students, faculty, staff and their families are also served by the Clinic. All Clinic services are provided under the supervision of faculty who are licensed by the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts and certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. The student must be recommended for admission to graduate study by the program’s Admissions Committee and Dean (see the requirements for admission in the Graduate Studies section of this catalog).

2. The student must be admitted by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Program Criteria are:

1. a minimum overall grade point average of 3.00.
2. strong performance on the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing components of the GRE.
3. excellent oral and written language ability.
4. strong personal commitment to advanced study and service in communication disorders.

3. No student will be permitted to transfer graduate level coursework toward a degree in communication disorders in which a grade lower than a “B” was achieved.

Note: Applicants should submit to the Graduate Office three letters of recommendation, GRE scores, a personal statement, and all transcripts.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Before graduation, the student desiring an MA in Communication Disorders must complete the following:

1. The 39 credit hour Communication Disorders curriculum.
2. The academic and clinic experience requirements for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) and Missouri Licensure.
3. The Department-generated Clinical Process Commentary (CPC) Activities.
4. The nationally normed National Examination in Speech Pathology and Audiology (NESPA), of the PRAXIS series.
5. The specified requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies pertaining to grade point average, transfer credit, residence, course number, time limitations, repeat courses, and examinations. 

Observation Hours Requirement

A student clinician must observe a minimum total of 25 clock hours of assessment and management. This observation must precede clinical assignment with specific types of communication disorders. The observation experience must be under the direct supervision of a clinical supervisor who holds the ASHA CCC.

Additional undergraduate courses may be needed to meet certification requirements, depending upon specific courses taken for an undergraduate degree from another institution.

GRE SCORES

Graduate Record Exam percentile rankings corresponding to mean scaled scores for incoming communication disorders students, fiscal year 2010:
 
Analytical Writing: 41.47%
Quantitative: 35.80%
Verbal: 46.43%

Average GPA of incoming communication disorders students, fiscal year 2010: 3.54.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

Courses are listed by component category. An asterisk following the course number indicates that it is a major requirement.

Students majoring in communication disorders must demonstrate clinically appropriate speech/language/hearing skills prior to enrollment in clinical practicum.