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Communication Sciences and Disorders - Master of Education
The M.Ed. in Communication Sciences and Disorders is a clinical degree. The focus of the masters program is applying clinical research to develop clinical expertise, as well as understandings of client values, for providing best clinical services to (a) individuals with a communication disorder as well as (b) their families, teachers, and caregivers. The ultimate goal of the program is to prepare graduates for successful entry into the professional marketplace.
The M.Ed. program provides academic and clinical instruction for establishing the knowledge and skill base necessary for (a) completing the Masters degree, (b) becoming a credentialed speech-language pathologist, and (c) practicing speech-language pathology in an entry level position. That knowledge and skill base conforms to the Scope of Practice as defined by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA).
Core Requirements
Individuals with an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders complete the masters degree with 69 credit hours. Individuals with an undergraduate degree in something other than communication disorders complete the program in 81 credit hours.
Expected Core Courses include:
EDHS 7020 - Evidence Based Practice
EDHS 7040 - Cognitive Linguistic Development
EDHS 7060 - Disorders of Phonology and Articulation
EDHS 7080 - Disorders of Fluency
EDHS 7090 - Disorders of Voice
EDHS 7120 - Prevention Intervention Assessment
EDHS 7140 - Autism and Related Disorders
EDHS 7180 - Habilitative Audiology I
EDHS 7190 - Neuroanatomy & Neurophysiology of Communication, Swallowing, and Cognition
EDHS 8020 - Disorders of Communication: Augmentative and Alternate Systems
EDHS 8030 - Neurogenic Communication Disorders
EDHS 8090 - Disorders of Language I
EDHS 8100 - Disorders of Language II
EDHS 8120 - Disorders of Communication Based in Cognitive Dysfunction
EDHS 8130 - Dysphagia
EDHS 8150 - Clinical Seminars (2 credits)
EDHS 8170 - Clinical Externship (6 credits)
EDHS 8691 - Clinical Practicum: Communication Disorders (6 credits)
EDHS 8800 - Clinical Internship in Speech-Language Pathology (12 credits)
In addition, a student having an undergraduate degree in something other than communication disorders must complete each of the following courses:
EDHS 4020 Clinical Phoenetics (3 credits)
EDHS 4030 Speech and Hearing Science (3 credits)
EDHS 4040 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanisms (3 credits)
EDHS 4050 Introduction to Audiology (3 credits)
Culminating Experience for the Master’s Degree
The comprehensive examination is completed in two stages. First, a student must achieve or exceed the minimum passing score set by ASHA on Praxis Examination #5331 (Speech-Language Pathology).
The second component of the comprehensive examination is an oral-presentation before faculty members concerning the details of a real life clinical case that a student encounters in the course of the clinical internship.
Communication Sciences and Disorders - Doctor of Philosophy
The Ph.D. for a career as a scientist and academician in speech language pathology is a research degree. The focus of the doctoral program is acquiring research skills to support independent investigation in clinical practice research. The ultimate goal of the program is to prepare graduates for successful careers as researchers, scientists, and scholars.
The Ph.D. program provides academic and apprenticeship instruction to establish the knowledge and skill base necessary for the doctoral student to (a) conduct independent research and scholarship, (b) establish a line of inquiry that leads to new knowledge within the discipline of speech language pathology and (c) acquire scholarship and instructional skills to support an academic career at an entry level position.
Consistent with University policies, the doctoral training program is governed through the Communication Disorders Program’s Doctoral Student Handbook.
Core Requirements
Individuals with a master’s degree in Communication Disorders complete the doctoral degree with a minimum of 78 credit hours beyond the masters degree.
Expected core courses include:
EDLF 5330 - Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis I 3
EDLF 7300 - Foundations of Educational Research 3
EDLF 7420 - Quantitative Methods II: General Linear Models 3
EDLF 7404 - Qualitative Analysis 3
EDLF 8310 - Generalized Linear Models 3
EDLF 8350 - Multivariate Statistics 3
plus at least one of the following courses:
EDLF 7180 - Tests and Measurements 3
EDLF 7330 - Single-Subject Research 3
In addition, each student will register for EDHS 9998 - Doctoral Research Apprenticeship under the direction of their mentor(s) throughout the doctoral training program. Typically, students register for 3 credits each semester during their first two years of study and 6 credits each semester during their last two years of training. 12 hours of EDHS 9999 - Doctoral Dissertation are required for graduation.
Culminating Experience for the Doctoral Degree
After completing all coursework and successfully passing qualifying examinations, a student enters into candidacy for the doctoral degree during which the dissertation is undertaken. The doctoral dissertation is completed in three stages. First, a student must successfully prepare and defend a dissertation proposal. After the proposal meets with the approval of the dissertation committee, research data are collected and analyzed according to the approved plan. Finally, the dissertation is written, disseminated to the candidate’s dissertation committee, and orally defended in accordance with procedures defined in the Curry Dissertation Manual which can be found in the Resources section of the Curry website.
