Communication Degrees Online

The Minnesota State University, Mankato program in Communication Disorders had its beginnings in 1953 with the first course offerings through the Department of Special Education. In 1959, the program faculty offices, the Speech and Hearing Clinic, the Speech Laboratory, and the classrooms were moved to Armstrong hall on the new Highland Campus and became a part of the Speech and Theater Arts Department. The program has remained in Armstrong Hall to the present day. In 1976, the program became the Speech Pathology Department, a separate department within the College of Health and Human Performance. Subsequently, the name of the department was changed to the Department of Communication Disorders and the name of the College was changed to the College of Allied Health and Nursing and is a division of the College of Graduate Studies.

In 1983, the Speech–Language Pathology and Audiology Clinics became affiliated with the Key City Sertoma Club of Mankato. The affiliation allows access to Sertoma Foundation Programs of Sertoma International. Sertoma is a service organization providing support for individuals with communication and other disabilities. The local Key City Club provides financial support to the clinic service program and Sertoma International sponsors matching grants for service projects and scholarship support for faculty and staff in continuing education.

In 1998, the Department of Communication Disorders merged with the Allied health and Nursing. In 1998, the Department of Communication Disorders merged with the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling. The merged department was renamed the Department of Speech, Hearing & Rehabilitation Services (SHRS). The new department offers three degrees: a BS in Communication Disorders, an MS in Communication Disorders, and an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling.

The undergraduate degree is offered is the Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) and the graduate degree is the Master of Science degree (M.S.). The M.S. has been available since 1970.

The department is based on a foundation of academic excellence and clinical competence in serving individuals with communicative disorders. Preparation in Communication Disorders entails both undergraduate and graduate coursework and clinical practicum experiences. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA) and is designed to meet all of the requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) issued by ASHA. Attainment of this certification is intended to assure that the individual is fully prepared as a speech–language pathologist. Such preparation also meets or exceed the speech pathology requirement for teacher licensure and health licensure in Minnesota.

The undergraduate curriculum in Communication Disorders is pre–professional, provides preparation for graduate study in Communication Disorders, and leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Employment as a speech pathologist with a Bachelor of Science degree is no longer possible. It is the position of ASHA and the Communication Disorders Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato that the Master’s degree is the minimum level of professional preparation for clinical practice.

The graduate course of study begins in the Fall Semester of an academic year. The specific courses students must take are partially a function of their preparation at the undergraduate level of study. Students transferring from other institutions usually have little difficulty in establishing a course of study, if they have already earned a B.S. or B.A. degree with a major in Communication Disorders. Students without an undergraduate degree in the discipline (i.e., transition students) can expect to take at least an additional year of study to remove deficiencies prior to enrolling in the graduate program. The graduate degree program focuses on the acquisition of clinical competency with a variety of specific classes focusing on disorders management and research in Communication Disorders.

The graduate program of study, when combined with undergraduate coursework and practicum experiences, meets the academic and practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) issued by ASHA.

Many of the program’s hundreds of alumni have enjoyed careers in academia as well as careers in schools, rehabilitation centers, private practice, medical centers, and hospitals.

Speech pathology and audiology is the study of communication challenges, including problems with the speed and regularity of speech, the quality of the speech sounds produced, the hearing and understanding of speech, or the language-processing system. These disorders may be the result of some learned behavior, an adjustment problem, or a physiological problem. A speech pathologist or an audiologist tries to understand the communication problems and then sets up a program to help individuals deal with them.

What are the features of Miami’s program?
Extensive undergraduate coursework: The American Speech and Hearing Association and many states, including Ohio, require a master’s degree for certification as a speech pathologist or audiologist. Therefore, Miami designed its speech pathology and audiology program to give students the coursework and practical experience that would increase their chances of being accepted into high-quality graduate schools.

Hands-on therapy: Miami’s program is rare in that it provides a clinical practicum at the undergraduate level. For two semesters, students provide therapy to patients with a variety of communication problems in the Miami University Speech and Hearing Clinic. Because of this hands-on experience at an early stage, Miami students are viewed favorably by the best graduate programs in the country.

Practical experience: Miami’s speech pathology and audiology program also provides the opportunity for practical experience in other countries through national conferences and summer workshops. For example, each summer, undergraduates have met with speech pathologists in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, and Cyprus.

Top-notch facilities: Facilities for use by speech pathology and audiology majors include sound-treated hearing suites; therapy rooms with video cameras and microphones for evaluation; a materials room for tests and play activities; a language nursery with observation facilities; and a clinical room for adults with a home environment for therapy and classes. A state-of-the-art Speech and Hearing Science Laboratory provides specialized testing and research opportunities, such as voice acoustics, aerodynamics, laryngeal videostroboscopy, and respiratory function. Miami’s facilities are certified by the Council of Academic Accreditation.

Department

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

College

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Overview of the program

The goals of the Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders’ program are to:
Provide students with the academic coursework and clinical skills and training required for licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA).

Prepare students for further study at the graduate level.

Strengths of the program

The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders provides students with the degree and clinical experiences required for licensure as an SLPA. Students are also provided with opportunity for professional development. Specific areas of strength include:

Clinical experiences in the department’s on-campus Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic. The clinic provides assessment and treatment for infants through geriatric-aged clients who have a variety of disorders such as autism, stuttering, aphasia, traumatic brain injury, articulation, language, developmental delays, voice, and hearing impairment. The clinic also serves individuals seeking accent modification or dialect reduction.

Two semesters of clinical experiences that provide the required number of clinical contact hours for licensure as an SLPA.

Fifty-four hours of CSD coursework including two diagnostic classes, six hours of clinical methods, and a course in voice and fluency disorders.

Faculty that have received high student evaluations and state, national, and international recognition.

An active and nationally-honored student organization, National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA).

Opportunities for funded student research and professional development.

Integration of technology for classroom instruction and clinical practice.

Students majoring in communication disorders at Southeast receive training in speech-language pathology in a program nationally accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
As a communication disorders student, you will receive the pre-professional, academic and clinical training pertaining to human communication and its disorders. The undergraduate training serves as the foundation for the professional training in either audiology or speech-language pathology.
You can apply for several scholarships to assist you with some of the financial obligations incurred during your study in communication disorders. Scholarships include the M.G. Lorberg Memorial Scholarship, the M. Luther and Catherine Hahs Scholarship, the Jeannie Stange Scholarship, and the Loida Farrow Lerew Scholarship.
As a communication disorders student, you can join the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA). This student organization helps you learn more about your major, provides career advice and peer assistance with course and practicum scheduling.
Unlike many Communication Disorders programs in the region or the nation, students in the undergraduate program at Southeast Missouri State University are given the unique opportunity to obtain some clinical practicum experiences with individuals with communication disorders in the on-campus University Speech and Hearing Clinic.
The Department of Communication Disorders offers a Masters degree in Communication Disorders with a restricted number of admissions. The recipient’s of the undergraduate degree in communication disorders program of Southeast are given top priority for admission into the graduate program.