Master of Science - Communication Sciences and Disorders

Dr. Linwood H. Cousins, Chair
Department of Social Work and Communication Sciences and Disorders
434.395.2349, cousinslh@longwood.edu

Dr. Elizabeth A. Power-deFur, Graduate Program Coordinator
434.395.2369, powerdefurea@longwood.edu

The major in Communication Sciences and Disorders leads to the Master of Science degree and provides in-depth course work and practicum experiences designed to provide students a scholarly foundation and expertise in areas of articulation-phonology, infant and child language disorders, voice disorders, craniofacial anomalies, motor speech disorders, stuttering, aural rehabilitation, dysphagia, and aphasia. Advanced training will involve practicum experiences with a diverse population of adults and children, in a minimum of three different practicum settings. The Master’s degree is the entry-level degree for employment as a speech-language pathologist and prepares students for the remediation of communication disorders. Successful completion of the program meets current eligibility requirements for the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Speech-Language Pathology, the Commonwealth of Virginia Professional Licensure, and Virginia Department of Education Teacher Licensure with an endorsement in Speech and Language Disorders.

ADMISSION

Applicants to this program must have either an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders or an undergraduate degree in an unrelated discipline plus completion of the following speech-language pathology prerequisites with a grade of B- or better: Anatomy and Physiology of  Speech and Hearing Mechanisms, Phonetics (Transcription), Speech Science, Introduction to Audiology and Hearing Science, Language Development Across the Lifespan, Phonology and Language Disorders, and Neurology of Human Communication. In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must have a 3.00 undergraduate GPA and complete the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). 

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

All students are required to participate in the Longwood Center for Communication, Literacy and Learning. To meet ASHA accreditation requirements, all students must complete a minimum of 325 hours of supervised clinical experience at the graduate level and a minimum of 400 hours, including 25 observation hours, from the combined undergraduate and graduate programs. The 400 hours will include experience in the evaluation and treatment of children and adults and with a variety of types and severities of disorders of speech, language and hearing. Completion of at least 30 graduate clinic hours is recommended in the Longwood Center for Communication, Literacy and Learning prior to off-campus practicum placement. Students must complete a minimum of two off-campus practicum experiences approved by the Communication Sciences and Disorders program. 
      Admission to the graduate program does not guarantee admission to off-campus practicum placements. Admission to these placements depends on the quality of the graduate student’s academic record, clinical performance in the University clinic, and possession of characteristics necessary to pursue a career in speech-language pathology.  Permission to engage in an off-campus practicum or externship requires application by the student, 25 hours of approved observation, and will be the decision of the CSDS Clinical Affairs Committee based on the criteria developed for off-campus practicum placement. Students must complete an application and 150 clinical clock hours prior to initiation of an externship.
      A minimum letter grade of B- must be earned in each CSDS practicum and externship course in order to count the clinical clock hours. To graduate with a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, a minimum of 13 credit hours of practicum/externship must be completed with a maximum of 16 credit hours allowed. Each student will plan practicum experiences with an advisor; however, each student will assume responsibility for the accumulation of the necessary ASHA clock hours.
     Effective fall 2006, any student participating in a Longwood College of Education and Human Services course-or program-related extended field placement shall present evidence prior to placement that a criminal record background check has been completed in accordance to the requirements of the agency where the student is placed. Students should confer with their specific program faculty to understand the placing agency’s requirements and the procedures they should follow to comply with these requirements.

TEACHER LICENSURE OPTION

Speech-language pathologists seeking public school employment in the Commonwealth of Virginia are required to earn teacher licensure. The complete requirements for licensure, which include a Master’s degree, are described on the Virginia Department of Education web page under Licensure Regulations for School Personnel at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE.
      All majors are strongly encouraged to take Praxis I as well as the specific courses that are required for teacher licensure as part of their undergraduate studies. Certain courses not completed during the undergraduate experience may be completed at the graduate level. In addition to the undergraduate course recommendations for teacher licensure, the following course must be taken at the graduate level: SPED 545 – Psychoeducational Assessment.

THESIS

The writing of an acceptable thesis is an option for the Communication Sciences and Disorders major. The thesis proposal will summarize the proposed study and give research methodology or critical framework for the study. The thesis proposal is formulated by the student in consultation with an advisor and submitted to the student’s thesis committee. The student’s thesis committee will be composed of three graduate faculty members; adjunct faculty will not serve on this committee. The Longwood University Human and Animal Subjects Research Review committee must approve the proposal prior to commencement of the research.
      For general requirements on the thesis, consult the "Academic Regulations" section.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

The comprehensive examination will be of the essay type, consisting of several broad question areas. It is designed to evaluate the student's competency in written expression and the ability to reason. In addition, the student's knowledge of and ability to apply specific theory and research relating to his/her area of study will be evaluated. The grading system for the evaluation of the comprehensive examination will be pass/fail. Two of the three members of the committee must agree for a "Pass" grade.
      The student’s comprehensive examination committee will be composed of three graduate faculty members; adjunct faculty will not serve on this committee. The committee will be responsible for the preparation and evaluation of the comprehensive examination.
      Students must have completed or be enrolled to allow for completion of 40 semester hours of course work, students must have a B average (3.0 GPA) in all courses completed for the degree, and students must have already filed the Application for Graduate Degree to be eligible to enroll in the comprehensive examination.
      The comprehensive examination in Communication Sciences & Disorders will be administered two times a year from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on the third Saturday of October and the first Saturday of March by the Office of Graduate and Extended Studies on the main campus in Farmville. Students must register for the comprehensive examination (CSDS 699) no later than the last day to add a course in the semester in which they wish to take the examination. The Office of Graduate and Extended Studies will send written notification after the last day to add a course in a semester to all students registered for the comprehensive examination. The notification will include specifics about administration of the exam.  Some programs provide study guides, which will be included with the above notification. 
      Students who fail the examination shall be allowed one re-examination.  The Communication Sciences & Disorders re-examination can be administered at a time set by the Dean of Graduate and Extended Studies within the same semester with a fee of $35.00 required prior to administration of the re-examination. Alternatively, the re-examination can be administered at the next scheduled exam date with the student registering for CSDS 699 in that term and paying the $35.00 course fee. Failure of the examination for a second time will be final, and students will be dismissed from the graduate program.
      For general requirements on the comprehensive examination, consult the "Academic Regulations" section of this catalog.

COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

CSDS 520               Language Disorders in Infants and Preschool Children (3)
CSDS 522               Advanced Study in Articulation and Phonology (3)
CSDS 525               Language Disorders in School-Aged Children and Adolescents (3)
CSDS 530               Ethics and Professional Issues in Communication Disorders (2)
CSDS 540               Aural Rehabilitation (3)
CSDS 542               Motor Speech Disorders (2)
CSDS 565               Public School Methods in a Diverse Society (2)
CSDS 575               Fluency Disorders (2)
CSDS 580               Initial Practicum in Speech-Language and Hearing (2)
CSDS 610               Feeding and Swallowing Disorders Across the Lifespan (3)
CSDS 615               Aphasia, Right Hemisphere Disorders and Dementia (3)
CSDS 620               Traumatic Brain Injury (1)
CSDS 625               Voice Disorders (3)
CSDS 630               Craniofacial Anomolies (1)
CSDS 640               Augmentative and Alternative Communication (1)
CSDS 680               Practicum in Speech-Language, Hearing, and/or Dysphagia (1-4)
CSDS 685               Externship in Speech-Language and Hearing, and/or Dysphagia (3-6)
CSDS 600               Thesis (3)
OR CSDS 699         Comprehensive Examination (0)
EDUC 502               Research Design (3)           

TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED              48/51