College of Education

Communication Disorders

Welcome from the CD Program Coordinator                                 Speech- Language - Hearing Clinic
Sample Sequence of Courses                                                            CD Program Student Handbook
CD Program FAQs                                                                                  CD Program Stategic Plan 
CD Policy on Oral Communication Skills                                          NSSLHA Information   

Communications Disorders Faculty :
Linda Fowler, Ph.D.,  Jacqueline Laures-Gore, Ph.D.,  Colleen M. O'Rourke, Ph.D.,  Mary Rambow, M.A., Debra Schober-Peterson, Ph.D., and Stacey Cunningham Wallen

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Communication Disorders (CD) Program offers you an educational opportunity that is unique in the state of Georgia as you pursue your master's degree in speech-language pathology.  The CD Program is distinctive in its relatively small size and its commitment  to excellence. A limited number of master's degree students (18-20) are enrolled each year as a cohort group. This allows you to have an individualized academic and clinical experience to meet your unique needs and interests.
You will receive an intensive field-based education that prepares you to implement the best practices in the profession, to communicate effectively with your colleagues and clients, to work collaboratively with other professionals who serve individuals with communication disorders and their families, and to pursue opportunities for advanced degrees. Our faculty understands the breadth and depth of knowledge and experience you need to succeed in your career. We are committed to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and supervision to ensure you will meet or exceed the expectations of your future employer. This commitment has meant that graduates of the CD Program are sought and valued by schools, hospitals, and rehabilitation programs throughout the state and region.

The CD Program offers an extensive curriculum, both academically and clinically, that prepares you for the profession of speech-language pathology. In the classroom, you are engaged in learning through lectures, discussion, small group activities, hands-on experiences, readings, individual assignments, and group projects (Complete List of Courses). Clinical practicum consists of three semesters of on-campus experience in the Georgia State Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic and two semesters of off-campus practicum. In the third semester of on-campus practicum, you also participate in a “mini-internship” at an off-campus facility one day of the week throughout the semester. During the two semesters of off-campus internships, you are placed at a facility (one semester at a school and one semester in a hospital/rehabilitation environment) and work full-time Monday through Friday throughout the entire semester.     

ACCREDITATION:

The Communication Disorders Program is accredited in the area of speech-language pathology by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). National accreditation ensures that the program meets specified standards in the areas of administrative structure and governance, faculty and instructional staff, curriculum, students, assessment, and program resources.

By graduating from an accredited program, you will be eligible to apply for ASHA certification in speech-language pathology. The course work and practicum requirements also conform to those of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for teacher certification, and the Georgia Board of Examiners for state licensure.
For questions regarding the program's accreditation status, contact the Council on Academic Accreditation at the link above or at 301-296-5700.

GRADUATION / PROGRAM COMPLETION RATE

Each year 18 to 20 students enter the master’s degree program in Communication Disorders. The CD Program has a 95% completion rate since 1997. The small number of students who decide to discontinue in the program typically do so for one of three reasons: to change majors, for personal reasons, or for academic reasons.

PRAXIS II EXAMINATION RESULTS

The PRAXIS II Exam in Speech-Language Pathology is required for national and state certification and state licensure. Since 1998, Georgia State graduates have a 98% pass rate on the first try (passing score = 600). Those individuals who did not pass the exam on their first attempt earned passing scores on their second attempt. The average scores for the past five years are shown below:

EMPLOYMENT RATE

All students (100%) who have completed the master’s degree program in Communication Disorders at Georgia State University were able to gain employment directly after graduation or go on for an advanced degree. You too will be eligible to find employment in diverse settings including public and private schools, hospital facilities, rehabilitation centers, and private practices.  

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE

The Communication Disorders Program in the College of Education does not offer an undergraduate degree in CD. Individuals seeking the undergraduate degree should contact the Department of Communication in the College of Arts & Sciences at 404-413-5676 or http://communication.gsu.edu/. A major in Speech with a Concentration in Communication Across the Lifespan prepares undergraduates to pursue the graduate degree in speech-language pathology or audiology. If you have an undergraduate degree in an unrelated area, you can also contact the Department of Communication regarding admission as a post-baccalaureate student to complete prerequisite courses. You are NOT required to complete prerequisite courses prior to admission to the graduate program in CD at Georgia State.

Ph.D. DEGREE

The doctoral degree is designed for individuals interested in research and teaching careers in higher education. The Communication Disorders Program does not  currently offer the doctoral degree, however several options are available at Georgia State for speech-language pathologists and students in communication disorders seeking the Ph.D.  For additional information about doctoral degree options, contact Dr. Jacqueline Laures-Gore, email: jlaures@gsu.edu.   

MASTER’S DEGREE IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

Program Theme: Leadership and Scholarship Focused on Learning and Development

The M.Ed. major in Communication Disorders prepares you to work with individuals of all ages who have communication disorders. The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology accredits the program. It is designed to lead to the Professional Standards Commission licensure at the master’s level, licensure by the Georgia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and certification in speech-language pathology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Program Admission
You must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. The following list shows you the course work areas that prepare you to pursue the master's degree. If you have not taken these courses, they will be added to your graduate program.

• Anatomy and Physiology for Communication
• Augmentative Communication
• Aural Rehabilitation
• Behavioral or Social Science
• Biological Science
• Exceptional Children and Youth
• Hearing Science and Disorders
• Introduction to Communication Disorders
• Introduction to Language Development
• Introduction to Language Disorders
• Mathematics
• Phonetics
• Physical Science (Chemistry or Physics)
• Sign Language
• Student Teaching in Communication Disorders
• Teaching Reading/Literacy

Program Degree Requirements
Master of Education in Communication Disorders
The following shows you the courses required for the master's degree.

A. Professional Studies (9). 
Select one (3):
EPSF 7100 Critical Pedagogy (3)
EPSF 7110 Multicultural Education (3)
EPSF 7120 Social and Cultural Foundations of Education (3)

Select one (3):
EPRS 7900 Methods of Research in Education (3)
EPRS 7910 Action Research (3)
EPRS 7920 Classroom Testing, Grading, and Assessment (3)

Select one (3):
EPY 7080 The Psychology of Learning and Learners (3)
EPY 7090 The Psychology of Learning and Learners: The Young Child (3)

B. Teaching Field/Major (48).
Students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in all courses in the teaching field/major. If students earn a grade below “B” in a course, that course must be repeated. Students will be allowed to repeat a course one time. Students who fail to earn a grade of “B” or higher after taking the course a second time will be scholastically excluded from this major. If students earn a grade below "B" in 2 or more courses, the Communication Disorders faculty will determine if the students will be allowed to continue the program of study.  If students earn a grade below “B” in a practicum experience, the Communication Disorders faculty will review the students’ progress in the program to determine if the students will be allowed to continue the program of study.
Required (48):
EXC 7450 Child Language Disorders (3)
EXC 7510 Neuroscience for Communication (3)
EXC 7520 Speech Sound Disorders (3)
EXC 7530 Voice Science and Disorders (3)
EXC 7540 Fluency Disorders (3)
EXC 7550 Adult Language Disorders (3)
EXC 7560 Diagnostic Methods of Speech and Language Disorders (3)
EXC 7570 Advanced Audiological Assessment (3)
EXC 7590 The Profession of Communication Disorders (2)
EXC 7600 Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (3)
EXC 7610 Motor Speech Disorders (3)
EXC 7630 Policies, Procedures, and Programming in Communication Disorders (3)
EXC 7910 Clinical Practicum in Communication Disorders (7)
EXC 7950 Communication Disorders Medical Internship (6)

C. Elective (3). The elective is to be selected with the consent of the major adviser from the following courses or another appropriate course:
Select one (3):
EXC 7990 Master’s Thesis (1-6)
EXC 8310 Advanced Studies in Language Development (3)
EXC 8320 Advanced Studies in Child Communication Disorders (3)
EXC 8330 Advanced Studies in Adult Communication Disorders (3)

Program total: minimum of 60 semester hours

PRACTICUM
Observation - All students must provide the Clinic Director with verification of 25 hours of observation. Practicum - You will participate in 3 semesters of on-campus practicum. By the end of the master's program you must accrue a minimum of 400 clock hours. Off-Campus Practicum - Off campus practicum assignments are made by the Clinic Director in consultation with the other faculty members. If you have not completed a practicum in a public school setting as part of your undergraduate training in Communication Disorders you will enroll in EXC 7951. During this one semester practicum experience, you will be placed in a school setting on a full-time basis. All students complete a one-semester, full-time practicum in a medical setting. For this practicum you enroll in EXC 7950.

EXC 7910  Clinical Practicum in Communication Disorders

EXC 7950  Medical Internship

EXC 7951  School Internship

Program Academic Regulations
Students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in all courses in the teaching field/major (B). If students earn a grade below “B” in a course, that course must be repeated. Students will be allowed to repeat a course one time. Students who fail to earn a grade of “B” or higher after taking the course a second time will be scholastically excluded from this major.  If students earn a grade below "B" in 2 or more courses, the Communication Disorders faculty will determine if the students will be allowed to continue the program of study. If students earn a grade below “B” in a practicum experience, the Communication Disorders faculty will review the students’ progress in the program to determine if the students will be allowed to continue the program of study.
In addition to the successful completion of academic coursework and a comprehensive portfolio, the students must also accumulate 400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience during practicum experiences to be eligible for graduation. Of the 400 clock hours, no less than 375 must be earned at the graduate level. The distribution of clock hours must comply with the current requirements as contained in the Communication Disorders program Student Handbook.
Students who have successfully completed all master’s-degree program requirements as well as the additional coursework requirements described above will be recommended for professional certification. This recommendation is made only at the conclusion of all master’s degree requirements. Students seeking licensure from the State of Georgia Professional Standards Commission must also achieve a passing score on the PRAXIS Exam for speech-language pathology before being recommended by Georgia State University.
Evaluation of the student’s performance is continuous and involves consideration of the student’s performance in all academic settings. Inappropriate or unprofessional conduct by a student may result in the student being dropped from a course or a program. If such removal from a course is necessary, the student will receive the grade of “F” and may be judged ineligible to re-enroll in the course.