Communication Sciences and Disorders
2015-2016

Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements | Profile

Chairperson:  Stacy K. Betz
Graduate Committee Chairperson: Stacy K. Betz
Office: Memorial Hall 230A
Telephone: (309) 298-1955 Fax: (309) 298-2049
E-mail: csd@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/csd
Location of Program Offering: Macomb

Graduate Faculty
Associate Professor

  • Stacy K. Betz, Ph.D., University of Kansas

Associate Graduate Faculty
Assistant Professors

  • Ioannis Papakyritsis, Ph.D., University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  • Kathryn A. Pohlpeter, M.A., CCC-SLP, Western Illinois University
  • Amanda B. Silberer, Ph.D., Au.D., CCC-AUD, University of Iowa

 Program Description

The Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders degree program in speech–language pathology at Western Illinois University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech–Language Pathology of the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. The program includes academic coursework and clinical practicum requirements. Clinical practicum experiences are completed both on campus at the WIU Speech–Language–Hearing Clinic and at various off-campus sites.

At the completion of the program, graduates will have completed all the necessary coursework and clinical practica to be eligible for the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech–language pathology (CCC–SLP). Graduates are also eligible for Illinois state licensure in speech–language pathology. There are additional clinical experience and standardized examination requirements for certification and licensure which are typically completed during the first year of employment.

Students who wish to earn licensure to work in the public schools in Illinois must complete all teacher licensure requirements established by the state of Illinois and Western Illinois University.

 Admission Requirements

Application deadline of January 15 for fall matriculation. Applicants for admission must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or earn a grade point average of at least 3.25 during the final two years of undergraduate work in order to be considered for regular admission to the graduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Applicants must also submit the following:

  1. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant's academic and clinical potential at the graduate level.
  2. A personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in a career in speech-language pathology and why the applicant is interested in attending WIU.
  3. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.
  4. A completed application via CSDCAS in addition to submission of an application to the WIU School of Graduate Studies.

Students are expected to have a background in communication sciences and disorders including undergraduate coursework in the following areas: speech and hearing anatomy, phonetics, speech and language development, audiometry, and introductory courses in characteristics, assessment, and treatment of communication disorders. Undergraduate coursework is also required in biology, physical sciences, statistics, and social sciences. Students who are deficient in any of these areas will be required to take undergraduate courses to make up these deficiencies to meet prerequisite knowledge for graduate classes and to meet requirements for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

 Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders degree program requires a minimum of 54 hours.

I. Core Courses: 45 s.h.

CSD 501 Introduction to Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders (3)
CSD 503 Seminar in Professional Affairs (2)
CSD 504 Seminar in Speech-Language Pathology (2)
CSD 510 Motor Speech Disorders (3)
CSD 513 Assessment of Child Language Disorders (3)
CSD 514 Treatment of Child Language Disorders (3)
CSD 521 Methods in Public Schools (3)
CSD 523 Neurological Disorders I: Aphasia (3)
CSD 524 Neurological Disorders II: Cognitive and Degenerative Disorders (3)
CSD 525 Dysphagia: Assessment and Intervention (3)
CSD 535 Voice Disorders (2)
CSD 547 Fluency and Fluency Disorders (2)
CSD 548 Articulation and Phonological Disorders (3)
CSD 549 Augmentative and Alternative Communication (3)
CSD 550 Audiology for the Speech-Language Pathologist (2)
CSD 587 Clinical Practicum in Speech-Language Evaluation (1)
CSD 588 Clinical Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology (4)
CSD 604 Graduate Portfolio (0)

II. Select one of the following internship options:

A. Internship:  9 s.h.

CSD 600 Internship in Communication Disorders (9)

B. Public School Internship: 9 s.h.

CSD 522 Internship in the Public School (5)
and
CSD Internship in Communication Disorders (4)

TOTAL PROGRAM: 54 s.h.

In addition to the coursework above, all students must complete all clinical clock hours required for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) before the master's degree will be awarded.

 Course Descriptions

Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)

481G Evaluation Procedures in Speech-Language Pathology. (3) Consideration of the general role of evaluation in speech and language therapy with intensive study of diagnostic tests and procedures used to assess communication disorders. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280; CSD 390, or permission of the instructor.

494G Aural Rehabilitation I. (3) History and development of methods of speech reading and auditory training. Multisensory approach to rehabilitation emphasized including specific procedures for handling impaired students in the classroom. Prerequisite: CSD 390; ENG 180 and 280, or permission of the instructor.

501 Introduction to Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders. (3) Explores clinician’s role as researcher and need for science to inform our clinical practice.  Students read and critically analyze existing research within the communication sciences and disorders, and review common research designs and data analysis techniques. Students are required to complete a formal project.

503 Seminar in Professional Affairs. (2) The study of current problems, issues and legislation in the communication disorders profession. Discussions will be organized to accommodate both student and instructor interests and concerns. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in CSD.

504 Seminar in Speech-Language Pathology. (2, repeatable to 4) Investigation of current literature relating to etiology, assessment, and treatment of selected communication disorders.  Topics based on faculty and student interest.  Prerequisite: Graduate standing in CSD  or permission of the instructor.

510 Motor Speech Disorders. (3) Study of assessment and intervention methods for apraxia of speech and the dysarthrias across the lifespan. Includes study of the etiology and characteristics of motor speech disorders as well as relevant anatomical, physiological, developmental, cultural, and psychological correlates. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in CSD or permission of the instructor.

513 Assessment of Child Language Disorders. (3) Study of the prevention and assessment of child language disorders. Includes study of etiology and characteristics as well as relevant anatomical, physiological, developmental, linguistic, cultural, and psychological correlates. Issues related to English language learners and literacy will be discussed. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in CSD or permission of the instructor.

514 Treatment of Child Language Disorders. (3) Study of intervention methods for child language disorders. Principles of evidence based practice will be emphasized. Issues related to English language learners and literacy will be discussed. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in CSD or permission of the instructor.

521 Methods in Public Schools. (3) The study of general program considerations for the speech-language pathologist in the public school setting including case management and state and federal legislation.

522 Internship in the Public School. (1–6, repeatable to 9) Supervised clinical practice in speech–language and/or hearing in the public school setting. Prerequisites: CSD 521, completion of required CSD coursework, no more than one C grade in CSD 587/588, and approval of faculty.

523 Neurological Disorders I: Aphasia. (3) Assessment and management of fluent, nonfluent, mixed, and global aphasia, with emphasis on the nature and cause of acquired language disorders in adults, including right hemisphere disorder. Prerequisite: CSD 382 or permission of the instructor.

524 Neurological Disorders II: Cognitive and Degenerative Disorders. (3) Identification, classification, and treatment of degenerative disorders and cognitive/memory disorders that affect speech and language, with emphasis on intervention across the continuum of care. Prerequisite: CSD 382 or permission of the instructor.

525 Dysphagia: Assessment and Intervention. (3) The study of swallowing and deglutition across the age span, with concentration on the methods of assessment and intervention in disorders of swallowing. Prerequisites: CSD 210, 312 and 382.

535 Voice Disorders. (2) Voice production, including vocal development and life–span changes. Pathophysiology of voice disorders, their assessment, management and treatment. Prerequisites: CSD 210, 380 and 384.

547 Fluency and Fluency Disorders. (2) Theory, research and clinical applications in fluency disorders.  Emphasis on assessment and treatment of behavioral, affective, and cognitive features of developmental stuttering across the lifespan.  Consideration of cluttering, neurogenic stuttering, psychogenic stuttering. Prerequisite: CSD 384.

548 Articulation and Phonological Disorders. (3) The study of assessment and intervention methods for children with articulation and phonological disorders. Includes study of etiology and characteristics as well as relevant anatomical, physiological, developmental, linguistic, cultural, and psychological correlates. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in CSD or permission of the instructor.

549 Augmentative and Alternative Communication. (3) Study of the various alternative and augmentative communication techniques and assistive technologies including the assessment and intervention strategies utilized to implement them. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in CSD or permission of the instructor.

550 Audiology for the Speech-Language Pathologist. (2) Study of selected auditory disorders, screening procedures, and habilitation/rehabilitation approaches from a speech-language pathology perspective based upon current scope of practice and research.  Prerequisites: CSD 390 and 494, or permission of the instructor.

587 Clinical Practicum in Speech-Language Evaluation. (1) Supervised practicum in speech-language evaluation procedures in the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. Prerequisite: CSD 481(G).

588 Graduate Clinical Practicum I Speech-Language Pathology. (1–3, repeatable to 8) Supervised clinical experience in on–campus and off–campus clinical facilities while working with children and adults having speech and language disorders. A minimum of 20 contact clock hours must be obtained for each credit hour. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

599 Graduate Clinical Practicum in Audiology. (1–3, repeatable to 8) Supervised clinical experience in on–campus and/or off–campus clinical facilities while working with children and adults having hearing impairments. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

600 Internship in Communication Disorders. (1–6, repeatable to 14) Supervised applied experience in an occupationally related area in line with the students' career objectives and approved by faculty. A minimum of eight weeks will be required for this experience. Prerequisites: Completion of required CSD coursework, no more than one C grade in CSD 587/588, and approval of faculty.

601 Thesis. (3)

604 Graduate Portfolio. (0) Throughout their graduate program, students will develop a portfolio documenting their evolving knowledge and skills in speech-language pathology.  The portfolio will be submitted to a faculty committee at the end of each semester, and the student’s mastery of identified knowledge and skills will be documented.  The final portfolio will show that the student has met the knowledge and skills outcomes for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Students taking CSD 604 must be in their final semester of course work, and obtain permission of CSD Graduate Advisor to enroll.