Program Description

 
MA Program Curriculum 
The department offers the Master of Arts in communication disorders with or without a thesis. The thesis option requires 42 hours of coursework plus six hours of thesis credit. The non-thesis option requires 48 hours of coursework and successful completion of a comprehensive examination. Required coursework is designed to enable students to satisfy requirements for professional certification in speech-language pathology. 
 
Classes required of all COMD MA students include:  
 
COMD 7281 Acquired Neurogenic Language Disorders  
COMD 7282 Acquired Neurogenic Cognitive-Communicative Disorders  
COMD 7381 Language and Learning Disorders  
COMD 7382 Voice Disorders  
COMD 7385 Neuropathologies of Speech  
COMD 7480 Measurement and Diagnosis of Communication Disorders  
COMD 7153 Research Design in Communication Science and Disorders  
COMD 7384 Early Communicative Intervention  
COMD 7783 Dysphagia  
 
Students must also complete 15 credit hours of clinical practice. Thesis students include six hours of COMD 8000 Thesis Research. Non-thesis students include a 7000-level seminar and a 7000-level elective approved by the department. Thesis students defend their theses orally to their thesis committee members. Non-thesis students prepare a comprehensive examination that is evaluated by a departmental committee. 
 
Typical Course Sequence for Students with Their Prerequisites 
The sequence listed below assumes that students have completed undergraduate pre-requisites required by ASHA (in the areas of life science, social science, physical science, and math). The sequence also assumes that students have completed fluency and aural rehabilitation as an undergraduate. For students who need these courses, they can be taken as additions to the courses listed below (see details at the end of this page). 
 
Summer Before Starting Graduate School 
Some students take clinical practica (COMD 7683, 7684, and or 7685), but this is optional  
 
Fall First Year 
COMD 7280 Neuroanatomical Bases of Speech and Language 
COMD 7381 Language Learning Disorders 
COMD 7282 Acquired Neurogenic Cognitive-Communicative Disorders 
COMD 7683, 7684, and/or 7685 Clinic (combination of on- and off-campus practica) 
 
Spring First Year 
COMD 7385 Neuropathologies of Speech 
COMD 7281 Acquired Neurogenic Language Disorders 
COMD 7480 Measurement and Diagnosis 
COMD 7683, 7684, and/or 7685 Clinic (combination of on- and off-campus practica)  
 
Summer Between First and Second Year 
COMD 7153 Research Design (this class is offered during Intersession; see department for dates) 
COMD 7683, 7684, and/or 7685 Clinic (combination of on- and off-campus practica)  
 
Fall Second Year 
COMD 7384 Early Communicative Intervention 
COMD 7783 Dysphagia 
COMD 8000 Thesis and/or COMD elective 
COMD Seminar of Choice (can be taken Fall or Spring; one is required) 
COMD 7684 and/or 7685 Clinic (combination of on- and off-campus practica)  
 
Spring Second Year 
COMD 8000 Thesis and/or COMD elective 
COMD 7383 Cleft Palate (elective) 
COMD Seminar of Choice (can be taken Fall or Spring; one is required) 
COMD 7683, 7684, and/or 7685 Clinic (combination of on- and off-campus practica)  
 
For students who need fluency and aural rehabilitation 
Students needing aural rehab only should take this course in their first year. 
Students needing fluency only should take this course in their first year. 
Students needing both aural rehabilitation and fluency should take fluency in their first year and aural rehabilitation in their second year. 
 
MA Course Descriptions 
7153 Research Design in Communication Science and Disorders (3)  Empirical research design problems in speech and hearing; emphasis on measurement validity and reliability. 
 
7281 Acquired Neurogenic Language Disorders (3)  Neuroscience, assessment, and treatment of acquired neurogenic language disorders (aphasia and dementia). 
 
7282 Acquired Neurogenic Cognitive-Communicative Disorders(3) Neuroscience, assessment, and treatment of acquired neurogenic cognitive communicative disorders (TBI and RHD). 
 
7381 Language and Learning Disorders (3) Prereq.: COMD 4382. Language disorders and the communicative aspect of language; current research and treatment models for language intervention; the relationship between language and learning; emphasis on school-aged child. 
 
7382 Voice Disorders (3) Incidence, etiology, concomitant problems; assessment and management of vocal dysphonias, aphonias, and laryngectomees. 
 
7383 Cleft Palate/Orofacial Disorders (3) Prereq.: COMD 4250, COMD 4380. Orofacial anatomy, physiology and embryology; etiology and classification of orofacial cleft; surgical, dental, speech, hearing, and psychosocial concomitants and their management. 
 
7384 Early Communicative Intervention (3) Prereq.: COMD 4382 or equivalent. For clinical practicum, take COMD 7684 or COMD 7685. Cognitive, social, and environmental conditions associated with “high risk” for communicative disorders; intervention approaches (prevention, evaluation, direct stimulation of child-caregiver interactions) and service delivery models (home-based, center-based). 
 
7385 Neuropathologies of Speech (3) Prereq.: COMD 4250, COMD 4381, or equivalent. Physiological and anatomical bases of dysarthria, apraxia, and related speech disorders due to neuropathology in the adult population; emphasis on diagnosis, description, and clinical management. 
 
7480 Measurement and Diagnosis of Communication Disorders (3) Psychological and behavioral measurement of communicative functioning and treatment planning for common speech/language disorders. 
 
7683 Graduate Clinical Practicum (1-6 each) Prereq.: credit or enrollment in the course dealing with the specific disorder in which practicum is to be taken. May be repeated for credit in order to obtain the clock hours necessary for certification by the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association. Only 6 sem. hrs. of academic credit may be counted toward the degree, although all practicum hours count for professional certification. 2-8 hrs. clinic. On- and off-campus graduate practicum in specific areas (articulation, language, fluency, voice, aural rehabilitation, early intervention, diagnostic audiology, oral-facial anomalies, neurological disorders). 
 
7684 Graduate Clinical Practicum (1-6 each) Prereq.: credit or enrollment in the course dealing with the specific disorder in which practicum is to be taken. May be repeated for credit in order to obtain the clock hours necessary for certification by the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association. Only 6 sem. hrs. of academic credit may be counted toward the degree, although all practicum hours count for professional certification. 2-8 hrs. clinic. On- and off-campus graduate practicum in specific areas (articulation, language, fluency, voice, aural rehabilitation, early intervention, diagnostic audiology, oral-facial anomalies, neurological disorders). 
 
7685 Graduate Clinical Practicum (1-6 each) Prereq.: credit or enrollment in the course dealing with the specific disorder in which practicum is to be taken. May be repeated for credit in order to obtain the clock hours necessary for certification by the American Speech, Language, Hearing Association. Only 6 sem. hrs. of academic credit may be counted toward the degree, although all practicum hours count for professional certification. 2-8 hrs. clinic. On- and off-campus graduate practicum in specific areas (articulation, language, fluency, voice, aural rehabilitation, early intervention, diagnostic audiology, oral-facial anomalies, neurological disorders). 
 
7750 Special Topics in Linguistics (3) Also offered as LING 7750. May be taken two times for credit for the master’s degree and four times for the doctorate when topics vary. Topics to be announced. 
 
7756 Independent Research: Phonetics and Linguistics (1-3) Also offered as LING 7756. Prereq.: consent of instructor. May be taken for a max. of 6 sem. hrs. of credit. For advanced graduate students who wish to pursue research on special problems exclusive of thesis or dissertation.  
 
7780 Seminar in Communicative Disorders (3) Prereq.: Permission of department. May be repeated for max of 12 sem. hrs. credit when topics vary. Selected topics in communicative disorders.
 
7781 Independent Research: Speech Science (1-3) Prereq.: consent of instructor. May be taken for a max. of 6 sem. hrs. of credit. For advanced graduate students who wish to pursue research on special problems exclusive of thesis or dissertation. 
 
7782 Individual Research in Communication Disorders (1-12) Prereq.: consent of instructor. May be taken for a max. of 12 sem. hrs. of credit. For advanced graduate students who wish to pursue research on special problems exclusive of thesis or dissertation. 
 
7783 Dysphagia (3) Prereq.: COMD 4250. Characteristics, assessment, and management of swallowing disorders in children and adults occurring secondary to neurological or structural deficits. 
 
7784 Augmentative and Alternative Communication (3) The course is designed to teach students why, when, and how augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and related assistive technology can be used to aid individuals with complex communication needs. 
 
7880 Advanced Seminar in Language Disorders (3) Theory, contemporary issues, and research related to language disorders as a method of inquiry and intervention; evaluation of research methodology.
 
7882 Advanced Individual Research in Communication Science and Disorders (1-6) Prereq.: admission to Ph.D. program and consent of instructor. May be taken for a max. of 6 hrs. of credit. Research topics are ancillary or extraneous to dissertation research. 
 
8000 Thesis Research (1-12 per sem.) “S”/”U” grading. 
 
9000 Dissertation Research (1-12 per sem.) “S”/”U” grading.