Chair and Professor-Mallard. Assistant Professors-Harris, Slansky. Lecturers-Edwards, McPhillips, Stiritz, Whalen. Clinical Faculty-Adams, Bean, A. Brown, P. Brown, Burkhalter, Cantu, Darmawi, Daryapayma, Douglas, Duffy, Ellis, Fuhrman, Givens, Gonzales, Gustafson, Hammock, Harrington, Hayes, Hethcock, Hutchings, Ibbotson, Iliff, Jarzombek, Johns, B. Johnson, L. Johnson, Joyner-McGrath, Knauss, Kowalesky, Laubach, Lechlop, Loehr, Lopez, Mandaville, Maxwell, Myers, Outten, Pachecko, Phillips, Radcliffe, Ramsey, Roberts, Slansky, Sparks, Swope, Karen Wright, Kathy Wright, Wood, Yznaga
Liability Insurance
Immunization Requirements
It is a policy of the School of Health Professions that each student must provide a Health Report completed by a physician, and must take certain immunizations before the student can be placed in a clinical or internship assignment. Information on these requirements and forms to be supplied may be obtained through the departmental office.
Communication Disorders
The Department of Communication Disorders prepares students at the graduate level to diagnose and manage speech-language problems in children and adults. A four-year baccalaureate degree is required for entry into the graduate program. A master's degree is required for national certification and state licensure. A minimum of 375 documented and verified clock hours of supervised clinical practicum are required for certification.
The academic program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Students work in the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic on campus and also have the opportunity to participate in clinical experiences throughout Texas and the United States.
Admission Process
Admission to the undergraduate major in Communication Disorders is competitive and selective. The academic sequence begins during the fall semester. Enrollment is limited by student/faculty ratios in both academic and clinical components of the program.
1. To be considered for admission to the preprofessional sequence:
Completion of a minimum of 50 hours of General Studies coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.75. The following courses must be included in the GPA calculation: CDIS 1331, English 1310, 1320, Biology 1420, 2430, English 3303, Family and Consumer Sciences 2351, Physics 1310, 1110, Math 1315 and Health Professions 3302.
Submit a completed application form and SWT transcript to the Chair of the Department of Communication Disorders through the academic advisor. The academic advisor will be assigned during the first advising session.
New transfer students must submit a SWT evaluated transcript and letter of acceptance.
Student selection is made on academic performance and not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin.
The application deadline is April 1.
2. The progression requirements for CDIS courses are as follows:
Courses must be taken in sequence identified in the catalog.
Must make no less than a "C" in a prerequisite course before the next course is taken.
Make no less than a "C" in support courses.
Have a GPA of 2.75 in the major in order to graduate.
Freshman
Year Communication
1310 3 Communication
Disorders 1331 3 English
1310, 1320 6 General
Studies 1100 1 History
1310, 1320 6 Mathematics
1315 3 Philosophy
1305 3 Physical
Fitness Perspective (2
courses)* 2 Biology 1420
4 Chemistry
1310 3 34 Sophomore
Year Biology 2430
4 Art, Dance,
Music, or Theatre 331 3 English
(Literature)* 3 English 3303
3 FCS 2351 or
Psy 2315 3 Physics
1110, 1310 4 Political
Science 2310, 2320 6 CS 1308 or
equivalent 3 Health
Professions 3302 3 Psychology
1300 3 35 Junior
Year Communication
Disorders 2459, 2469 8 Communication
Disorders 3325 3 Communication
Disorders 3462 4 Communication
Disorders 4412 4 Communication
Disorders 4317 3 Communication
Disorders 4469 4 International
Perspective* 3 Health
Information Management 2360 3 32 Senior
Year Communication
Disorders 3462, 2370, 4420 11 Support
Elective Communication
Disorders 4340 3 Communication
Disorders
4350, 4370, 4344** 9 Psychology
4342 3 Sociology
3383 or Psy 3313 3 32
*See General Studies requirement on page 60.
**CDIS 4344 must be taken every semester clock hours are earned in speech-language pathology. CDIS 4321 must be taken if clock hours are earned in audiology.
NOTE: Any student who graduated from high school after January 1988 and did not complete two years of the same foreign language is required to take 6-8 hours of foreign language.
Courses in Communication Disorders (CDIS)
1331 Introduction to Communication Disorders. (3-0) Study of speech, hearing, and language development and its disorders; descriptions of communicative disorders and their etiologies for the speech-language pathologist, health professional, and classroom teacher.
1410 (SGNL 1401) Beginning American Sign Language. (4-0) Introduction to understanding and using American Sign Language within the cultural framework of the deaf community.
1420 (SGNL 1402) Intermediate Sign Language. (4-0) Continued practice in understanding and using American Sign Language within the cultural framework of the deaf community. Prerequisite: CDIS 1410 or equivalent.
2310 (SGNL 2301) Linguistics of American Sign Language. (3-0) Fluent understanding and use of American Sign Language within the cultural framework of the deaf community. Prerequisites: CDIS 1410, 1420 or equivalent.
2320 (SGNL 2302) Advanced American Sign Language. (3-0) Maximum understanding and use of American Sign Language within the cultural framework of the deaf community. Prerequisites: CDIS 1410, 1420, 2310 or equivalent.
(WI) 2370 Speech and Language Development. (3-0) Course to acquaint students with children's normal acquisition of speech and language. Basic information from linguistics, psycho-linguistics, psychology, and communication are examined for children in various stages of development.
2459 Phonemics and Phonetics. (3-1) Analysis of normal and abnormal phonological processes in children and adults with communication disorders. Proficiency in transcription using the alphabet of the International Phonetic Association emphasized.
2469 Introduction to Hearing Science. (3-2) Study of acoustics, auditory physiology and perception of sound. Includes discussion of auditory sensitivity, signal detection, psychoacoustic methods, perception of pitch and loudness, binaural hearing and speech perception. Associated laboratory promotes reinforcement of concepts addressed in lecture through review, problem solving and weekly assignments.
3325 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Production System. (3-0) Description of structure and function of the speech production system with emphasis on physical problems in speech, language, and hearing.
(WI) 3330 Rehabilitation of Language Learning Disability. (3-0) Habilitation and rehabilitation of children and adults with receptive-expressive communication disorders emphasizing visual, graphic, and computational deficits. Principles and techniques for treatment of pre-school disorders through adult neurogenic disability. Prerequisites: CDIS 2370, 3466.
(WI) 3462 Remediation of Articulatory and Phonological Disorders. (3-2) This course prepares students to manage articulation and phonological disorders. Current therapeutic models are reviewed. Observation of therapy and instruction in preparation of written clinical reports are required. Prerequisites: CDIS 2459, 2370 and 3325.
(WI) 3466 Language Disorders. (4-2) Study of principles and procedures for the identification, description, assessment and remediation of language disorders in infants, children, and adolescents. Students will observe demonstrations of assessment procedures and types of language disorders within the context of clinical procedures. Describing observed behaviors and analyzing language samples will be emphasized. Prerequisite: CDIS 2370.
4301 Selected Topics in Communication Disorders. (3-0) In-depth study of selected topics in Communication Disorders for the exceptionally motivated student. Work done on an independent basis with faculty member and only with prior departmental permission.
(WI) 4317 Service Delivery in Communication Disorders. (3-0) Provide a foundation of clinical management to prepare CDIS students to work in a variety of settings. Emphasis will be placed on techniques of goal and objective sequencing, report writing, evaluation of services, ethics, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Prerequisites: CDIS 2459, 2370, 3462 and 3466. (Capstone Course).
4321 Clinical Practicum in Audiology. (1-3) Supervised clinical practicum in audiology. Experience in obtaining the case history selection and administration of audiological tests, interpretation of audiological findings, report writing, and making appropriate referrals. Must be taken each semester student participates in any supervised clinical practicum in audiology. Prerequisites: Successful completion of CDIS 3462, 3466 and 4420.
4340 Augmentative Communication Systems. (3-0) Designed to review methods of non-oral communication as applied to hospital, rehabilitation, and special school settings. Use of electronic communication systems emphasized. Prerequisites: CDIS 2370 or equivalent.
4344 Clinical Practicum in Communication Disorders. (1-4) Supervised clinical practicum in speech-language pathology. Must be taken each semester student participates in any supervised clinical practicum in speech-language pathology. Prerequisites: CDIS 1331, 2459, 2370, 3462 and 3466 or equivalent, or permission of the Clinic Director.
4350 Survey of Neurogenic Communication Disorders. (3-0) This course provides an introduction to acquired speech, language, congnitive and swallowing disorders resulting from brain injury. Basic neuraoanatomy and physicology are reviewed, followed by discussion of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of these disorders. Emphasis is placed on aphasia, dysarthia, apraxia of speech, right hemisphere syndrome, traumatic brain injury, dementia, and dysphagia. Prerequisite: CDIS 4412
(WI) 4370 Aural Rehabilitation. (3-0) Principles and procedures in the habilitation and rehabilitation of hearing impaired children and adults. Prerequisites: CDIS 4420.
4371 The Communicatively Disordered Child in the Family. (3-0) Emphasizes the impact that the speech, language and hearing impaired child has on the family. Remedial strategies for enhancing communication skills and behavioral management within the home environment.
4412 Neuroanatomy for Communication Disorders. (4-0) This course examines the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Significance of the areas of the nervous system that are primary or secondary for speech, language and hearing are the main focus of this course.
4420 Introduction to Audiology. (3-2) Relates anatomy and physiology of the auditory system and the science of acoustics to the study of normal and pathological auditory function. Laboratory experience in administration and interpretation of audiological tests. Discussion of professional opportunities in the field of audiology and provision of audiological service to special populations. Prerequisite: CDIS 2469.
4469 Speech Science. (3-2) Normal processes of speech production will be addressed from anatomic, physiologic, kinematic, aerodynamic, acoustic, and perceptual perspectives. Measurement and analysis techniques, instrumentation, and experimental paradigms used to study speech production and perception will be emphasized. Prerequisites: CDIS 2459 and 3325.
For course descriptions and further information about available graduate offerings, please consult the Graduate Catalog.