Undergraduate Catalog: Communication Sciences and Disorders

Department Objectives || Accreditation Status || Program Overview || Admission & Matriculation Requirements || Transfer Students || Special Facilities || Degree Requirements || Degree Conferral & Certification || Prerequisite Course Sequence || Typical Course Sequence

Andrea M. Novak, M.A., Clinic Director, Chairperson
Mona R. Griffer, Ed.D.
Renee S. Jourdanais, M.S.
Mary Margaret Mazzaccaro, M.S.
Kara Medeiros, Ph.D.
Vijayachandra Angalli Ramachandra, Ph.D.
Bruce A. Wisenburn, Ph.D.
*Sheri Skrutski, AuD.
*Part-time

The program is designed to provide students with a variety of academic course­work and clinical practicum experiences, according to the standards set forth by the American Speech-­Language-­Hearing Association (ASHA), to prepare them, from a family-­centered perspective, for professional careers as speech-­language pathologists serving children and adults who have communication disorders. The department also provides pre­professional education for students interested in careers in audiology. The faculty of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is dedi­cated to providing students with a quality education and opportunities to integrate theory and research into clinical practice.

Objectives of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department

The five-year program leading to a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology prepares students to:

1. Acquire academic knowledge and develop clinical skills pertaining to the scientific study of human communication processes that are necessary to perform competent practice of speech-language pathology, according to the current ASHA certification standards.
2. Evaluate the etiologies, pathologies, social-emotional, cognitive and educational factors associated with disorders of language, articulation-phonology, voice, fluency, swallowing and hearing.
3. Exemplify knowledge of ethical, legal, regulatory and financial aspects of professional clinical practice.
4. Critically evaluate and be sensitive to issues pertaining to cultural and linguistic diversity.
5. Become eligible to earn certification from ASHA and state licensure as a speech-language pathologist in Pennsylvania.
6. Pursue teacher certification from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education (optional).
7. Work in a variety of settings such as schools, rehabilitation clinics, hospitals, community clinics, nursing homes and private practice.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): Accreditation Status

Marywood University's five-year program leading to a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of ASHA.  

Program Overview

This five-year program consists of two distinct phases: the Pre-Professional Phase (years 1-3) and the Professional Phase (years 4-5).

The Pre-Professional Phase

During this phase of the program, students take classes to meet the liberal arts core requirements as well as complete courses in basic human communication processes and some speech-language disorders to prepare them for application and admittance to the Professional Phase of the program.

The Professional Phase

This phase of the program concentrates on coursework in various communication disorders across the life span and provides clinical practicum experiences where students learn to apply knowledge and skills to children and adults who have various speech-language-swallowing disorders.  An option to pursue teacher certification is also offered.

Program Flexibility - Multiple Points of Entry

• Enter as a Freshman - Five-year program
• Enter as a Transfer - Two-to-five year program based on approved credits for advanced standing
• Enter as a Graduate Student - Those students with an in-field bachelors degree from an accredited university may earn their master's in SLP in approximately two years; those with an out-of-field bachelors degree from an accredited university may earn their master's degree in SLP in approximately three years.

Program Admission and Matriculation Requirements

1. A minimum SAT score of 1050 (M+V) is generally required for admission to the program (Pre-­Professional Phase); SATs below 1050 are reviewed on a case by case basis by the CSD Department Chairperson.
2. Enrollment is limited to 25 students in any given academic year due to ASHA FTE guidelines.
3.  Upon completion of the first year curriculum (freshman year), a minimum QPA of 3.25 in the CSD major is expected and a minimum cumulative QPA of 2.5 is required to remain in the program. This minimum QPA of 3.25 in the major is also required for each subsequent semester to advance in the Pre-­Professional Phase and the Professional Phase of the program. Students must achieve a minimum cumulative QPA of 3.25 by the end of the third year curriculum to transition from the Pre­-Professional to the Professional Phase of the program.
   Students who do not maintain these QPAs will be placed on academic proba­tion with a possible revised plan of study. An interview at the discretion of the CSD Chairperson, the Graduate Program Director, and the Clinic Director may also be required. After one semester if the primary and/or CSD QPA does not improve, students may be dismissed from the program. Advisement as to other career opportunities will be provided.
4. Students may earn one "C" letter final grade in a CSD pre-professional course.  If a student earns a second "C" grade, a meeting with the CSD Chairperson, Graduate Program Director, Academic Advisor, and course instructor(s) will be held to determine which of those courses the student will be required to repeat.  The student will be informed of the decision by their Academic Advisor and placed on academic probation until the course is repeated with a minimum grade of B-. Students who re-take a course are only permitted to re-take the course one time and a revised plan of study will be determined.  If a student fails to earn the minimum expected grade of B- once the course is repeated, he/she will be dismissed from the program.  Advisement as to other career opportunities will be provided.  Students who earn below a C grade in any CSD course will be required to repeat the course with a minimum grade of B-.
5. Students who have successfully met all required liberal arts core and CSD Pre-­Professional Phase coursework may apply for admission to the Professional Phase of the CSD five­year program during the spring semester of year three. See Graduate Admissions for a CSD Transition Application to the Professional Phases and the due date for completion.
6. Students whose CSD QPA is between 2.33 and 2.99 and who meet the University’s minimum overall QPA requirements to earn a degree may be granted an undergraduate degree in CSD, but will not be eligible to transition to the Professional (Graduate) Phase of the five-­year program.
7. Students who earn a C+ or below in any CSD graduate course/practicum (Professional Phase) will be expected to develop a remediation plan with the course instructor/clinical supervisor in order to improve in those knowledge/skill areas in which the student is deemed deficient.  An acceptable mastery level, based on formative assessment, must be demonstrated in all knowledge and skills areas, according to the current ASHA certification standards.

Transfer Students

Students transferring into the CSD major from another program within Marywood or from other institutions must have a 3.25 overall QPA on a minimum of 12 credits.  An interview with the CSD Chairperson and/or Graduate Program Director is required.  Students will be expected to provide evidence of good oral and written communication skills and above average grades in science courses. Students who meet this criterion will be admitted to the major provided that there are openings in the program.

Special Facilities

The program is housed in the William G. McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies.  This attractive physical plant contains specialized space for classrooms, laboratories, and offices.  The Center also houses the Marywood Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.  The clinic allows students to work with individuals with speech, language, and hearing needs as part of their educational preparation.  The clinic is equipped with video monitoring equipment and a complete audiological evaluation facility.  Students have access to computers to develop competence for both academic and personal use.

Degree Requirements

Students who have an undergraduate degree from another institution who enter the CSD five-year program at the Professional Phase are required to submit:

• Graduate Record Examination test scores.
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on the applicant's academic and clinical skills and potential for successful graduate study (e.g., former professors, clinical supervisors)
• Submission of a typewritten 250 word essay describing career goals, professional interests, and aspirations.
• A personal or phone interview for finalists at the discretion of the CSD department chair and/or program director.

Note: Preference will be given to applicants who can attend the program full time and take the full complement of courses offered within the context of a cohort model. Typically, students are admitted to the Professional Phase in the fall semester.  Part-time students are admitted on a case-by-case basis and are expected to carry nine credits per semester.

Degree Conferral and Certification

Those students entering the program as undergraduates will be awarded the B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders upon completion of the fourth year.  At the end of the fifth year, these students and those entering with an in-field bachelors degree who have successfully completed the Professional Phase (years four and five) of the five-year program will be awarded a Master of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology and will be eligible to pursue ASHA certification and state licensure.

Prerequisite Course Sequence for Students with Out-of-Field Undergraduate Degrees

Students with out-of-field undergraduate degrees are eligible to apply for the Professional Phase of the program and will be admitted provisionally.  Enrollment in graduate level courses, however, requires the following:

1. Permission of the CSD department chair and/or program director.
2. Completion of 29 credits of an approved CSD undergraduate prerequisite course sequence at Marywood University with a minimum final grade of B.
3. Meeting the requirements in basic science, mathematics, and social science coursework according to current ASHA standards.  These courses may be taken at any accredited institution.  Any courses taken at institutions other than Marywood must be approved by the CSD department chair and/or program director.
4. Completion of 25 observation hours directed by an ASHA-certified SLP with appropriate documentation.

A plan of study will be developed by the CSD department chair and/or program director, who will serve as the student's academic advisor. Students will be required to sign a statement regarding their plan of study, which reads:

"The student named on this form understands that to be eligible to matriculate in the Professional Phase of the program, he/she must complete this plan of study with an overall minimum quality point average (QPA) of "B". The student must earn a minimum QPA of "B" in the fall semester before being permitted to enroll for courses offered during the spring semester."

CSD Prerequisite Course Sequence

CSD 164	Phonetics	3
CSD 166	Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing	4
CSD 261	Speech Science	3
CSD 265	Speech and Language Development	3
CSD 265L	Language Sample Analysis Lab	2
CSD 266	Introduction to Language Disorders in Children	3
CSD 270	Hearing Science	2
CSD 271	Introduction to Articulation and Phonological Disorders	3
CSD 363	Audiology	3
CSD 363L	Audiology Lab	0
CSD 364	Auditory Amplification and Aural Rehabilitation	3
	25 hours of clinical observation directed by an ASHA-certified SLP
	Total: 29 credits

The typical sequence of CSD undergraduate pre-requisite courses follows:

Fall Semester

Phonetics
Speech and Language Development
Language Sample Analysis Lab
Audiology and Lab

Spring Semester

Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
Speech Science
Hearing Science
Introduction to Language Disorders in Children
Introduction to Articulation and Phonological Disorders
Auditory Amplification and Aural Rehabilitation

Minimum Requirements for Basic Science and Human Communication Science Coursework

(if not taken as an undergraduate)

Biology:	3 credits
Physical Science:	3 credits (e.g., Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science)
Mathematics:	3 credits (a course in Statistics is required)
Behavioral/Social Science:	3 credits (e.g., Psychology, Sociology)
Human Communication Processes:	Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing, Phonetics, Speech and Hearing Science, Normal Speech-­Language Development, Audiology, and Aural Rehab

Typical Course Sequence for the Five-Year Program Leading to a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology

Pre-Professional (Undergraduate) Phase

First year curriculum: (34 UG credits)

Fall 1
CSD 163	Introduction to Communication Disorders	2
CSD 164	Phonetics	3
BIOL 130	Principles of Anatomy and Physiology	3
BIOL 130L	Principles of Anatomy and Physiology Lab	1
ENGL 160	Writing Skills	3
PSY 211	General Psychology	3
UNIV 100	Living Responsibly in an Interdependent World	1
	Total: 17 (5 UG CSD & 12 LA)

Spring 1
CSD 166	Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing	4
CSD 261	Speech Science	3
R ST 112	Religion	3
ENGL 180	Literature Course	3
PSY 251	Developmental Psychology	3
	Total: 16 (7 UG CSD & 9 LA)

Second year curriculum: (41 UG credits)

Fall 2
CSD 265	Speech and Language Development	3
*CSD 265L	Speech and Language Development Lab	2
CSD 241	American Sign Language I	3
ENGL 400	Structure of Linguistics	3
PHYS or CHEM or ENVS***	Physical Science (Req. for ASHA)	3
FL	Foreign Language	3
	Total: 17 (8 UG CSD & 9 LA)

Spring 2
CSD 270	Hearing Science	2
CSD 271	Introduction to Articulation and Phonological Disorders	3
CSD 266	Introduction to Language Disorders in Children	3
CSD 242	American Sign Language II (elective)	3
OR
LA	General Elective (Educational Psychology required for Teacher Certification)	3
FL**	Foreign Language	3
PHIL 315 or 404	Ethics or Biomedical Ethics
	Total: 17 (8 or 11 UG CSD & 6 or 9 LA)
**3 credits of Foreign Language may be replaced with an LA General Elective if student meets core curriculum requirements for years taken.

Sum I (Session 1)
MATH	Math (Required for Teacher Certification)	3
LA	General Elective	3
	Total: 6 (6 LA)

Third year curriculum: (46 credits; 4 are CSD grad credits) or (49 credits if pursuing Teacher Certification; 3 are EDUC grad credits)

Fall 3
CSD 363	Audiology	3
CSD 363L	Audiology Lab	0
CSD 366	Communication Disorders in Adults	3
MATH 216	Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences	3
HIST	History	3
FA	Fine Arts	3
LA	General Elective (Social Foundations required for Teacher Certification)	3
	Total: 18 (6 UG CSD & 12 LA)

Spring 3
CSD 364	Auditory Amplification and Aural Rehabilitation	3
CSD 361	Clinical Methods and Processes	3
CSD 469	Special Topics	1
HIST 105	Ethnicity and Diversity in the Modern World	3
RST	Religion (above 100 level)	3
LA	General Elective (Method/Assess ESL required for Teacher Certification)	3
	Total: 16 (7 UG CSD & 9 LA)

Sum 2 (Session I)
CSD 508	Fluency	2
CSD 505	Augmentative and Alternate Communication Systems	3
LA	General Elective	3
	Total: 8 (5 GRAD CSD & 3 LA)

Sum 2 (Session II)
CSD 468	Introductory Clinical Practicum to Speech-Language Pathology (begins Sum I - 10 wks)	2
LA	General Elective	3
	Total: 5 (2 UG CSD and 3 LA)

NOTE: 121 credits toward an undergraduate degree have been earned at the completion of the third year curriculum. For those students transitioning to the Professional Phase, five additional CSD graduate credits will be counted toward the 126 credit requirement for the undergraduate degree. For those students who will not be transitioning, undergraduate elective liberal arts credits will be needed to complete the 126 required for their undergraduate degree.

Professional (Graduate) Phase

Fourth year curriculum: (39 or 41 CSD Grad credits for 5­year students; 45­47 CSD Grad credits for 2­year students) or (3­9 additional EDUC graduate credits if pursuing Teacher Certification if not previously taken)

Fall 4 Grad
CSD 502	Seminar in Aphasia	3
CSD 504	Language Learning Disorders in School-Age Children and Adolescents	4
CSD 506P	Diagnostics Procedures and Clinical Writing	3
CSD 515	Dysphagia	3
CSD 516A	Clinical Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology	1
CSD 518P*	Independent Study in Clinical Methods and Processes	1
CSD 524	Neuroscience	2
	Total: 16 CSD Grad Credits for students completing 5 year program or (*) 17 CSD Grad Credits for new incoming grad students who will take CSD 518P

Spring 4 Grad
CSD 500	Research Methods in Speech-Language Pathology	3
CSD 507	Voice Disorders	2
CSD 503	Seminar in Phonological and Articulation Disorders	2
CSD 511	Pediatric Neuromotor Speech Disorders	2
CSD 514	Adult Neurogenic Motor Speech Disorders	2
CSD 516B	Clinical Practicum in Speech Language Pathology: Level 1	1
CSD 506L	Language Sample Analysis Computer Lab	1
CSD 521	Diagnostic Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology (1/2 cohort)	2
	Total: 14 or 16 CSD Grad Credits

Sum 3 Grad (Session I)
CSD 505	Augmentative and Alternate Communication Systems (previously taken by 5­-year students)	2
CSD 508	Fluency Disorders (previously taken by 5­-year students)	2
CSD 525	Autism (elective – either 512, 525, or both)	2
EDUC 502	Multidisciplinary Foundations of Education (Required for Teacher Certification)	3
OR
EDUC 523	Seminar: Psychology of Education (Required for Teacher Certification)	2
EDUC 502	Multidisciplinary Foundations of Education	3
AND/OR
EDUC 523	Seminar: Psychology of Education (Required for Teacher Certification)	3
	Total: 0 or 2 CSD Grad Credits depending on elective options for five­-year students; 5 or 7 CSD Grad Credits for two­year students; 3­6 EDUC credits if pursuing Teacher Certification and not already completed

Sum 3 Grad (Session II)
CSD 501	Family Systems and Counseling: Multicultural Perspectives in Speech­Language Pathology	2
CSD 512	Cleft Palate (elective-­either 512, 525, or both; begins in Sum I)	2
CSD 522	Audio/Aural Rehab Pract (begins Sum I – schedule varies)	1
CSD 516C	Clinical Pract SLP (begins Sum I - 10 weeks)	1
CSD 517P	Prof. Issues (begins Sum I - 10 weeks)	1
CSD 521	Dx Pract (1/2 Cohort) (begins Sum 1 - 10 weeks)	2
EDUC 561	Method/Assess ESL (required for Teacher Certification)	3
	Total: 5 or 9 CSD Grad Credits depending on elective options and semester where CSD 521 and 522 are taken; 3 EDUC if pursuing Teacher Certification

Fifth year curriculum (8 CSD Grad credits)or (19 Grad credits; 7 CSD Grad credits and 12 EDUC credits if pursuing Teacher Certification)

Fall 5 Grad
CSD 510	Communication Disorders in High-Risk Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers	3
CSD 513	Communication Disorders Related to Traumatic Brain Injury, Dementia, & Right Hemispheric Dysfunction	3
CSD 519I	Clinical Internship in Speech-Language Pathology	1
	Total: 7 CSD Grad Credits

Spring 5 Grad
CSD 520E	Clinical Externship in Speech-Language Pathology	1
OR
*EDUC 597	CSD Student Teaching Clinical Internship (Required for Teacher Certification)	12
	Total: 1 CSD Grad Credit or 12 EDUC Grad Credits

Communication Sciences and Disorders Courses