Communication Disorders and Sciences: Mission
The Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences challenges and inspires students to become competent professionals by developing a foundation of knowledge and effective clinical skills. Students will demonstrate a positive attitude for learning, connect in cooperative relationships with faculty, supervisors, and fellow students, and develop responsibility for ethical and professional behavior in the academic and clinical environments.
Program Goals
- Engage the local, university, and professional communities through clinical training, clientele support groups, and continuing education seminars;
- Provide opportunities for student and faculty research resulting in presentations or publications;
- Complete diagnostic evaluations of speech, language and hearing disorders for culturally, economically and linguistically diverse populations of persons with communication and swallowing disorders in all age groups across the life span, including screening and prevention, collecting and integrating case history information, using appropriate evaluation procedures and adapting these as necessary, interpreting and synthesizing evaluative data, reporting, and referring when necessary;
- Plan and execute treatment programs for diverse populations of persons with communication and swallowing disorders in all age groups across the life span, including developing and implementing setting-appropriate intervention plans; selecting, developing, and using appropriate materials and instruments; measuring and evaluating performance; modifying plans, strategies, materials, and instruments as needed; reporting; and identifying and referring when appropriate;
- Integrate current developments in methodology and technology into clinical practice;
- Maintain familiarity with current research, evidence-based practice, and relate findings to the improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic clinical practice;
- Adhere to ASHA's code of ethics, professional standards, scope of practice, and preferred practice patterns; and
- Satisfy the academic and practicum requirements for obtaining the ASHA Certification of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), the New York State Professional License in Speech Pathology, and New York State Initial/Professional Certification for a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities at the completion of the M.S. degree requirements.
Evaluation Mechanisms: In order to evaluate the program goals of the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, the following are monitored:
- Faculty review of student academic performance in undergraduate and graduate classes (grades on specified assignments and remediation of those skills specific to the course content).
- Practicum supervisor review of student performance in supervised practice (Daily Clinical Therapy skills Evaluation Summary Sheet, Clinical Skills Evaluations: Assessment and Treatment, Self-evaluation of skills though review of taped assessment and /or treatment session, Self-Rating Scales of Clinical Performance, supervisor completed Knowledge and Skills Assessment (KASA) tracking sheet, and Student Clinician Disposition Rating form.
- Faculty review of student performance on comprehensive examinations (ETS Praxis Specialty Examination in Speech-Language Pathology; Departmental Comprehensive Examination).
- Graduate Student Exit Survey.
- Annual Alumni and Employer Survey Results.