The Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences is a pre-professional degree program which prepares students for graduate study in either Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. Professionals in these fields must earn certification and/or licensure, which usually require a graduate degree in the field of specialization. Courses are, however, open to students in other fields.
Audiologists are professionals with master’s or doctoral degrees specializing in prevention, identification, and assessment of hearing impairment. They also provide habilitation and rehabilitation of persons with hearing loss and fit hearing aids.
Speech-language pathologists are professionals with master’s or doctoral degrees who assess and treat communication disorders such as stuttering, delayed language development, aphasia, voice disorders, and articulation problems.
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists work in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, research laboratories, government agencies, universities, and private practices.
The program offers a foundation for understanding normal and disordered communication across cultures. It meets the recommendations of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and fulfills entrance requirements for a graduate program in speech-language pathology or audiology.
Courses
SHS *302.
Introduction to Communicative Disorders.
(3)
(Also offered as SPCD *302)
The nature of speech, language and hearing disorders in children and adults; overview of speech and hearing anatomy and physiology; multicultural issues; emphasizes the impact of communicative disorders on individuals and families.
SHS *303.
Introduction to Phonetics.
(3)
(Also offered as LING 303)
An introduction to the physiological mechanisms underlying speech production, linguistic classification and transcription of speech sounds, acoustic properties of speech sounds, relationship between phonetics and phonology, and applications to speech pathology.
SHS 310.
Anatomy and Physiology of Human Communication.
(3)
Introduction to basic anatomy and physiology for speech, language, hearing and swallowing. Covers five systems: respiratory, phonatory, articulatory, auditory and neurological.
SHS 321 [321 / 541].
Introduction to Audiology.
(3)
Basic hearing science, pathological conditions of the auditory system, audiometric testing.
Prerequisite: 310.
SHS 330.
Introduction to Communication Sciences.
(3)
Introduction to speech and hearing science. Covers basic science of sound, acoustic theory of speech production, acoustic and physiologic phonetics, sound transmission through the auditory system, acoustic and physiologic consequences of speech and hearing disorders.
SHS *425.
Aural Rehabilitation.
(3)
Appraisal and management of individuals with impaired hearing.
Prerequisite: 321.
SHS 428.
Phonological Disorders in Children.
(3)
Assessment and treatment of articulation and phonological disorders.
Prerequisite: *303 or LING 303.
SHS 430 / 530.
Language Development.
(3)
Developmental sequence of language acquisition and changes in communication behavior across the life span from birth to adulthood. Covers specific areas of phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, pragmatics, literacy and metalinguistics.
SHS 431.
Language Disorders in Children.
(3)
A survey of language disorders in children and intervention. Topics include descriptions of clinical populations, intervention principles and methods, and linguistic, medical, developmental and cultural issues in intervention.
Prerequisite: 430.
SHS 450.
Neural Basis of Communication.
(3)
Structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems as they relate to normal and disordered communication.
Prerequisite: 310.
SHS 451.
Undergraduate Problems.
(1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Restriction: permission of instructor.
SHS *458.
Preclinical Training.
(3)
Course content includes behavioral objectives, program design, data collection, client/family counseling, ethnographic interviewing with multicultural families, behavioral management and professional issues including certification and licensure requirements, ethical conduct and federal laws protecting the handicapped.
Prerequisite: 428.
Pre- or corequisite: 431.
SHS 459.
Multicultural Considerations in Communication.
(3)
Students will obtain an understanding of how identity and the cultural and linguistic diversity of individuals affect communication. Strategies for sensitive assessment and intervention methods will be presented, including exploration of biases, cultural humility, and privilege.
Prerequisite: 302.
SHS 490.
Topics in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences.
(1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Special topics motivated by expertise of instructor and interest of students.
SHS 500.
Clinical Practice.
(3, may be repeated five times Δ)
Practicum assignment and seminar covering a variety of topics in clinical practice including diagnostics and evaluation, practice in school and hospital settings, and supervised practice in off-campus sites.
Prerequisite: *458.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology and permission of Clinic Director.
SHS 501.
Clinical Foundations.
(1)
Practicum seminar covering the foundations for intervention in speech-language pathology. Topics include clinic documentation, materials, data collection, treatment plans, facilitation techniques, and counseling and management of behavior as they apply to real-life clients.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology and permission of Clinic Director.
SHS 502.
Clinical Diagnostics.
(1)
Practicum seminar covering the foundations for assessment in speech-language pathology. Topics include completing case history information and interviews, administering assessments, interpreting results of assessment, and writing diagnostic reports as these topics apply to real-life clients.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology and permission of Clinic Director.
SHS 503.
Clinical Case Studies.
(1)
Practicum seminar covering the integration of coursework as it applies to virtual reality cases on KASA skill competencies that apply to low incidence disorders.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology and permission of Clinic Director.
SHS 506.
Reading and Writing in Research.
(3)
Based on a scientist-practitioner model, this course is an introduction to research design with an emphasis on conceptual foundations and critical evaluation.
Prerequisite: PSYC 2510.
SHS 507.
Adult Neurogenic Communicative Disorders.
(3)
Comprehensive survey of predominant adult neurogenic communication disorders. Content includes theoretical issues, etiology, differential diagnosis, symptomatology, prognosis and recovery.
Prerequisite: 450 or 550.
SHS 517.
Dysphagia.
(3)
Acquire knowledge relevant to the identification, evaluation, treatment of infant and adult swallowing disorders.
Prerequisite: 310 and (450 or 550).
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology.
SHS 525.
Voice Disorders.
(3)
Based on knowledge of normal voice production, various voice disorders are surveyed and approaches to evaluation and treatment are discussed.
Prerequisite: 310.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology and permission of instructor for non-degree students.
SHS 530 / 430.
Language Development.
(3)
Developmental sequence of language acquisition and changes in communication behavior across the life span from birth to adulthood. Covers specific areas of phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, pragmatics, literacy and metalinguistics.
SHS 531.
Motor Speech Disorders.
(3)
Overview of child and adult neurogenic speech disorders and fluency disorders with a focus on assessment and treatment.
Prerequisite: 450 or 550.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology.
SHS 532.
Augmentative Communication.
(3)
Overview and/or hands-on-experience with nonelectronic and electronic aids and devices used for augmentative communication. Focus may be on particular disabilities, assessment, therapeutic and/or research issues.
Prerequisite: 428, 431.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology and permission of instructor for non-degree students.
SHS 533.
Assessing Language in Children.
(3)
Principles and procedures of assessment for language disorders in children.
Prerequisite: 431.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology.
SHS 534.
Intervention: Child Language Disorders.
(3)
Principles and intervention procedures for child language disorders from early childhood through adolescence. Methods for examining treatment efficacy in clinical and research contexts.
Prerequisite: 431.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology and permission of instructor for non-degree students.
SHS 535.
Medical Speech-Language Pathology.
(3)
Topics relevant to practice in a medical setting are reviewed including evaluation and treatment of children with birth defects (cleft palate) and other special populations; professional and administrative concerns.
Prerequisite: 450 or 550.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology.
SHS 538.
Fluency Disorders.
(3)
Overview of stuttering and other fluency disorders in children and adults with a focus on assessment and treatment.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology.
SHS 539.
Topics.
(1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology and permission of instructor.
{Offered upon demand}
SHS 551.
Problems.
(1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology.
SHS 557.
Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology.
(1)
Course content includes graduation requirements, CFY application and procedures, supervision, resumes and interviewing, job searching and negotiation, and professional issues including certification and licensure requirements, ethical conduct and federal policies for the workplace.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology and permission of Clinic Director.
SHS 558.
Clinical Internship.
(8)
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology and permission of Clinic Director.
{Summer, Fall, Spring}
SHS 561.
Bilingual Language Acquisition: Clinical Implications.
(3)
This course focuses on identifying the critical factors that influence bilingual language acquisition, examining the linguistic characteristics of English-Spanish bilinguals, and considering the implications of bilingualism for speech and language intervention planning.
Prerequisite: 431 and 459.
SHS 599.
Master's Thesis.
(1-6, no limit Δ)
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Speech-Language Pathology.
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