Admissions
Program/Degree Requirements
The Communication Disorders Program is a full-time, residential program designed for completion in 6 semesters. A minimum of 34 graduate credit hours of academic coursework is required in addition to clinical practicum. All practicum necessary to complete certification requirements must be completed prior to graduation. Minimum practicum requirements include 24 hours of clinical courses. Student who are assigned clinical practicum are expected to fulfill the responsibilities of these assignments for the full semester. Students who fail to do so may not be assured of future assignments.
The student and advisor will develop a Plan of Study or blueprint for graduation requirements. The Plan of Study must be on file in the Graduate College office before the student registers for the 12th semester hour.
The Speech-Language Pathology specialty area exam of the ETS Praxis Series serves as the comprehensive examination required for all students. A score of 163 or better is considered passing and is required for graduation. In addition to the comprehensive examination, a candidate who writes a thesis will be required to pass an oral examination on the thesis.
Students should consult the department chair, their Communication Disorders academic advisor, and the clinic handbook regarding all academic and clinical requirements and standards specific to the program
Curriculum
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CD 570: Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| CD 570L: Introduction to Clinical Principles | 1 |
| CD 601: Introduction to Graduate Studies | 3 |
| CD 602: Professional Issues | 2 |
| CD 624: Neurogenic Communication & Swallowing Disorders | 3 |
| CD 571: Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| CD 571L: Clinical Principles of Assessment | 1 |
| CD 622: Phonological Processes and Disorders | 3 |
| CD 625: Acquired Aphasia | 3 |
| CD 629: Child Language Disorders | 3 |
| CD 628: Child Language Disorders (Infant/Preschool) | 3 |
| CD 691: Motor Speech & Swallowing Disorders | 3 |
| CD 630: Cognitive Communication Disorders | 3 |
| CD 660: Augmentative & Alternative Communication | 2 |
| CD 670: Advanced Clinical Practicum | 3 |
| CD 670L: Clinical Issues in Health Care | 2 |
| CD 674: Clinical Practicum in the Schools | 3 |
| CD 674L: Considerations in the Public School Setting | 2 |
| CD 620: Communication Disorders Related to Cleft Palate & Voice | 3 |
| CD 623: Fluency Disorders | 3 |
| CD 675: Advanced Clinical Practicum II | 3 |
| CD 675L: Professional Considerations | 3 |
| Total Hours | 58 |
Professional Licensure Disclosures
Financial Aid
Graduate Assistantships
The Department of Communication Disorders (CD) offers a limited number of graduate assistantships each year. Graduate Assistants (GA’s) in the CD program are awarded half-time assistantships (10 hours per week in the department), which include a partial tuition benefit and a stipend. As a practice, the department does not award full-time assistantships, requiring 20 hours per week, due to heavy curricular and clinic demands.
Graduate assistants provide support to the department in a number of ways, which could include but are not limited to:
- Assisting in the Marshall University Speech and Hearing Center (MUSHC) and the Luke Lee Listening, Language, and Learning Lab
- Assisting faculty with teaching undergraduate classes or scholarly research
- Assisting with community service
- Assisting in department administrative duties
- Teaching Assistant (TA). One full-time (20 hour) teaching assistantship is awarded for teaching the undergraduate sign language class.
The CD Department is fortunate to have Graduate Assistantship stipends made available through outside funding sources. Current funding sources are:
- Luke Lee Listening, Language, and Learning Lab
- The Kristin McComis Parsons Memorial Graduate Assistant established by LinguaCare Associates, Inc.
Scholarships
Students in the Communication Disorders department are eligible to apply for the following scholarships:
- The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Foundation Scholarship established by the West Virginia Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Foundation, Inc
- The Stephanie Dyer Memorial Scholarship established by the Dyer family
- West Virginia Speech, Language and Hearing Association Scholarship
The Marshall University Department of Communication Disorders and the Speech and Hearing Center do not discriminate based on any category prohibited by law including, but not limited to age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran status.
