Graduate Catalog: 2012-2013 - Alabama A&M University

COMMUNICATIVE SCIENCES & DISORDERSMASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMMUNICATIVESCIENCES AND DISORDERSPROGRAM DIRECTORJennifer Vinson256-372-4035jennifer.vinson@aamu.eduGraduate FacultyProfessorsBarbara CadyJennifer VinsonAssociate ProfessorBarbara BushCarol DeakinHope ReedAssistant ProfessorsEsther Phillips-RossCynthia LewisMISSION STATEMENTThe Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD)program offers an education and scholarlyenvironment in which undergraduate and graduatestudents receive quality academic training andprofessional experience in the field of Speech-Language Pathology. The program functions within astudent-centered environment devoted to learning,research, scholarship, creativity, professionalexpertise and personal development designed toensure that students are ethical, knowledgeable,skillful and capable of working independently and incollaboration with clients, families and otherprofessionals.The commitment of the CSD program to theUniversity’s mission is reflected in the undergraduateand graduate academic course work in normal andabnormal development and behavior across thehuman life span; in course work that engendersawareness of issues in culturally diverse populations,in human communication disorders, in diagnostic andtreatment methodologies; in clinical practicarequirements and in technology-integrated coursework teaching independent research skills thatsupport lifelong learning.PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONThe program offers the Master of Science degree inCommunicative Sciences and Disorders, and isnationally accredited by the Council on AcademicAccreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). AAMU isone of only eight Historically Black Institutionswhich offer a nationally accredited program inspeech-language pathology.The field of Speech-Language Pathology involves theidentification, assessment and treatment of a widevariety of communication disorders (congenital,developmental, and acquired) in both children andadults. Such disorders may include phonological(articulation), language, voice, fluency (stuttering)and hearing problems. Speech-language pathologistsalso participate in the assessment and management ofclients with swallowing difficulties. They work in avariety of locations including hospitals, schools,rehabilitation centers, community health centers,universities, skilled care facilities, and in privatepractice.The wide varieties of disorders and treatmentapproaches pertinent to the field require a workingknowledge of neuroanatomy, behavioral science,speech/language development, effective teachingstrategies, methods for motivating people, andexcellent communication skills. Therapists with abachelor's degree can perform important duties insome settings, but a master's degree is essential forachieving professional independence, and someduties demand a doctoral degree.This degree program contains both academic andclinical components. It is a two year program ifstudents have an undergraduate degree in CSD, and athree year program if the undergraduate degree is inanother area.Our graduate students and senior level undergraduatestudents gain experiences providing speech andhearing services in the campus-based AAMU Speechand Hearing Clinic and in externship sites across thestate. The AAMU Clinic is a teaching clinic and hasbeen serving the public since the late 1960s. Studentscomplete a minimum of 400 clinical clock hourssupervised by ASHA certified, Alabama licensedfaculty members and external supervisors. The clinicserves clients of all ages from within the communityas well as the University campus40