seasons

SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Department Graduates First Cohort
by Katie Stripling
Samford University’s Department
of Communication Sciences and
Disorders graduated its inaugural
class from the Bachelor of
Science program in May 2016.
One hundred percent of the
cohort earned acceptance into
graduate school or employment
prior to graduation.
For most, an undergraduate program in
communication sciences and disorders is a
pathway to a graduate degree. “One of our
goals in the department is for at least 80
percent of our graduates to move from the
undergraduate program into a graduate
program in speech language pathology or
audiology,” said Margaret Johnson, professor
and department chair. “With this
inaugural class, we not only met this goal,
but exceeded it.”
Five of the six graduates have been
accepted into graduate programs, and three
of the five have chosen to remain at Samford
for the Master of Science in Speech
Language Pathology program.
According to Johnson, there are a
number of factors that distinguish Samford’s
undergraduate communication sciences and
disorders program from others, including a
substantial amount of live guided observation
hours, required course competencies
and a strong service component.
“Many universities provide students
with the guided observation hours required
for students to enter graduate school,” said
Johnson. “Their students are primarily
watching videos or simulated clinical
sessions in order to meet this objective.
What makes our program different is that
our undergraduate students are actually in
clinical and community settings, observing
Samford’s first cohort of communication sciences and disorders graduates celebrate with Mr. Beeson.
therapy sessions taking place with guidance
from preceptors and faculty. These experiences
make them better prepared to interact
with patients and families when they
transition into graduate studies.”
Course competencies, which are
required at the graduate level, are also an
integral part of the baccalaureate program.
“Students must demonstrate a minimal
level of competency with certain aspects of
their knowledge of communication sciences
and disorders and clinical competencies,”
said Johnson. “For example, our undergraduate
students have completed at least
four oral-mechanism exams by the time they
graduate and have begun to learn to perfect
their skill. They are competent with a
hearing screening and basic tympanometry.
These are generally basic skills that graduate
schools provide training for once the
graduate student is in the program. This
truly sets us apart from other universities.”
Students also participate in a number of
service-learning projects, including literacy
initiatives at the Bell Center and with
children of migrant farmers in Chandler
Mountain, Alabama. For Veterans Day,
students assisted residents at Brookdale
Senior Living with writing letters for
veterans, thanking them for their service.
Student reaction to the rigorous
program has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The live observation hours truly
prepared us so well for graduate school,” one
student noted, adding “we saw children and
adults that will be like those we will treat
once we get to graduate school.”
Another student added, “I love that the
department helps us to engage in service
projects. That is our opportunity to show
others that we care about them, and it also
provides us a place to use our servant
leadership skills.” ◗
24 • Seasons • Summer 2016 • College of Health Sciences Newsletter