Communication Sciences and Disorders

Clinical Practicum

Clinical training is designed to provide the student with a wide array of experiences working with persons presenting the full spectrum of cognitive, speech, language, swallowing and hearing disorders. A variety of sites and settings provides speech-language pathology services across the lifespan. Multiple practicum experiences focus on developing clinical skills in evaluation and treatment of both adult and pediatric patients.

Clinical practica during the first year of graduate study are obtained in the University Speech and Hearing Clinic as well as in various community-based facilities. During the first semester, students complete all clinical experiences under the supervision of university faculty and clinical educators. Students may be placed in an off-site practicum during the spring or summer semesters or continue in the University Speech and Hearing Clinic. Clinical placements are assigned based on student needs and available clinic sites.

Students in their second year of graduate study complete a clinical experience in a community-based facility. In addition, a full-time clinical internship is completed during the student’s final semester. Students may select this experience and site based on their area(s) of interest.

Upon completion of the graduate program, students will have accumulated a minimum of 400 clock hours of clinical practicum in a variety of settings. Following the completion of their clinical education, students will be qualified to practice in a variety of areas including early childhood programs, schools, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities and hospitals.

Summative Assessment of Student Learning

The Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate program requires a summative assessment for all students expecting to earn the M.S. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders: defense of thesis or research project.

Defense of Thesis or Research Project

Every student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate program must conduct some type of research activity, whether it take the form of a thesis or research project. All thesis and research projects must be presented at a special Research Day (which may actually take place over more than one day) scheduled during the spring semester immediately prior to graduation.

Whether engaged in a thesis or research project, the student must have a research committee comprised of a minimum of two faculty members from the University Programs in Communication Disorders (UPCD). For the Research Day where students must defend their research, an additional committee member is assigned by the Office of Graduate Studies to serve as an external observer.

All theses must be presented by way of a platform presentation to the student’s research committee and any other interested parties. A student who conducts a research project must create a poster that is then presented to their research committee and any other interested parties. The candidate for the master’s degree must pass the oral defense of their research in order to graduate.

Program Requirements

1. A baccalaureate degree (or post-baccalaureate course series) in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology from an appropriately-accredited college or university with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in the last 90 quarter-hour or 60 semester-hour credits.
2. Participate in an interview. Applicants selected for an interview will be notified after the admissions committee has reviewed all applications.
3. Although graduate programs does not specify a cut-off score for the GRE, the Communication Sciences and Disorders Graduate Program strongly recommends that the student earn a combined score of approximately 300 points. In addition, the student should earn a score of 4 or higher on the analytical writing section of the GRE.

Prospective applicants: For academic year 2022/23 we received 120 applications to our graduate program. Fifty-six applicants were offered admission and 25 enrolled in classes for Fall Semester 2022. The average GPA for these acceptances was 3.79. GRE scores were not required for the 2022/23, nor the 2023/24 application cycle, and GRE scores will not be required for this upcoming Fa24 application cycle.

For further information regarding admission to the Communication Sciences and Disorders Graduate Program, prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Graduate Program Director, Doreen Nicholas by email at: dnicholas@ewu.edu.