Communication Disorders, BS

Admission to the Communication Disorders Program

Selection for admission into the Communication Disorders (CMDS) Program is based on the student’s previous academic performance on courses approved by the State Articulation General Studies Committee for the State of Alabama Core Curriculum coursework. Any applicant who is not first a student at AUM must apply to the University. Upon acceptance to the University, students may then apply for admission to the Communication Disorders Program.

Application

The CMDS undergraduate application will be available February 1st-June 1st each year. Applicants must apply no later than June 1st to begin in the Fall semester. All materials in the application packet must arrive by the designated deadline. Applications will only be reviewed and considered if all materials are included.

Students must complete the form for Application for Admission to the Communication Disorders Program and submit the requested documentation with the application: a copy of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, one letter of reference which should originate from an academic source, and a writing sample.  Advising transcripts are acceptable for the application and the letter of reference must be completed by individuals who are not related to the applicant. Transfer students must also submit evidence of acceptance to AUM.

Writing Sample

The writing sample provided must address the following prompt: “Why do you want to study speech-language pathology and audiology and where do you want to be academically or vocationally in five years?”

Students may apply for admission to the major before all Core Curriculum and the other requirements are completed but may not enter the program until 50 of the 55 core credit hours are finished. Students must have earned a 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average (GPA) to be considered for admission to the Communication Disorders Program. A GPA of 2.75 does not guarantee acceptance. The number of students who can be admitted to the program will be determined each semester based on the availability of clinical faculty resources.

All applicants must meet the health, communication, and academic requirements which are outlined under Additional Communication Disorders Requirements. Accepted students will be notified in writing of admission and will be required to make an advising appointment in order to register for classes. All students will be given a CMDS plan of study upon the first advising appointment.

Students are expected to purchase a copy of the student handbook and the most current copy of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA manual) prior to the beginning of the first day of class.

Due to the nature of the profession, students must possess the ability to perform the skills and duties of a Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist. Students graduating from the Communication Disorders Program will have developed the following abilities in each area:

 Audiology:

1. Conduct a pure tone sweep check audiometric screening according to the procedures recommended by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA).

2. Conduct a pure tone air conduction audiometric test and screening audiometry using standard methods and procedures.

3. Interpret an audiogram.

4. Appropriately refer patients with questionable or abnormal audiometric findings to other professionals for follow-up services.

 Speech-Language Pathology:

1. Use both quantitative and qualitative evaluation procedures.

2. Recognize client’s strengths and weaknesses.

3. Develop goals and procedures which reflect the client’s level of functioning.

4. Demonstrate the ability to change therapy goals based on client’s performance.

5. Discriminate between correct and incorrect production of target responses.

6. Establish a reinforcement schedule.

7. Collect data and use the information to determine efficacy of treatment.

8. Counsel the client or family members of the client.

9. Write professional reports which indicate evaluation results or therapy progress.

Students will be required to sign a Program Requirement Agreement form, which states that students must meet these requirements throughout the course of the program. If a student is unable to meet these criteria, the student must withdraw from the Program until such time they are able to meet these requirements.

 Requirements for Students - Communication Disorders Program Health Requirements

1. Adequate vision such as that required to observe communication behavior, conduct speech, language and hearing assessment, and complete speech, language and hearing forms and reports.

2. Adequate hearing such as that required for independent communication in professional interactions (i.e., conduct speech, language and hearing evaluations and treatment, to provide education about these disorders and to interact appropriately in the classroom environment).

3. The student is required to provide evidence of a physical examination, which states that the student is free of communicable disease and is in good health overall, that is dated within one semester of entering the Program.

4. The student must be able to lift 35 pounds.

 Communication Requirements

1. The student must demonstrate proficiency in the areas of reading and writing Standard American English as indicated by the following:

2. The student must have a grade point of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher in ENGL 1010 and 1020 or its equivalent, along with ENGL 2530, 2570 or 2600 or its equivalent.

3. The student must have a grade point of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher in COMM 1010 or its equivalent.

4. The student must pass the speech and hearing screening examinations administered by the Speech and Hearing Clinic personnel. In the event these examinations reveal any deficiency, recommendations for remediation procedures will be communicated to the student. These recommendations may include speech therapy or referral to a physician.

Academic Requirements

1. The student must have completed a minimum of 50 of the 55 hours required in the Alabama State Core.

2. The student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) on all work taken prior to admission to the Communication Disorders Program and have made normal progress toward degree completion as stated in the AUM Catalog.

3. The student must be in good standing at AUM or other regionally accredited institution.

4. The major and concentration coursework in this curriculum must be successfully completed within 12 semesters.

5. Any course grade below C in the student’s major and within the concentration coursework is unacceptable for graduation and must be repeated.

6. Students who receive a D or F in any communication disorders course at AUM have one opportunity to repeat that course and the course must be repeated at AUM. Students who receive a D or F in any two communication disorders courses at AUM may not continue in the program unless one of the following exceptions applies.

a.  The student provides the head of the Department of Communication Disorders with a statement and supporting documentation indicating that the grades of D or F were the result of a medical problem or other nonrecurring event or condition.

b.   The student provides a signed statement describing the reason(s) for grades of D or F to the head of the Department of Communication Disorders. In addition, the student must obtain approval from the head of the Department of Communication Disorders and provide a written action plan for improving future performance.

 Students who receive one more D or F in any communication disorders course at AUM may not continue in the program.