2018-2019 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

Apr 20, 2024

2018-2019 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Speech-Language Pathology, M.S.

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Speech-language pathology graduates of this program will be prepared to diagnose and treat people with disorders of language, phonology, articulation, voice, fluency, and disorders which are neurologically based. Completion of the program prepares graduates for employment in settings such as hospitals and schools, and community, state, and federal agencies. Graduates find excellent employment opportunities nationally as well as locally. Employers regard Fontbonne graduates highly.

The program in speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20850-3289.

Graduate Degree and Residency Requirements

A minimum of 45 graduate hours, including a minimum 40 credit hours in academic coursework and four credit hours in clinical practicum in addition to the undergraduate core in communication disorders or its equivalent.
A minimum of 400 clock hours of clinical practicum with at least 325 of these obtained at the graduate level, per ASHA requirements.
Successful defense of the academic and clinical portfolio or completion of a thesis project.

Program requirements are designed so that graduates will meet the certification standards of the American-Language-Hearing-Association (ASHA).

Certification requirements of ASHA include coursework in the areas of physical science, biological science, statistics and social science. Any student admitted to the graduate program not having courses in one or more of these areas on their undergraduate transcript will need to complete the deficiencies prior to completion of the graduate degree.

For detailed information on graduate degree, residency requirements, and admission policies and regulations, please refer to Criteria for Acceptance, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Academic Probation During Graduate Study and Dismissal headings in this section.

Criteria for Acceptance

Full Acceptance

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited, degree-granting institution of higher education. (Students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree may apply after they have completed 108 undergraduate hours.)
An undergraduate cumulative GPA of not less than 3.0.
Three letters of recommendation
Successful completion of or enrollment in an undergraduate core curriculum (maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0) consisting of the courses listed below or courses judged by the graduate program director or by the department chairperson as equivalent:
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism
- Phonetics
- Linguistics
- Audiology
- Speech Science or Hearing Science
- Speech and Language Development
- Phonological and Articulation Disorders
- Auditory Rehabilitation
- Introduction to Language Disorders
- Clinical Methods

Essential Functions

Listed below are the functions that someone who enters the professions of speech-language pathology and auditory-oral deaf education must perform and therefore are required of graduate students in the department.

Physical Abilities

Participate in classroom or clinical activities for two to four hour blocks of time with one or two breaks
Ambulate to, within, and from academic/clinical facilities
Provide for or direct one’s own personal hygiene
Manipulate screening/diagnostic/therapeutic/educational materials
Respond to emergency situations including fire, choking, and in the application of universal precautions
Visually monitor client responses and use of materials
Auditorily monitor and orally model correct speech and language production

Affective Abilities

Work effectively with people
Make appropriate decisions, including the ability to evaluate and generalize appropriately without immediate supervision
Maintain proper work place behavior, including punctuality and regular attendance
Maintain composure and emotional stability in demanding situations
Maintain emotional and mental health required for use of intellectual abilities, prompt completion of responsibilities, and appropriate relationships with clients/students and colleagues

Cognitive Abilities

Comprehend and read professional literature/ reports
Write university level papers and clinical/educational reports in Standard American English
Speak Standard American English intelligibly
Independently analyze, synthesize, interpret ideas and concepts in academic and clinical settings
Maintain attention and concentration for sufficient time to complete academic/clinical activities: typically two to four hours with one to two breaks
Comply with administrative, legal, and regulatory policies

In order to participate in clinical practicum, students will be required to pass the following: criminal background checks, TB testing, and health screenings. Some facilities may have additional requirements such as drug testing, finger print checks, CPR training, and proof of immunizations. Exemptions from immunization based on religious beliefs or matters of conscience may extend the length of the program to allow completion of required clinical hours.

The results from a background check may impact your ability to progress through the program and your ability to obtain your license to practice.

Provisional Acceptance

Provisional acceptance may be granted in the following categories:

Category 1: Provisional Acceptance with Academic Provisions

Provisional acceptance may be granted with an undergraduate cumulative GPA between 2.5 and 2.99. The provisional status will be changed to full status if the student earns a minimum of 3.0 during the first semester of full-time graduate work or its equivalent (the first nine hours of graduate study for part-time students). Students taking the undergraduate core curriculum must earn a minimum of 3.0 in the first 12 hours of classes that constitute the core curriculum to maintain provisional acceptance status. The student may be restricted to taking a reduced academic load. Students must also meet the previously stated requirements to achieve full acceptance. If a GPA of 3.0 is not earned at the end of the first semester or its equivalent, or in the first 12 hours in the core curriculum classes, the chairperson of the department will recommend to the graduate academic and curriculum committee that the student be dismissed from the program.

Category 2: Provisional Acceptance with Specific Course Prerequisites

Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology but lack critical prerequisites will be required to take specific courses from the department of communication disorders undergraduate core curriculum. The graduate program director or the chairperson of the department of communication disorders and deaf education will determine which prerequisites have been satisfied and which need to be taken. Catalog descriptions of courses from other institutions may be required. Individual instructors may permit a category 2 provisional acceptance student to enroll in specific graduate courses if the undergraduate prerequisites for those specific courses (as specified in the catalog) have been satisfied. All undergraduate requirements must be completed before the provisional status is changed to full status. Only students with full status will be recommended for graduation.

Direct Admission

Fontbonne Undergraduate students in speech-language pathology (SLP) who meet the following criteria may apply for direct admission into the graduate program in SLP after they have received Major Approval (see undergraduate section of this catalog):

Cumulative Fontbonne GPA of 3.75 or higher
Grades no lower than a “B” in any course required for the SLP undergraduate degree including required courses outside the discipline whether taken at Fontbonne or transferred into the program.

Applications will be reviewed by CDDE faculty who will take into consideration the student GPA and sustainability to the degree as outlined in the Essential Functions for an SLP.

Once admitted, the student must maintain a GPA of 3.75 or higher and receive no grade lower than a “B” in required courses. If the GPA falls below 3.75 the student will be notified in writing that they are at risk for losing the direct admittance into the graduate SLP program. The student will be given on semester to return the GPA back to the minimum GPA of 3.75 or higher. If the student does not meet this requirement, they will be notified in writing that they no longer qualify for the direct admission program, but that they still have Major Approval and can continue in the SLP program to complete the B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology. Students who do not retain their direct admission to the graduate program are eligible to apply for admission to the graduate program through the regular application process.

Leaving Fontbonne University before completion of the bachelor’s degree in SLP negates this direct admission agreement. A student who is accepted into the Direct Admission program is not obligated to attend the graduate program in SLP at Fontbonne University.

Course Prerequisites for Program

(must have these courses or their equivalent):

CDS 105 - Speech and Language Development of the Normal and Exceptional Child Credit(s): 3
CDS 201 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism Credit(s): 3
CDS 211 - The Nature of Language Credit(s): 3 (or other basic linguistic course)
CDS 220 - Phonetics Credit(s): 3
CDS 231 - Speech Science Credit(s): 3
CDS 302 - Phonological and Articulation Disorders Credit(s): 3
CDS 311 - Introduction to Language Disorders Credit(s): 3
CDS 410 - Audiology Credit(s): 3
CDS 414 - Auditory Rehabilitation Credit(s): 3
OR
CDS 555 - Pediatric Audiology & Habilitation Credit(s): 3-4
CDS 548 - Clinical Methods Credit(s): 1
OR
undergraduate clinical methods course

Graduate Curriculum

Required Courses (28 credits)

CDS 500 - Introduction to Research Methods Credit(s): 3
CDS 512 - Language and Literacy Credit(s): 3
CDS 520 - Voice and Motor Speech Disorders Credit(s): 4
CDS 522 - Seminar in Craniofacial Anomalies Credit(s): 3
CDS 526 - Seminar in Fluency Disorders Credit(s): 3
CDS 527 - Adult Neurogenic Language and Cognitive Disorders Credit(s): 3
CDS 535 - Assessment Issues in Communication Disorders Credit(s): 3
CDS 577 - Clinical Aspects of Dysphagia Credit(s): 3
CDS 580 - Practical Applications of Augmentative Communication Systems and Assistive Technology Credit(s): 3
CDS 570 - Comprehensive Graduate Seminar in Communication Disorders Credit(s): 0 (taken last 2 semesters)

Students are Required to Choose a Minimum of 1 of the Following Two Courses (3 credits)

Note: CDS 534 is required for any student who has not taken a 3-credit course in the area of articulation/phonology disorders.

CDS 532 - Seminar in Early Child Language Credit(s): 3
CDS 534 - Seminar in Sound System Disorders Credit(s): 3

Clinical Practicum

Practicum assignments are to be arranged through the clinical director.
All practicum must be taken for academic credit, with a total of 5 credit hours counting toward he degree.
ASHA certification requires 400 clock hours, 325 of which must be earned at the graduate level.
Register consecutively for:

CDS 540-546 - Advanced Clinic Practicum Credit(s): 1
(1 billed credit hour per semester)
CDS 547 - School-Based Practicum Credit(s): 1
(1 billed credit hour per semester)

Elective Courses

Students may choose any of the courses listed below, in addition to any of the above courses not selected to meet the minimum in CDS 532 or CDS 534 to fulfill the required 40 academic credits

CDS 523 - Intervention with Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Credit(s): 3
CDS 529 - Language and Cognition Credit(s): 3
CDS 531 - Communication Development for Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Credit(s): 3-4 (Credits: 3)
CDS 552 - Counseling Issues in Communication Disorders Credit(s): 3
CDS 555 - Pediatric Audiology & Habilitation Credit(s): 3-4 (Credits: 3)
CDS 556 - Auditory Technology and Cochlear Implants Credit(s): 3
CDS 560 - Clinical Research in Communication Disorders Credit(s): 3
CDS 565 - Directed Readings in Communication Disorders Credit(s): 1-3

Professional Seminars

There will be a number of mandatory seminars scheduled across the final fall and spring semesters of the graduate program. Topics covered during these meetings will include: writing a professional resume’, job interview skills, creation of a poster/technical session, ethics of the profession, professional licensure and certification, and other professional issues.

CDS 570 - Comprehensive Graduate Seminar in Communication Disorders Credit(s): 0

Portfolio or Thesis

All students will compile a professional portfolio during the final two semesters of their graduate program. The content of the portfolio will include:

An annotated bibliography of 10 peer-reviewed journal articles, each citation accompanied by an essay and each relating to a professional indicator that is tied to ASHA certification requirements.
A copy of the student’s professional resume’
Verification of registration for or completion of the PRAXIS exam
Verification of having submitted a proposal for a poster or technical session to the annual convention of the Missouri State Speech-Language Pathology Association (MSHA) or a poster session to a Fontbonne Student Scholarship Eventy, both of which are held during the Spring semester.

A graduate student in Speech-Language Pathology may request permission to write a master’s thesis in lieu of compiling a portfolio to be completed during their second year in the program. A student who elects to write a thesis must take the following steps:

Write a letter or email to the Director of Graduate Studies indicating interest in writing a master’s thesis no later than March 1 of the first Spring Semester of enrollment in the program. The faculty will consider all requests at the next departmental meeting. A committee of three faculty members will be selected.
If the student is approved to write a thesis, the student then determines the topic of the thesis in consultation with the faculty research advisor who has agreed to supervise the thesis. The faculty research advisor will work with the student to secure IRB approval for the collection of data.
The student will enroll in CDS 560 - Clinical Research in Communication Disorders for 1 credit hour for each of the next three semesters (Summer, Fall, and Spring). The student will generally conduct the literature review in the Summer, data collection in the Fall, and analysis and final writing in the Spring.
The thesis must be submitted electronically to the three members of the thesis committee no later than April 1 of the Spring semester in which the degree is to be awarded.
The student will meet with the thesis committee for an oral defense at a time to be determined.
The student will submit the final revised thesis no later than two days before the graduation date. The final thesis should be submitted both electronically to the Director of the Graduate Program and as a printed bound manuscript (2 copies).

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