Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS

Gregg D. Givens, Chairperson, 3310W Health Sciences Building

Monica Strauss Hough, Director of Graduate Studies, 3310V Health Sciences Building

MS IN SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND AUDITORY PATHOLOGY

Graduate programs are accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation of the American Speech Language-HearingAssociation.

Admission

Application for admission into the graduate program in speech, language, and auditory pathology must be initiated through the Graduate School. The department requires that the applicant take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with minimum combined scores of 900 on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the examination (absolute minimum of 400 on each section). A minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate work is required with a minimum of 3.2 in the major area of study. The applicant must submit three letters of reference with at least two from faculty of the college(s) or university(s) previously attended. A face-to-face or telephone interview is required to be considered for admission into the program.

Completed applications should be received no later than February 1 for enrollment in the fall semester. Applications for fulltime study beginning in either the spring or summer semesters will be considered only under special circumstances because of the sequential nature of the program of study. Students interested in being considered for a graduate or research assistantship should complete the graduate assistantship form on the departmental website (

Major Areas of Study

Candidates for the MS degree in speech, language, and auditory pathologymay select from the major emphasis areas ofspeech-language pathology and communication sciences.

The speech-language pathology emphasis area is a professional program designed to prepare students for immediate placementin public school and other clinical positions. Persons completing this program of study must meet all academic and clinicalrequirements for certification by the American Speech Language-Hearing Association, licensure in North Carolina as well asin most other states, and graduate certification by the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction.

The communication sciences emphasis area is tailored to the special interests of the students. The course of study can includea substantial portion of the courses in the speech-language pathology and audiology emphasis areas. Additionally, studentsare required to complete a thesis and successfully pass a final oral defense of the thesis.

Degree Requirements

The university confers the degree of master of science in speech, language, and auditory pathologywhen the candidate hasearned at least 54 s.h. of graduate credit. An additional 6 s.h. of graduate credit is available for those interested in receivingthe Advanced Certificate of Teaching from the Department of Public Instruction.

A background of undergraduate courses in speech and hearing sciences is essential. For those students who do not have anundergraduate degree in the field, specific undergraduate courses must be taken prior to formally beginning the MS degreesequence. The following undergraduate courses or their equivalent must be taken prior to enrolling in graduate courses (alimited number of applicants may be accepted into the graduate program on a provisional basis): CSDI 3010 (phonetics), 3020(child language development), 3030 (anatomy, physiology, and acoustics), 3050 (acquisition and development of phonologyand articulation), 3105 (hearing science), 4100 (introduction to audiology), 4110 (aural rehabilitation). See requirements forthe BS degree in the undergraduate catalog for course descriptions.

Candidates are required to take and pass a final comprehensive examination, which may be taken upon completion ofenrollment in all didactic courses required for the degree in the major area of study.

Required Courses

Regardless of the major emphasis area chosen, 9 s.h. of specific core courses are required as follows: CSDI 6100, 6103, 6121.

The communication science emphasis requires an additional 6 s.h. (CSDI 6101, 6523). The communication sciences emphasisalso requires a thesis. For the speech-language pathology emphasis, only 3 s.h. of thesis credit may count toward the degree.For the communication science emphasis, 6 s.h. of thesis are required for the degree.

In addition to the general core requirements, the emphasis in speech-language pathology requires an additional 33 s.h. ofdidactic courses. These courses include CSDI 6101, 6104, 6106, 6108, 6109, 6110, 6112, 6113, 6114, 6200, 6320, 6321, 6900,6901. Clinical course requirements include: CSDI 6226, 6227, 6229, 69906992, 6993.

For the candidate whose major area of study is in speech-language pathology a minimum of 250 clinical clock hours in thediagnosis and treatment of communication disorders is required at the graduate level.

If there are no hours accumulated at the undergraduate level, 375 hours will be required at the graduate level to meetcertification and licensure requirements as set forth by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and the NorthCarolina State Board of Examiners.

PHD IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS

The PhD program is designed for advanced scholars with interest in communication sciences and disorders. Two areas ofstudy exist within the program, including speech-language pathology and audiology. Students may enroll in either the researchconcentration in speech-language pathology, or audiology, or the clinical concentration in audiology.Students enrolled in theresearch concentrations are required to take course work in a science core, which includes computer applications to thefields, physiology, acoustics and language science (speech-language pathology concentration), a support core taken acrossdisciplines, a statistics core, and an area of concentration developed with the major professor. Students enrolled in theclinical concentration are required to take course work in a science core, which includes computer applications to the fields,physiology and acoustic sciences, a statistics core, a clinical audiology core, and a clinical residency. All students are requiredto complete a dissertation project prior to being awarded the degree, doctor of philosophy.

Admission

The Admissions Committee will make a holistic judgment of applicant qualifications. Admission to study at the doctoral levelrequires acceptance by the Graduate School and the department. The application for admission to the Graduate School andofficial transcripts from each college or university attended must be sent to the dean of the Graduate School. In addition, thefollowing must be sent to the chairperson of the Doctoral Admissions Committee, Department of Communication Sciencesand Disorders: Graduate Record Examination scores; three letters of recommendation, with at least two from previous facultyof previous colleges or universities attended; a sample of scholarly writing which may be a thesis, a published or unpublishedreprint, or term paper; and a statement that summarizes in as much detail as possible the reasons for pursuing doctoral studyand doctoral research objectives.

The applicant must have a master’s degree or its equivalent to be considered for entry into the research concentration inspeech-language pathology, communication sciences, and audiology PhD programs. Acceptable performance on the GraduateRecord Examinations and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in graduate work are required. Post-baccalaureateentry into the clinical audiology program is offered. (See clinical audiology concentration.)

Applicants seeking admission to doctoral study should have completed a well-integrated program of study that includescourse work in biological/physical sciences and mathematics, behavioral and/or social sciences, and human communicationsciences and disorders.

Research Concentration:

1. Master’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, in speech-language pathology, audiology,communication sciences or related area, with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 (on a scale of A=4.0)in graduate work.

2. Graduate Record Examination within five years. A minimum score of 1000 (Verbal and Quantitative subtests) will berequired for consideration of admission. Graduate Record Examination is waived as an entrance requirement forMerit Scholars at East Carolina University if other criteria are met. Post-baccalaureate admissions will be consideredon a case-by-case basis.

3. Three letters of recommendation, at least two from faculty of the college(s) or university(s) previously attended.

4. A sample of scholarly writing which may be a thesis, a published or unpublished reprint, or term paper.

5. A statement that summarizes reasons for pursuing doctoral study and doctoral research objectives in as much detailas possible.

6. Face-to-face or telephone interview.

Clinical Audiology Concentration:

1. Baccalaureate or master’s degree from an accredited institution.

2. The applicant must have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. The applicant with a master’sdegree or its equivalent must have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 (on a scale of A=4.0) in graduatework.

3. Undergraduate course prerequisites include the following courses: life sciences (6 s.h.), physical sciences (3 s.h.),behavioral sciences (6 s.h.), English (3 s.h.), mathematics (3 s.h.), statistics (3 s.h.), anatomy and physiology (3 s.h.),introduction to audiology (3 s.h.), speech and hearing sciences (3 s.h.), language development (3 s.h.). Othercourses in communication sciences and disorders are strongly encouraged.

4. Graduate Record Examination within five years. A minimum score of 1000 (Verbal and Quantitative subtests) isrequired for consideration of admission. Graduate Record Examination is waived as an entrance requirement forMerit Scholars at East Carolina University if other criteria are met. Merit Scholars at East Carolina University willreceive automatic admission to 3 of the 6 class places if application is completed before their senior year of theirbaccalaureate program.

5. Three (3) letters of recommendation, at least two from faculty of the college(s) or university(s) previously attended.

6. Interview

Degree Requirements

Research Concentration: Communication sciences, and speech-language pathology and audiology

The research concentration requires a minimum 53 s.h. of didactic and research experiences beyond the masters degree or 95s.h. beyond the bachelors degree, involving the entire doctoral faculty. The student will develop a background in a science corecurriculum (12 s.h.), a support core taken across disciplines (9 s.h.), a statistics core (statistics and research design) (minimum9 s.h.), research ethics (2 s.h.), a research internship (6 s.h.), and dissertation (minimum 3 s.h.). The student and major professorwill select and design an area of major concentration, including 12 s.h. of course work or independent studies.

Except for credits accepted by transfer, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders requires that all graduatework, including the dissertation, be completed in residence. The course of study ordinarily requires at least three years of full-timestudy. Students who have not completed a master’s thesis are required to complete a research project by the end of the firstacademic year with the scope of a thesis (thesis equivalence), approved by a majority of the student’s program committee.

Clinical Concentration: Audiology

Baccalaureate admission: The post-baccalaureate clinical audiology PhD option consists of a minimum of 95 graduatecredit hours to include broad-based knowledge in areas of applied clinical audiology, structure and development of hearingand communication disorders, speech and hearing sciences, statistics, computers and instrumentation, and research design.

The clinical option is designed to provide course work in an area of concentration guided by the major professor, whilesecuring a background for the student in a science core curriculum (12 s.h.), a support core taken across disciplines (9 s.h.),a statistics core (statistics and research design) (9 s.h.), clinical audiology course work (33 s.h.), clinical experience/residency (24 s.h.), and research internship/dissertation (minimum 6 s.h.).

Post-Master’s admission: The post-master’s entrance to the clinical audiology concentration requires a minimum of53 s.h. to include a broad-based contemporary knowledge in areas of applied clinical audiology. The student will develop abackground in a science core curriculum (12 s.h.), a statistics core (statistics and research design) (9 s.h.), a research internship(6 s.h.), a major clinical core (18 s.h.), clinical residency (3 s.h.), and dissertation (minimum 3 s.h.).

Examination: The clinical program of study includes a “Gateway” examination during the summer session of the firstyear of study. A second “Gateway” or “comprehensive” examination is administered during the summer session at theend of the second year of study. The student’s program will be terminated with the second failure of the “comprehensive”examination.

Clinical Residency: The clinical residency will be the final clinical placement in audiology that may range from half-timeto full-time and that allows for the development of comprehensive clinical knowledge, skills and abilities.

Clinical Defense: The Clinical Defense is an examination designed to evaluate the analysis and synthesis of clinicalknowledge. This Defense will occur following successful completion of the comprehensive examination and prior to applyingfor graduation.

Transfer Credit

Credit will be accepted for transfer at the discretion of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the deanof the Graduate School. A maximum of 9 s.h. of doctoral credit (course work taken beyond the master’s degree) may be appliedtoward the support and/or statistics cores. Credit will not be accepted in the science core or area of concentration.

Doctoral Candidacy Requirements

Following completion of most course work and prior to admission to candidacy for the PhD, students must pass a preliminaryexamination intended to test fundamental knowledge in both the major and support fields. The candidate will undergo writtenand oral examinations for mastery of the areas of concentration, the support core, statistical applications in the area of basicand applied research, and research design. Critical analysis and synthesis of all related academic, research, and clinical aspectsof the field of preparation must be demonstrated. For the clinical PhD, the second gateway examination will constitute thispreliminary examination.

The student’s program committee is responsible for the administration and evaluation of the preliminary examination. Therecommendation of the committee is sent to the chairperson of the department who forwards to the dean of the GraduateSchool one of the following recommendations:

The responses to the preliminary examination are satisfactory and the student is recommended to candidacy.

Some responses to the preliminary examination are unsatisfactory and the student is to be re-examined at aspecific time. Areas of deficiency to be rewritten and the dates of re-examinationwill be determined by theprogram committee.

The responses to the examination are unsatisfactory and a full re-examination will be administered during thesubsequent semester. Failure of the second examination results in termination of the program.

Doctoral Dissertation

After passing the preliminary examination, the candidate must initiate the development of an appropriate

dissertation researchproject. The dissertation must reflect independent, scholarly research that will contribute significant new knowledge to thecandidate’s area of concentration.

Prior to initiating the dissertation research, the candidate’s program committee (composed of the major professor and at leastthree members of the graduate faculty) must approve a prospectus of the proposed dissertation containing the following:

A review of the pertinent literature.

A statement of the nature of the problem and the objectives of the proposed investigation.

A complete methodology, based on preliminary pilot investigations, which includeadescription and number ofsubjects to be studied, a discussion of the dependent and independent variables that will be manipulated, and adetailed description of the experimental procedures to be employed, including all experimental instrumentation.

A detailed outline and justification of the statistical analysis of the data that will be obtained.

A copy of the approved Institutional Review Board Application.

With the guidance and approval of the major professor, the candidate formally presents the prospectus to the faculty of theDepartment of Communication Sciences and Disorders at an open meeting. The program committee must agree that theresearch proposal is satisfactory, with only one dissenting vote allowed.

It is the responsibility of the program committee to counsel the candidate in the research program, critique the dissertation,and conduct the final examination. Upon the satisfactory completion of all requirements, the committee and departmentalchairperson will recommend to the dean of the Graduate School the award of the doctoral degree.

The basic form of the dissertation manuscript will follow the East Carolina University manual of style. The East CarolinaUniversity library will bind the final copies of the document. Six bound copies of the final approved manuscript must bedeposited in the Graduate School office. The Graduate School office will microfilm the dissertation and list the title andabstract in Dissertation Abstracts. The student will be billed, at cost, for this service.

Enrichment

In addition to course requirements, each student will be assigned various preceptorships, involving mentored classroom andclinical instruction and administration to assist the student in gaining perspective and experience in university teaching, clinicalsupervision, and management. Students will be encouraged to participate in university-wide seminars.

Research Internship

In addition to the didactic portion of the doctoral program, each student enrolled in the research concentration will berequired to complete two predissertationdirected research projects to gain perspectives and laboratory experiences in thearea of concentration and/or areas outside the concentration. These projects will be publishable, data-based manuscripts,one developed by the end of each of the first two academic years. At least one of the two research internships mustbe completed with a faculty member whose primary appointment is in the Department of Communication Sciences andDisorders. Successful completion of an internship requires a written report approved by the supervising faculty member(s)with credit awarded for two of the following courses: CSDI 8070, 8071, 8080, 8081, 8090, 8091. Courses marked (*) arerequired for the research PhD.

Time Limits for Completion of Degree Requirements

A doctoral degree program must be completed before the end of the twelfth semester, excluding summers, following initialenrollment. With endorsement of the student’s program committee and the departmental chairperson, a student may requestone extension of not more than two semesters, summers included.

CSDI: SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING SCIENCES

5010. Procedures in Clinical Management (3) P: Consent of instructor. Procedures used in diagnostic and treatmentof communication disorders. Topics include observation styles, task presentation and analysis, reinforcement techniques,group management, and intervention models. Multicultural communication models and supervised observation experiencesin various clinical and public school settings.

5510, 5511, 5512. Special Problems in Speech and Hearing (2,2,2) For advanced senior and graduate students.May be repeated for maximum of 6 s.h. May count toward the CSDI major with consent of chair. Independent explorationof specific areas of interest in communication disorders and research.