The program prepares competent professionals who accurately
evaluate and treat communication impairments in both children and
adults. It integrates theoretical, empirical, and clinical domains
providing students the opportunity to learn the bases of various
disorders to assess and treat, formal and informal testing
procedures, and the approaches to interpret such assessment data,
in order to design suitable clinical interventions. The program is
accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is deemed
to be licensure-qualifying by the New York State Board of
Professional Licensing of the State Education Department.
The program will prepare students to:
Demonstrate knowledge of basic human
communication and swallowing processes.
- Identify the various anatomical, physiological, developmental,
linguistic, and socio-cultural factors that participate in speech
production/perception in unimpaired individuals across the life
span.
- Identify the various anatomical, physiological, developmental,
linguistic, and socio-cultural factors that participate in language
production/comprehension in unimpaired individuals across the
lifespan.
- Identify the various anatomical, physiological, and dietary
variables that participate in unimpaired swallowing.
Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of
speech, language, hearing, and communication disorders and of
swallowing disorders.
- Distinguish and describe impaired from unimpaired status in
speech and language skills, including the distinction between
patterns genuinely disordered and those only different from the
mainstream patterns.
- Identify the various etiological factors leading to impaired
and different communication profiles, including anatomical,
physiological, developmental, linguistic, and socio-cultural
variables.
- Distinguish and describe impaired from unimpaired swallowing
patterns.
- Identify the various etiological factors resulting in impaired
swallowing patterns, including anatomical, physiological, and
dietary variables.
Demonstrate knowledge of the principles
and methods of prevention, assessment, and intervention for people
with communication and swallowing disorders.
- Determine and use suitable formal and informal diagnostic
procedures to assess speech and language skills and the integrity
of swallowing mechanisms in individuals across the lifespan.
- Design and implement appropriate therapy contexts for speech,
language, and swallowing impairments, based on each client’s
individual age, severity of the disorder and its etiological
correlates, including anatomical, physiological, developmental,
linguistic, and socio-cultural factors.
- Design appropriate contexts to prevent, eliminate, and/or
minimize communication and/or swallowing deficits.
Demonstrate knowledge of standards of
ethical conduct.
- Describe the various legal and ethical guidelines for
professional practice.
- Identify the causes of infraction in cases of professional
misconduct.
Demonstrate knowledge of processes used in
research and the integration of research principles into
evidence-based clinical practice.
- Critically analyze published research, the integrity of the
reported evidence, and the possible clinical implications of the
evidence.
- Design suitable methodology to study impaired and unimpaired
communication.
Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary
professional issues.
- Explain current professional trends in the scope of
practice
- Identify and explain legislation affecting the profession.
Demonstrate knowledge of certification,
specialty recognition, licensure, and other relevant professional
credentials.
- Describe requirements and policies for professional practice at
the national and local level and the steps necessary to meet those
requirements.
- Obtain professional licensure.