Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education

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Department Head: Karen Muñoz
Location: Lillywhite 105
Phone: (435) 797-3701
FAX: (435) 797-0221
E-mail:karen.munoz@usu.edu
WWW: comdde.usu.edu

Assistant Department Head: Teresa Ukrainetz, Lillywhite 103, (435) 797-1384, teresa.ukrainetz@usu.edu

Undergraduate Advisors:
Campus Bachelors, Michelle Wilson, Lillywhite 150, (435) 797-9271, michelle.wilson@usu.edu
Online 1^st Bachelors - Kristy Meeks, Lillywhite 146, (435) 797-2469, kristy.meeks@usu.edu
Online 2^nd Bachelors - Brynne Davies, Lillywhite 144, (435) 797-2460, brynne.davies@usu.edu

American Sign Language Minor - Mason Hayes, Lillywhite 148, (435) 797-9094, mason.hayes@usu.edu

Graduate Advisor:
Mason Hayes, Lillywhite 148, (435) 797-9094, mason.hayes@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communicative Disorders, Master of Science (MS) and Master of Arts (MA) in Speech-Language Pathology, and Master of Education (MEd) in Deaf Education with a specialization in Listening and Spoken Language; Doctor of Audiology (AuD); interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy in Disabilities Disciplines (PhD) (Interdisciplinary), and Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience (PhD) (Interdisciplinary) with emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. 

Certificates offered: Certificate of Proficiency for Speech-Language Pathology Assistant 

Objectives

Three main objectives of the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education are (1) to train competent audiologists, educators of the deaf and hard of hearing, speech-language pathologists, and speech-language pathologist assistants who are qualified to receive state licensure and national certification; (2) to provide clinical services to individuals with hearing, balance, speech, language and swallowing deficits in the university population or in the community at large; and (3) to provide research opportunities for students related to the fields of communicative disorders and deaf education.

Suggested Four-year Plans

Suggested semester-by-semester four-year plans for students working toward bachelor’s degrees are available in the Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department.

These plans are models of the requirements and possible sequences of courses. However, students may progress through their program or have more flexibility if they have high ACT scores, CLEP credit, concurrent enrollment credit, AP credit, and/or transfer credit; or if they attend during summer semesters.

Students should consult with their advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual circumstances.

University Honors Program

The University Honors Program offers students in all colleges and majors the unique opportunity to deepen their educational experience with hands-on practical applications of their academic knowledge. The Honors Program admits incoming, transfer, and existing USU students based on application. High-achieving students with at least one year remaining are encouraged to apply.  See the University Honors Program catalog entry and website (honors.usu.edu) for more information or contact the Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Honors representative, Annalise Fletcher (annalise.fletcher@usu.edu).

Graduate Programs

Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in communication disorders or equivalent must be completed before the student enters the graduate program. For speech-language pathology, students with a bachelor’s degree in another area must complete a second bachelor’s degree in communication disorders or the equivalent coursework. For those seeking a doctorate of audiology, students with a bachelor’s degree in another area must complete the following courses (or an equivalent) prior to beginning their graduate program: Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing and Basic Audiology. 

Applications for the graduate degrees are considered once a year during spring semester. Admission is on a competitive basis. Students applying to the audiology and speech-language pathology programs must have completed the application process to the School of Graduate Studies by January 15th. The application deadline for the Deaf Education program is March 1. Deaf Education applications received after March 1 will be reviewed on a space-available basis. For further information see individual graduate program application and admission requirements at https://comdde.usu.edu/.

Research and Practicum Opportunities

Research experiences are available at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Students may choose to complete a thesis project or assist in faculty research with specific opportunities depending on the degree and specialization.

Practicum experience at the graduate level is available in a variety of settings. The department houses clinics specializing in hearing, balance, cochlear implants, tinnitus, speech, language, cognitive rehabilitation, assistive communication devices (AAC) and feeding and swallowing. These clinics offer a full range of care including diagnostic and treatment services to individuals across the lifespan. The department also houses the Sound Beginnings Early Intervention Pre-School and Kindergarten Program to support families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing who use hearing technology to develop listening and spoken language. Finally, our department has a close relationship with the Institute for Disability Research, Policy, and Practice and their care providers.

Students have opportunities to participate in practicum off the Logan campus. These off-campus sites throughout Utah include hospitals, schools for the deaf, long-term and rehabilitation care centers, physician’s offices, public schools, private clinical practices, and early intervention programs. Placement at out-of-state practicum sites may be offered depending on availability.

Licensure

The programs in audiology, speech-language pathology, and deaf education meet requirements for Utah State Office of Education licensure, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certification, and Utah State Professional Licensure.   

Financial Assistance

Departmental and federal grant support is available to graduate students and is awarded on a competitive basis. Students should contact the advisor for their program of interest to identify financial support submission deadlines.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the clinical doctorate of audiology program are prepared to work in diverse hearing healthcare settings, such as hospitals, private practice, industry, U.S. military, research labs, and school districts. MEd graduates in deaf education are prepared to work in early intervention, general education, and special education programs that serve children with hearing loss who use listening and spoken language. Graduates with the MS/MA in speech-language pathology are prepared to work across the lifespan in medical, rehabilitation, educational, and early intervention settings. Graduates from the bachelor’s degrees in communicative disorders and the certificate in speech-language pathology assistant are prepared to work in educational settings under the supervision of a master’s degree speech-language pathologist, with specific requirements depending on state and employer.

Additional Information

For more information concerning graduation requirements and course sequencing, students should meet with their departmental advisors prior to beginning classes in any COMDDE program. Information on the department programs, policies, faculty, research, and services can be found at https://comdde.usu.edu/ and at the individual undergraduate and graduate degree catalog pages.

Learning objectives, assessment plan, student outcomes, and evidence of continuous improvement for these programs of study can be found at https://cehs.usu.edu/comdde/assessment/ .

FACULTY - Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services  

Programs

• Communicative Disorders - BA, BS

• Communicative Disorders (Online) - 2nd BS

• Speech-Language Pathology Assistant - Certificate of Proficiency

• Audiology - AuD

• Speech-Language Pathology - MA, MS

• Deaf Education: Listening and Spoken Language Specialization - MEd

• Communication Sciences - MS

• American Sign Language - Minor

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