Speech-Language Pathology
Programs
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Speech Pathology Curriculum -
Speech Pathology Curriculum (Leveling Track)
Courses
SLPPG 501: Neurological Bases of Communication Disorders
Credits 3.0This course covers the neurological and physiological bases of normal and disordered communication. Embryological development of the central nervous system, and neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the motor and sensory systems, including vision and audition are covered. Brain dissection laboratory experiences enhance mastery of neurological concepts introduced in the course. The course integrates basic neuroanatomy with cognitive neuroscience through assigned readings, lectures, and laboratory experiences.
SLPPG 502: Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Credits 3.0This course introduces students to research methods, including basic research concepts, common research designs, and methods of data analysis commonly used in the field of speech-language pathology. Students will learn to critically read and evaluate research manuscripts.
SLPPG 503: Evidence-Based Practice in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Credits 2.0In this course, students will gain experience critiquing professional literature relevant to clinical and/or research practices. They will complete a literature review on a topic of interest and use it to inform evidence-based, clinical decisions.
SLPPG 505: Capstone I
Credits 2.0This course is required for any student not electing the thesis track. It includes independent study with the guidance of a mentor, and 2-4 lecture hours that will support cohort-level needs across Capstone Projects. Students will critically appraise evidence-based practices that are clinically relevant to the scope of practice in speech-language pathology, identify an area of need, and develop methods to address the need. By final, students will have developed a proposal that summarizes their critical appraisals, identifies a project aim, and details proposed methods for accomplishing this aim.
SLPPG 507: One Health for SLPs
Credits 1.0Today’s healthcare practitioners work together to evaluate and treat patients with complex disorders. This course will address the basics of interdisciplinary practice in educational and healthcare settings. Students will evaluate the efficacy of collaborative practice, and will explore the impact of interspecies research upon the treatment of people with communication and swallowing disorders.
SLPPG 508: Culture and Communication
Credits 2.0Communication is shaped within a cultural context. Children understand and produce the language system to which they are exposed, and many learn multiple languages simultaneously. People routinely find themselves in the position of needing to learn a non-native language. This course will address the challenges of multilingualism or second language learning, and will review best practices in assessing and treating individuals who do not use English as their primary language.
SLPPG 511: Thesis I
Credits 2.0This course is required by all students electing the thesis track. It involves one hour of class attendance in which thesis students will work together to develop their research questions and methods and one hour of independent study. Students will work with the Program Director to secure a Thesis Chair and two other faculty members to comprise their thesis committee. Students will meet with their Thesis Chair to devise an original research project, timeline, and budget. Completion of a literature review, rationale for research, and research plan is expected this term.
SLPPG 512: Thesis II
Credits 1.0This course is for all students on the thesis track. It involves two hours per week of independent study with the Thesis Chair. Students will submit a research proposal to the Internal Review Board at Midwestern University, begin data collection, set up a data management system, and report on their progress at the end of the quarter.
SLPPG 520: Disorders of Articulation and Phonology
Credits 3.0This course covers speech disorders of developmental or linguistic origin. Students will learn to assess and treat articulation and phonological impairment. Highlights include collecting and analyzing comprehensive speech samples, administering standardized tests, and planning therapeutic interventions specific to individual cases.
SLPPG 521: Child Language and Learning I
Credits 4.0This course provides speech-language pathology students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide assessment and intervention services to children who are infants, toddlers, or preschoolers. The nature of child language disorders, assessment practice, and intervention approaches for children at developmental ages five and below are covered. Collaboration with families and other professionals will be emphasized.
SLPPG 522: Child Language and Learning II
Credits 4.0This course provides students with a theoretical framework of school-aged child language learning disorders at the language for learning (L4L) stage. Students will apply this framework to understand and apply procedures of evidence-based child language assessment and intervention. Principles of interprofessional collaboration, and culturally and linguistically competent service delivery for school aged children with language learning disorders at the L4L stage are woven throughout the course.
SLPPG 525: Dysphagia
Credits 4.0This course reviews the anatomy and physiology of swallowing, and disorders that impact this vital function in children and adults. Etiologies of swallowing disorders, as well as their evaluation and management will be addressed. Students will appreciate the concomitant conditions that typically accompany dysphagia and learn to prioritize treatment objectives. Ethical considerations in swallowing intervention will also be incorporated.
SLPPG 526: Aphasia
Credits 4.0This course examines communication disorders that result from acquired conditions, such as left hemisphere strokes or other acquired brain pathologies resulting in aphasia. Etiologies of these conditions, including neurological correlates for presenting symptoms, will be reviewed. Assessment and intervention models will be discussed, with attention to the cognitive, linguistic, and social aspects of resulting communication disorders.
SLPPG 527: Neurological Disease and Injury
Credits 4.0The course examines theoretical aspects and clinical management of cognitive and communicative impairments with emphasis on right hemisphere disorder, traumatic brain injury, dementia, and other degenerative neurological conditions. Etiologies of these conditions, including neurological correlates for presenting symptoms, will be reviewed. Assessment and intervention models with be discussed, with attention to the cognitive aspects of resulting communication disorders.
SLPPG 529: Voice and Resonance Disorders
Credits 4.0This course teaches evaluative and therapeutic aspects of voice and resonance disorders. Students examine the anatomical and physiological correlates of phonation and oral/nasal resonance. Embryology of the vocal mechanism is reviewed, including nasal, oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and pulmonary regions. Assessment and intervention of a variety of common voice/resonance disorders will be covered, including cleft lip/palate, vocal fold hyperfunction, and therapies associated with a variety of neurogenic communication disorders.
SLPPG 533: Child Language and Learning III
Credits 4.0This course provides students with a theoretical framework of adolescent language learning disorders at the advanced language stage. Students will apply this framework to understand and apply advanced practices of evidence-based language assessment and intervention. Principles of interprofessional collaboration, and culturally and linguistically competent service delivery for adolescents with language learning disorders at the advanced language stage are woven throughout the course.
SLPPG 540: Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment Planning
Credits 4.0This course prepares the student clinician to conduct diagnostic evaluations of patients with communication disorders and plan their care. Principles of clinical interviewing, formal and informal test selection and administration, interpretation of psychometric data and behavioral observations, and adaptions for cultural and linguistic differences will be addressed. Students will learn the basics of clinical writing, including preparation of diagnostic reports, treatment plans, and progress reports. The use of electronic health records systems will be introduced.
SLPPG 550: Clinical Practicum I
Credits 3.0This is the first supervised speech-language pathology practicum experience in the Speech-Language Institute or other community-based site. Working with a clinical educator who is a licensed speech-language pathologist, student clinicians will plan and conduct assessment and intervention sessions for clients with communication disorders. First clinical experiences are targeted toward assessment and treatment of individuals with articulation, phonology, or language disorders. Students also attend clinical forums to address issues relative to management of clinical cases.
SLPPG 552: Clinical Practicum II
Credits 3.0This is the second supervised speech-language pathology practicum experience at the Speech-Language Institute or other community-based site. Working with a faculty member who is a licensed speech-language pathologist, student clinicians will plan and conduct assessment and intervention sessions for clients with communication and/or swallowing disorders. Clinical experiences may include assessment and treatment of disorders of articulation, language, fluency, voice, cognition, or dysphagia. Students also attend clinical forums to address issues relative to management of clinical cases.
SLPPG 575: Anatomy and Physiology of Communication Mechanisms
Credits 3.0This course provides a working knowledge of human anatomy and physiology as it relates to the processes of speech and hearing. The structure and function of the following systems will be covered: respiratory, phonatory, articulatory, and auditory. Areas of study will include musculoskeletal and basic neurological structures involved in speech and hearing.
SLPPG 580: Phonetics
Credits 3.0This course introduces students to the study of the sound system of speech including terminology related to the study of phonetics. An applied component enables students to learn the International Phonetic Alphabet and to develop broad transcription skills at the sound, word, and sentence level. Dialectical variations of Standard American English will be discussed and students will learn about transcription of articulation and phonological disorders.
SLPPG 585: Speech and Language Development
Credits 3.0This course educates students on speech and language acquisition and development for children from birth to school-age. Theories of language acquisition, speech and language developmental milestones, as well as traditional grammar models will be discussed.
SLPPG 590: Speech and Hearing Science
Credits 3.0This course addresses the fundamentals of the sciences pertaining to articulation and voicing. Students will explore acoustics, respiratory science, voice production, acoustic phonetics, and sound spectrography. Fundamentals of speech perception and instrumentation will also be explored.
SLPPG 604: Professional Issues and Ethics in Speech-Language Pathology
Credits 2.0This course focuses on the scope of practice for the speech-language pathology profession. Students will explore expectations for professional behavior based upon standards of practice and the ASHA Code of Ethics. Ethical dilemmas will be debated in preparation for a variety of clinical experiences. Procedures for obtaining the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence, state licensure, and school certification will be reviewed.
SLPPG 606: Capstone II
Credits 1.0This course is required for all cap stone-track students. Course credit hours are primarily comprised of independent study work, completed with the guidance of a capstone mentor, and 1 -2 lecture hours that emphasize support/troubleshooting for project execution. By the end of the term students will have completed the proposed project methods and presented these to an audience of their peers.
SLPPG 607: Capstone III
Credits 1.0This course is required for all capstone students. Coursework is primarily comprised of independent study and supplemented by 1 -2 lecture hours during which students work collaboratively to develop and write their final manuscripts and plan dissemination of project outcomes. By the end of the term students will submit a final manuscript and disseminate project findings to a relevant audience.
SLPPG 609: Professional Practice in School Settings
Credits 1.0This course will review issues relative to school-based service delivery, including special education law, disability designations, and how students are referred for speech-language services. Development of individualized educational plans (IEPs) and treatment planning for children and adolescents with communication issues will be addressed as well as issues such as caseload size, scheduling, effective therapy models for the school setting, collaborative practice, counseling, and Medicaid billing.
SLPPG 610: Professional Practice in Healthcare Settings
Credits 1.0This course will review issues relative to healthcare service delivery in various healthcare settings. It will include the basics of healthcare law, and healthcare delivery for patients with communication and swallowing impairment in settings such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and private clinics. Students will learn about common instrumentation, medical terminology, coding, billing and reimbursement for services by Medicare and other third party payer sources. Students will also learn about counseling and interprofessional practice in healthcare.
SLPPG 613: Thesis III
Credits 1.0This course is for all students on the thesis track. It involves five hours of class attendance in which students will learn data management and data analysis techniques. One hour of independent study with the Thesis Chair is also incorporated into this thesis experience. Completion of data collection is expected this term. Additionally, students are expected to write a draft of the third chapter of the manuscript.
SLPPG 614: Thesis IV
Credits 1.0This course is required of all students completing a master’s thesis. It involves one hour per week of independent study with the Thesis Chair. Completion of data analysis and a draft of the final two chapters of a five chapter manuscript is expected.
SLPPG 623: Communication Disorders in Autism
Credits 3.0This course provides insight into the world of autism, including description of the various autism spectrum disorders and examination of etiological theories and controversies. Procedures used for differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders are covered, and a variety of intervention models will be discussed. The role of the SLP in working with educators and families will be addressed. Students will design comprehensive assessment and intervention plans for persons of all ages with autism.
SLPPG 624: Aural Rehabilitation
Credits 3.0This course will teach basic methods for addressing the communication needs of individuals with hearing impairment and/or central auditory processing disorders. Students will learn how to read and interpret basic audiometric test results in order to recommend appropriate communication therapy. Communication modalities for individuals with hearing loss, and a variety of therapy methods to enhance language comprehension and production will be covered. Maintenance of amplification devices, collaboration with families and educators, and counseling for individuals with hearing loss will also be included.
SLPPG 628: Motor Speech Disorders
Credits 3.0This course covers assessment and treatment of neurogenic speech disorders, including the various types of dysarthria and apraxia. The complex process of differential diagnosis of these conditions will be addressed, along with numerous treatment approaches designed to target respiration, phonation, articulation, resonance and prosodic components of motor speech disorders.
SLPPG 630: Fluency Disorders
Credits 3.0This course describes the nature and proposed etiologies of stuttering and associated disorders. Assessment and treatment of children and adults with fluency disorders will be addressed, including the need for counseling and ongoing management across the lifespan.
SLPPG 631: Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Credits 3.0This course will address the complex communication needs of individuals with severe communication, sensory and/or physical impairments which may necessitate the use of augmentative and alternative communication systems (AAC). Students will become familiar with various types of assistive technologies used for AAC. The course will cover cognitive, educational, physical, psychosocial, and linguistic aspects of human behavior that impact AAC selection and implementation. AAC assessment and intervention strategies will be addressed, including interdisciplinary contributions from physical and occupational therapists.
SLPPG 632: Advanced Practices in Dysphagia
Credits 4.0This course will require students to apply knowledge to clinical cases. Students will be expected to generate diagnostic reports and treatment plans targeting pediatric and adult dysphagia. Interpretation of videoflouroscopic and endoscopic swallowing assessments will assist students in profiling phase-specific sensory and motor swallowing abnormalities. Complex cases will be addressed, including both neorogenic and mechanical disorders of dysphagia (e.g., stroke, laryngectomy, tracheostomy and ventilator dependency).
SLPPG 654: Clinical Practicum III
Credits 3.0This is the third supervised speech-language pathology practicum experience at the Speech-Language Institute or other community-based site. Working with a faculty member who is a licensed speech-language pathologist, student clinicians will plan and conduct assessment and intervention sessions for clients with communication and/or swallowing disorders. Clinical experiences may include assessment and treatment of disorders of articulation, language, fluency, voice, cognition, dysphagia, or complex disorders. Students also attend clinical forums to address issues relative to management of clinical cases.
SLPPG 656: Clinical Practicum IV
Credits 3.0This is the fourth supervised speech-language pathology practicum experience at the Speech-Language Institute or other community-based site. Working with a faculty member who is a licensed speech-language pathologist, student clinicians will plan and conduct assessment and intervention sessions for clients with communication and/or swallowing disorders. Clinical experiences may include assessment and treatment of disorders of articulation, language, fluency, voice, cognition, dysphagia, or complex disorders. Students also attend clinical forums to address issues relative to management of clinical cases.
SLPPG 660: Advanced Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology: Education Setting
Credits 12.0This is a supervised clinical experience in speech-language pathology in an educational setting. Students will acquire experience in individual and group therapy, assessment, and consultation. This course consists of a 12 week, full-time school site placement. May be taken before or after SLPPG 662 Advanced Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology: Medical/Healthcare Setting.
SLPPG 662: Advanced Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology: Medical/Healthcare Setting
Credits 12.0This is a supervised clinical experience in speech-language pathology in a healthcare setting. Students will acquire experience in individual and group therapy, assessment, consultation, and interdisciplinary staffing. This course consists of a 12 week, full-time clinical site placement. May be taken before or after SLPPG 660 Advanced Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology: Education Setting.
SLPPG 670: Thesis Continuation I
Credits 0.5These courses are reserved for SLP students needing additional time to complete and successfully defend their thesis project. Enrollment is necessary only when students have completed other program requirements, and will not be enrolled in other courses. This is considered an extension of the thesis and must be approved by the Program Director. A fee is assessed with enrollment in these courses.
SLPPG 671: Thesis Continuation II
Credits 0.5These courses are reserved for SLP students needing additional time to complete and successfully defend their thesis project. Enrollment is necessary only when students have completed other program requirements, and will not be enrolled in other courses. This is considered an extension of the thesis and must be approved by the Program Director. A fee is assessed with enrollment in these courses.
SLPPG 672: Thesis Continuation III
Credits 0.5These courses are reserved for SLP students needing additional time to complete and successfully defend their thesis project. Enrollment is necessary only when students have completed other program requirements, and will not be enrolled in other courses. This is considered an extension of the thesis and must be approved by the Program Director. A fee is assessed with enrollment in these courses.
SLPPG 673: Thesis Continuation IV
Credits 0.5These courses are reserved for SLP students needing additional time to complete and successfully defend their thesis project. Enrollment is necessary only when students have completed other program requirements, and will not be enrolled in other courses. This is considered an extension of the thesis and must be approved by the Program Director. A fee is assessed with enrollment in these courses.
SLPPG 699: Praxis II® Examination Review
Credits 1.0This course reviews topics that will be covered on the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology. Students will complete practice quizzes and take a full-length practice exam.
SLPPG 800: Independent Study
Credits 1.0 6.00This course is designed to facilitate scholarly inquiry into a topic related to a specific component of speech-language pathology theory and practice. Course content, assignments and learning outcomes are developed in collaboration with the faculty mentor and the student, and the Program Director must approve the plan. Course credit is variable depending on the scope of work to be accomplished.