A. Linguistics and Phonetics--Competencies in BOTH areas is required.

A linguistics course which introduces the student to language description, classification, change, reconstruction, dialectology, and sociolinguistics.

A course which addresses the areas of phonetics, classical phonetic feature system, distinctive feature system, I.P.A., application of broad and narrow transcription and phonological principles.

B. Basic Sciences–Competencies in two areas: biological sciences and physical sciences

A course in biology and a course in the physical sciences are required by ASHA in order for a student to meet the requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC).

C. Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism

A course which includes a detailed study of the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory, phonatory, articulatory, auditory and nervous systems. Attention should be given to the way in which physiological processes support human communication as well as to learning the structures associated with each system.

D. Speech and Hearing Science: Acoustics

A course which includes the study of the bases of physical measurement; simple harmonic motion, complex waves, measurement of sound, resonance and filters should be included.

E. Mathematics and Statistics–Competencies in BOTH areas is required.

The mathematics and statistics competency includes: ability to carry out basic computation of algebraic equations and trigonometric functions, ability to work with exponents and logarithms, ability to solve word problems, ability to compute basic descriptive statistics and the ability to compute inferential statistics.

F. Introductory Psychology

A basic course in Psychology that includes: an introduction to the scientific study of behavior. The multiple bases of human behavior with emphasis on the learning process. The course should address basic concepts, principles and methodologies used in psychology.

G. Human Development

A course which traces human development through both the childhood and adult epochs of the lifespan.

H. Speech and Language Development

A course which emphasizes normal communication development: biological, cognitive, social and ecological bases of language. It should include developmental milestones from prelinguistic communication to oral language, literacy, and changes associated with aging. It should also address normal variations in development associated with cultural diversity and bilingualism.

I. Speech Disorders

A survey course in human communication disorders AND a course in which at least one third of the content concerns articulation and phonological disorders and which includes units of study in voice disorders and fluency disorders.

J. Language Disorders

A course whose content emphasizes the clinical management of developmental and acquired language disorders in children and aging adults. Categories of language disorders, including risk indicators, etiologies, symptomatologies and maintaining factors associated with each disorders should be studied. Evaluation and treatment protocols indicated by developmental theories, processing models and sensitivity to normal variations among culturally diverse populations should be included.

K. Hearing Disorders

The course should include an introduction to audiology and its relationship to other educational and medical fields concerned with hearing impairments. It should also include information pertaining to the developmental, medical, social, physical and psychological properties of hearing and sound and evaluative techniques for assessing hearing loss.

L. Clinical Principles

This course should familiarize students with the evaluative and therapeutic materials and methods which are applicable in a professional clinical setting.

M. Clinical Observation

At least 25 clock hours of supervised clinical observation must be completed prior to beginning initial clinical practicum. The department reserves the right to request a log of the completed observations, signed by the responsible supervisor(s).

N. Clinical Practicum (optional)

Supervised clinical management of individuals with communication disorders, including diagnostics and treatment. A detailed log of practicum hours, including age of clients, type of disorder, hours of spent in diagnostic and in treatment activities must be presented. The signature and ASHA certification number of the supervising clinician must also part of the log.