General Catalog 2002-2003 
Posted March 1, 2002

College of Health 

Department Office: 1201 Social and Behavioral Science Building, 581-6725 

Department Chair, Bruce L. Smith,  Ph.D. 

Director of Undergraduate Studies, Julie Wambaugh, Ph.D. 

Director of Graduate Studies, Kathy Chapman, Ph.D. 

Clinic Director, Pamela M. Svikhart, M.S. 

Faculty

Professors. B. L. Smith, M. L. Willbrand. 

Associate Professors. L. Alvord, K. Chapman, L. Hunter, J. Wambaugh. 

Assistant Professors. M. Blomgren, L. Forestal, S. Redmond, N. Roy, S. Thibeault. 

Clinical Instructor. J. Goldstein, P. Svikhart, Wollenweber. 

Advisers. The undergraduate advisors are Janet Goldstein and Robert Wollenweber.  Please call the department at 581-6725 to schedule an appointment. 

Undergraduate Program

Degrees. B.A. and B.S. in Speech and Hearing science. 

The undergraduate major in Speech and Hearing science includes two areas of emphasis: (1) speech-language pathology and/or audiology for pre-professional students, and (2) teaching sign language.  A master's degree or its equivalent is required for professionals practicing in speech-language pathology or audiology. Obtaining the undergraduate degree in this emphasis saves the student approximately one year in total training.  Those not holding a B.A. or B.S. in this field may enter the master's program in speech-language pathology or audiology; however, this requires approximately one year of prerequisites.  The undergraduate degree with sign-language emphasis leads to a career teaching sign language to hearing students in the public schools.  This profession does not require a master's degree. 

Speech-language pathology is the study and treatment of human communication disorders. Expertise is obtainable in areas such as stuttering, voice, articulation, and language. Audiology is the study of the diagnosis and treatment of hearing deficits. Students majoring in Speech and Hearing Science obtain a combined degree as an undergraduate then chooses to study speech-language pathology or audiology at the master's level. 

Admission. Students who have completed the University's general education requirements (or recognized equivalent) plus nine hours in major course work or have achieved junior status, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (and 3.0 in major course work) at the University are eligible to declare a major in Speech and Hearing Science. Students meeting the above criteria are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the department's undergraduate adviser. 

Requirements. Course work specific to the major may be completed during the student's junior and senior years. Students must also complete 13 credit hours of allied course work (chosen from a list of pre approved classes published by the department) and are also required to take MATH 1030 or 1050 and 1070. 

In addition, to comply with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) standards for certification, students must complete nine credit hours in biological/physical sciences or math, and nine credit hours in behavioral and/or social sciences. A student must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA average in the major to remain in the program. Undergraduate students who fall below the required GPA averages (2.5 overall and 3.0 in the major) will be notified in writing and placed on probationary status for one semester. If the student fails to raise his or her GPA to the acceptable level in the following semester, notification will be sent that he or she is being dropped from the program. 

Students are advised to fulfill most of the allied course requirements and the ASHA requirements before their final two years of study.  Students must also complete 25 clock-hours of observation of speech, language, and/or hearing treatment before graduation. 

Contact the department office for a packet containing information about current curriculum requirements and admission procedures for the Speech and Hearing Science major and its areas of emphasis.  It is essential that students obtain up-to-date information on changes in requirements and curriculum.  Announcements are also posted on departmental bulletin boards and on our website at http://www.health.utah.edu/cmdis/.

Requirements for the Major

Speech and Hearing Science

General Education
MATH 1030 (3) or 1050 (3) 
MATH 1070 (3) 
B.S. Quantitative Intensive - 2 courses 
CMDIS 4700 Current Research in Communication Science (3) 
Elective CMDIS 5540 or any other QI designated course approved by department adviser 

Undergraduate Core Curriculum Requirements
CMDIS 3000 Introduction to Speech-Lang. Pathology and Audiology (3) 
CMDIS 3400 Hearing Science (3) 
CMDIS 3120 Anatomy and Physiology of Speaking Mechanism (3) 
CMDIS 5320 Language Science (3) 
CMDIS 3100 Phonetics (3) 
CMDIS 5380 Speech and Language Development (3) 
CMDIS 4500 Hearing Disorders and Evaluation (3) 
CMDIS 5520 Aural Habilitation and Rehabilitation (3) 
CMDIS 4760 Professional Issues and Observation (3) 
Total Hours: 27 

Undergraduate Electives: take 13 credit hours of the following:
CMDIS 3370 Augmentative and Alternative Communication (3) 
CMDIS 3850 Special Topics (1-5) 
CMDIS 5330 Teaching Oral Language or Communication Skills (3) 
CMDIS 5250 Private Practice Issues in Communication Disorders (3) 
CMDIS 4260 Pediatric Speech - Language Pathology (3) 
CMDIS 4270 Medical Speech - Language Pathology (3) 
CMDIS 5540 Speech Language Hearing Diagnostic Procedures (3) 
CMDIS 5430 Topics in Audiology (3) 
Total Hours: 21 

Graduate Program

Degrees. M.A. and M.S. in speech-language pathology;  M.A. and M.S. in audiology; Ph.D. in speech-language pathology and audiology. For additional information, see the Graduate Information section of this catalog. 

Master's Degree

Admission. Special requirements for admission include a minimum 3.0 GPA, GRE scores, a personal career statement, evidence of scholarly or creative writing, and three letters of recommendation. 

Language Requirement. M.A.: Standard proficiency in one approved foreign language is required. M.S.: No foreign-language competency is required. 

Special Degree Requirements. A non-thesis option is available that requires clinical and/or research experience. Guidelines are detailed in the department handbook. All students must pass the Praxis exam to graduate.

Certifications.  Speech-language pathology or audiology certification with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association requires graduate work leading to the master's degree or its equivalent.  For specific state and national certification requirements, contact the department office. 

Ph.D. Degree

Admission. Special requirements for admission include a minimum 3.0 GPA, GRE scores, a personal career statement, evidence of scholarly or creative writing, and three letters of recommendation. 

Language Requirement. A research tool in statistics or other areas (e.g., computer science and engineering) relevant to the candidate's dissertation research is required in lieu of a foreign language. Students may substitute, with committee approval, demonstrated standard proficiency in any two foreign languages in the area of their specialty. 

Special Degree Requirements. Candidates must achieve competency in designated areas of specialization. 

CMDIS Course Descriptions