Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders

Admission

Admission to the specialization in speech-language pathology is limited to the summer term with an application deadline of January 15. To be assured consideration for admission, prospective students must submit all completed application materials (application forms, official transcripts, GRE general test scores, and letters of recommendation) to the Graduate School by the stated application deadline.

Admission to the master’s degree program is typically for full-time study. An applicant for admission to the program is generally expected to meet or exceed the following requirements.

A minimum 3.00 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) in all undergraduate work.

Competitive scores on the GRE General Test.

Two letters of recommendation from professors, employers, or supervisors providing supportive
evidence of an applicant’s professional qualifications.

A typewritten statement describing the applicant’s qualifications, goals, and career aspirations
as they relate to the communicative disorders program at NIU.

Final decisions regarding admissions are made by the program’s admission committee on the basis of a total profile of an applicant’s qualifications.

A maximum of 12 semester hours of student-at-large credit may be applied to degree requirements. In addition, the maximum combined total student-at-large hours plus transfer credit may not exceed 12 semester hours.
 

Requirements

The master’s degree requires a minimum of 53 semester hours, at least 39 of which must be earned in nonpracticum courses. Additional semester hours may be required in course work and/or clinical practicum to fulfill the requirements of the appropriate clinical or educator licensures.

After the first semester in the program, students are required to enroll in 2 semester hours of COMD 687 for four consecutive terms.

Other courses can be used to fulfill elective course requirements with consent of academic adviser.

• COMD 601 - Principles of Assessment in Communicative Disorders Credits: 3
• COMD 603 - Communication Disorders in Early Childhood Credits: 3
• COMD 607 - Language Disorders in School-age Populations Credits: 3
• COMD 644 - Stuttering Management and Remediation Credits: 3
• COMD 671 - Advanced Clinical Phonology Credits: 3
• COMD 674 - Cognitive-Linguistic Disorders of Neurologically Impaired Adults Credits: 3
• COMD 684 - Swallowing Disorders Credits: 3

Special Clinical/Practicum Requirements

To be engaged in any clinical practicum experience, evidence of professional liability insurance, child and adult CPR certification, completion of the Varicella, Hepatitis B, and MMR titers, absence of active tuberculosis, and absence of a prior criminal record verified by a criminal background check are required. Graduate students must be in compliance with all of the above requirements prior to initiating clinical assignments. Students will be responsible for the costs involved in the aforementioned requirements and will also be responsible for providing their own transportation for clinical course assignments.

Completion of the minimum academic and clinical requirements for the appropriate professional certification issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association prior to graduation.

Special clinical/practicum requirements are available in the Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Student Handbook.

Thesis Option

The student must earn a minimum of 53 semester hours of graduate credit at least 39 of which must be earned in nonpracticum courses. A thesis must be submitted and approved. A maximum of 3 semester hours may be allotted to thesis research and writing.

The student is normally required to pass a comprehensive oral examination which assesses knowledge and ability in the specialization in graduate study, but this may be waived at the discretion of the thesis committee.

Non-thesis Option

 The student must earn a minimum of 53 semester hours of graduate credit and pass an examination which will assess knowledge and ability in the specialization of graduate study. The examination typically consists of both written and oral components; however, the oral component may be waived at the discretion of the written-examination committee.

Admission

Rehabilitation counseling admits students each term. For qualified applicants to the program, a pre-admission interview must be completed before a final admission decision is made. The application deadline is February 1 for the fall and summer terms and September 1 for the spring term. To be assured consideration for admission in the master’s degree programs in communicative disorders with a specialization in rehabilitation counseling, prospective students must submit completed application materials (application forms, official transcripts, GRE general test scores, and letters of recommendation) to the graduate school by the stated application deadline.

Prospective students who fail to meet the GPA requirement for admission may request special consideration for their applications. Such requests must be in writing, must include compensatory evidence related to the deficiency, and should accompany the application for admission to the Graduate School. Final decisions regarding admissions are made by the program’s admissions committee on the basis of a total profile of an applicant’s qualifications.

A maximum of 12 semester hours of student-at-large credit may be applied to degree requirements. In addition, the maximum combined total student-at-large hours plus transfer credit may not exceed 12 semester hours.

Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 48 semester hours to complete the degree. Because this program is fully accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education, a student who successfully completes the required curriculum, including a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship under the supervision of a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, is eligible to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification Examination. Students who wish to add a focus on deafness to augment the rehabilitation counseling specialization may complete AHRS 101, American Sign Language I, AHRS 102, American Sign Language II, and a basic course in audiometric methods.

• CAHC 525 - Counseling Skills and Strategies Credits: 3
•       OR  AHRC 605X - Counseling Skills and Strategies Credits: 3
• CAHC 540 - Group Counseling Credits: 3
• AHCD 600 - Introduction to Research in Communicative Disorders Credits: 3
•       OR  UHHS 560 - Introduction to Research in Health and Human Sciences Credits: 3
•       OR  ETR 520 - Introduction to Research Methods in Education Credits: 3
• AHRC 628 - Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability Credits: 4
• AHRC 660 - Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living Credits: 3
• AHRC 662 - Vocational Analysis and Job Placement Credits: 3
• AHRC 682 - Counseling Theories and Techniques with People with Disabilities Credits: 3
• AHRC 683 - Psychological and Vocational Assessment with Rehabilitation Populations Credits: 3
• AHRC 686 - Practicum Credits: 1-3 A: Rehabilitation Counseling (1-8),

•       OR AHRC 686B - Practicum: Deafness Rehabilitation Counseling (1-8)

• AHRC 690 - Advanced Practicum Credits: 3 A: Rehabilitation Counseling (6),

•       OR AHRC 690B - Advanced Practicum: Deafness Rehabilitation Counseling (6)

• AHRC 694 - Internship Credits: 1-12 A: Rehabilitation Counseling (12),

•       OR AHRC 694B - Internship: Deafness Rehabilitation Counseling (3)

• AHRC 777 - Seminar Credits: 3 A: Rehabilitation Counseling (3),

•       OR AHRC 777B - Seminar: Deafness Rehabilitation Counseling (3)

Other Requirements

Students are required to complete a total of 200 approved professional development hours, including direct involvement with supervised counseling, professional meetings, and the disability community.

Clinical and other specific requirements are available in the Rehabilitation Counseling Student Handbook.

Thesis Option

A thesis must be submitted and approved. Students selecting this option must also pass a comprehensive examination which includes a defense of the thesis.

Non-thesis Option

Students selecting this option must pass an oral and written examination which will assess knowledge and ability in the specialization.