Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Gregg D. Givens, Chairperson, 3310W Health Sciences Building
Monica Strauss Hough, Director of Graduate Studies, 3310V Health Sciences Building

MS in Speech, Language, and Auditory Pathology

Graduate programs are accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation of the American Speech Language-Hearing Association.

Admission

Application for admission to the graduate program in speech, language, and auditory pathology must be initiated through the Graduate School. (See Section 2, Admission and Readmission.) The department requires that the applicant take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and submit three letters of reference.

Completed applications should be received no later than February 1 for enrollment in the fall semester. Applications for fulltime study beginning in either the spring or summer semesters will be considered only under special circumstances because of the sequential nature of the program of study.

Major Areas of Study

Candidates for the MS degree in speech, language, and auditory pathology may select from the major emphasis areas of speech-language pathology and communication sciences.

The speech-language pathology emphasis area is a professional program designed to prepare students for immediate placement in public school and other clinical positions. Persons completing this program of study must meet all academic and clinical requirements for certification by the American Speech Language-Hearing Association, licensure in North Carolina as well as in most other states, and graduate certification by the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction.

The communication sciences emphasis area is tailored to the special interests of the students. The course of study can include a substantial portion of the courses in the speech-language pathology and audiology emphasis areas. Additionally, students are required to complete a thesis and successfully pass a final oral defense of the thesis.

Degree Requirements

The university confers the degree of master of science in speech, language and auditory pathology when the candidate has earned at least 54 s.h. of graduate credit. An additional 6 s.h. of graduate credit is available for those interested in receiving the Advanced Certificate of Teaching from the Department of Public Instruction.

A background of undergraduate courses in speech and hearing sciences is essential. For those students who do not have an undergraduate degree in the field, specific undergraduate courses must be taken prior to formally beginning the MS degree sequence. The following undergraduate courses or their equivalent must be taken prior to enrolling in graduate courses (a limited number of applicants may be accepted into the graduate program on a provisional basis): CSDI 3010 (phonetics), 3020 (child language development), 3030 (anatomy, physiology, and acoustics), 3050 (acquisition and development of phonology and articulation), 3105 (hearing science), 4100 (introduction to audiology), 4110 (aural rehabilitation). See requirements for the BS degree in the undergraduate catalog for course descriptions.

Candidates are required to take and pass a final comprehensive examination, which may be taken upon completion of enrollment in all didactic courses required for the degree in the major area of study.

Required Courses

Regardless of the major emphasis area chosen, 9 s.h. of specific core courses are required as follows: CSDI 6100, 6103, 6121. The communication science emphasis requires an additional 6 s.h. (CSDI 6101, 6523). The communication sciences emphasis also requires a thesis. For the speech-language pathology emphasis, only 3 s.h. of thesis credit may count toward the degree. For the communication science emphasis, 6 s.h. of thesis are required for the degree.

In addition to the general core requirements, the emphasis in speech-language pathology requires an additional 33 s.h. of didactic courses. These courses include CSDI 6101, 6104, 6106, 6108, 6109, 6110, 6112, 6113, 6114, 6200, 6320, 6321, 6900, 6901. Clinical course requirements include: CSDI 6226, 6227, 6229, 6990, 6993.

For the candidate whose major area of study is in speech-language pathology a minimum of 250 clinical clock hours in the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders is required at the graduate level.

If there are no hours accumulated at the undergraduate level, 375 hours will be required at the graduate level to meet certification and licensure requirements as set forth by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and the North Carolina State Board of Examiners.

PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders

The PhD program is designed for advanced scholars with interest in communication sciences and disorders. Two areas of study exist within the program, including speech-language pathology and audiology. Students may enroll in either the research concentration in speech-language pathology, or audiology, or the clinical concentration in audiology. Students enrolled in the research concentrations are required to take course work in a science core, which includes computer applications to the fields, physiology, acoustics and language science (speech-language pathology concentration), a support core taken across disciplines, a statistics core, and an area of concentration developed with the major professor. Students enrolled in the clinical concentration are required to take course work in a science core, which includes computer applications to the fields, physiology and acoustic sciences, a statistics core, a clinical audiology core, and a clinical residency. All students are required to complete a dissertation project prior to being awarded the degree, doctor of philosophy.

Admission

The Admissions Committee will make a holistic judgment of applicant qualifications. Admission to study at the doctoral level requires acceptance by the Graduate School and the department. The application for admission to the Graduate School and official transcripts from each college or university attended must be sent to the dean of the Graduate School. In addition, the following must be sent to the chairperson of the Doctoral Admissions Committee, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders: Graduate Record Examination scores; three letters of recommendation, with at least two from previous faculty of previous colleges or universities attended; a sample of scholarly writing which may be a thesis, a published or unpublished reprint, or term paper; and a statement that summarizes in as much detail as possible the reasons for pursuing doctoral study and doctoral research objectives.

The applicant must have a master’s degree or its equivalent to be considered for entry into the research concentration in speech-language pathology, communication sciences, and audiology PhD programs. Acceptable performance on the Graduate Record Examinations and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in graduate work are required. Post-baccalaureate entry into the clinical audiology program is offered. (See clinical audiology concentration.)

Applicants seeking admission to doctoral study should have completed a well-integrated program of study that includes course work in biological/physical sciences and mathematics, behavioral and/or social sciences, and human communication sciences and disorders.

Research Concentration:

1. Master’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, in speech-language pathology, audiology, communication sciences or related area, with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 (on a scale of A=4.0) in graduate work.
2. Graduate Record Examination within five years. A minimum score of 1000 (Verbal and Quantitative subtests) will be required for consideration of admission. Graduate Record Examination is waived as an entrance requirement for Merit Scholars at East Carolina University if other criteria are met. Post-baccalaureate admissions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
3. Three letters of recommendation, at least two from faculty of the college(s) or university(s) previously attended.
4. A sample of scholarly writing which may be a thesis, a published or unpublished reprint, or term paper.
5. A statement that summarizes reasons for pursuing doctoral study and doctoral research objectives in as much detail as possible.
6. Face-to-face or telephone interview.

Clinical Audiology Concentration:

1. Baccalaureate or master’s degree from an accredited institution.
2. The applicant must have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. The applicant with a master’s degree or its equivalent must have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 (on a scale of A=4.0) in graduate work.
3. Undergraduate course prerequisites include the following courses: life sciences (6 s.h.), physical sciences (3 s.h.), behavioral sciences (6 s.h.), English (3 s.h.), mathematics (3 s.h.), statistics (3 s.h.), anatomy and physiology (3 s.h.), introduction to audiology (3 s.h.), speech and hearing sciences (3 s.h.), language development (3 s.h.). Other courses in communication sciences and disorders are strongly encouraged.
4. Graduate Record Examination within five years. A minimum score of 1000 (Verbal and Quantitative subtests) is required for consideration of admission. Graduate Record Examination is waived as an entrance requirement for Merit Scholars at East Carolina University if other criteria are met. Merit Scholars at East Carolina University will receive automatic admission to 3 of the 6 class places if application is completed before their senior year of their baccalaureate program.
5. Three (3) letters of recommendation, at least two from faculty of the college(s) or university(s) previously attended.
6. Interview

Degree Requirements

Research Concentration: Communication sciences, and speech-language pathology and audiology

The research concentration requires a minimum 53 s.h. of didactic and research experiences beyond the masters degree or 95 s.h. beyond the bachelors degree, involving the entire doctoral faculty. The student will develop a background in a science core curriculum (12 s.h.), a support core taken across disciplines (9 s.h.), a statistics core (statistics and research design) (minimum 9 s.h.), research ethics (2 s.h.), a research internship (6 s.h.), and dissertation (minimum 3 s.h.). The student and major professor will select and design an area of major concentration, including 12 s.h. of course work or independent studies.

Except for credits accepted by transfer, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders requires that all graduate work, including the dissertation, be completed in residence. The course of study ordinarily requires at least three years of fulltime study. Students who have not completed a master’s thesis are required to complete by the end of the first academic year a research project by the end of the first academic year with the scope of a thesis (thesis equivalence), approved by a majority of the student’s program committee.

Clinical Concentration: Audiology

Baccalaureate admission: The post-baccalaureate clinical audiology PhD option consists of a minimum of 95 graduate credit hours to include broad-based knowledge in areas of applied clinical audiology, structure and development of hearing and communication disorders, speech and hearing sciences, statistics, computers and instrumentation, and research design.

The clinical option is designed to provide course work in an area of concentration guided by the major professor, while securing a background for the student in a science core curriculum (12 s.h.), a support core taken across disciplines (9 s.h.), a statistics core (statistics and research design) (9 s.h.), clinical audiology course work (33 s.h.), clinical experience/residency (24 s.h.), and research internship/dissertation (minimum 6 s.h.).

Post-Master’s admission: The post-master’s entrance to the clinical audiology concentration requires a minimum of 53 s.h. to include a broad-based contemporary knowledge in areas of applied clinical audiology. The student will develop a background in a science core curriculum (12 s.h.), a statistics core (statistics and research design) (9 s.h.), a research internship (6 s.h.), a major clinical core (18 s.h.), clinical residency (3 s.h.), and dissertation (minimum 3 s.h.).

Examination: The clinical program of study includes a “Gateway” examination during the summer session of the first year of study. A second “Gateway” or “comprehensive” examination is administered during the summer session at the end of the second year of study. The student’s program will be terminated with the second failure of the “comprehensive” examination.

Clinical Residency: The clinical residency will be the final clinical placement in audiology that may range from half-time to full-time and that allows for the development of comprehensive clinical knowledge, skills and abilities.

Clinical Defense: The Clinical Defense is an examination designed to evaluate the analysis and synthesis of clinical knowledge. This Defense will occur following successful completion of the comprehensive examination and prior to applying for graduation.

Except for credits accepted by transfer, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders requires that all graduate work, including the dissertation, be completed in residence. The course of study ordinarily requires five years of full-time study, post-baccalaureate degree.

Transfer Credit

Credit will be accepted for transfer at the discretion of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the dean of the Graduate School. A maximum of 9 s.h. of doctoral credit (course work taken beyond the master’s degree) may be applied toward the support and/or statistics cores. Credit will not be accepted in the science core or area of concentration.

Doctoral Candidacy Requirements

Following completion of most course work and prior to admission to candidacy for the PhD, students must pass a preliminary examination intended to test fundamental knowledge in both the major and support fields. The candidate will undergo written and oral examinations for mastery of the areas of concentration, the support core, statistical applications in the area of basic and applied research, and research design. Critical analysis and synthesis of all related academic, research, and clinical aspects of the field of preparation must be demonstrated. For the clinical PhD, the second gateway examination will constitute this preliminary examination.

The student’s program committee is responsible for the administration and evaluation of the preliminary examination. The recommendation of the committee is sent to the chairperson of the department who forwards to the dean of the Graduate School one of the following recommendations:

The responses to the preliminary examination are satisfactory and the student is recommended to candidacy.

Some responses to the preliminary examination are unsatisfactory and the student is to be re-examined at a specific time. Areas of deficiency to be rewritten and the dates of re-examination will be determined by the program committee.

The responses to the examination are unsatisfactory and a full re-examination will be administered during the subsequent semester. Failure of the second examination results in termination of the program.

Doctoral Dissertation

After passing the preliminary examination, the candidate must initiate the development of an appropriate dissertation research project. The dissertation must reflect independent, scholarly research that will contribute significant new knowledge to the candidate’s area of concentration.

Prior to initiating the dissertation research, the candidate’s program committee (composed of the major professor and at least three members of the graduate faculty) must approve a prospectus of the proposed dissertation containing the following:

A review of the pertinent literature.

A statement of the nature of the problem and the objectives of the proposed investigation.

A complete methodology, based on preliminary pilot investigations, which include a description and number of subjects to be studied, a discussion of the dependent and independent variables that will be manipulated, and a detailed description of the experimental procedures to be employed, including all experimental instrumentation.

A detailed outline and justification of the statistical analysis of the data that will be obtained.

A copy of the approved Institutional Review Board Application.

With the guidance and approval of the major professor, the candidate formally presents the prospectus to the faculty of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at an open meeting. The program committee must agree that the research proposal is satisfactory, with only one dissenting vote allowed.

It is the responsibility of the program committee to counsel the candidate in the research program, critique the dissertation, and conduct the final examination. Upon the satisfactory completion of all requirements, the committee and departmental chairperson will recommend to the dean of the Graduate School the award of the doctoral degree.

The basic form of the dissertation manuscript will follow the East Carolina University manual of style. The East Carolina University library will bind the final copies of the document. Six bound copies of the final approved manuscript must be deposited in the Graduate School office. The Graduate School office will microfilm the dissertation and list the title and abstract in Dissertation Abstracts. The student will be billed, at cost, for this service.

Enrichment

In addition to course requirements, each student will be assigned various preceptorships, involving mentored classroom and clinical instruction and administration to assist the student in gaining perspective and experience in university teaching, clinical supervision, and management. Students will be encouraged to participate in university-wide seminars.

Research Internship

In addition to the didactic portion of the doctoral program, each student enrolled in the research concentration will be required to complete two predissertation directed research projects to gain perspectives and laboratory experiences in the area of concentration and/or areas outside the concentration. These projects will be publishable, data based manuscripts, one developed by the end of each of the first two academic years. At least one of the two research internships must be completed with a faculty member whose primary appointment is in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Successful completion of an internship requires a written report approved by the supervising faculty member(s) with credit awarded for two of the following courses: CSDI 8070, 8071, 8080, 8081, 8090, 8091. Courses marked (*) are required for the research PhD.

Time Limits for Completion of Degree Requirements

A doctoral degree program must be completed before the end of the twelfth semester, excluding summers, following initial enrollment. With endorsement of the student’s program committee and the departmental chairperson, a student may request one extension of not more than two semesters, summers included.