This course is the first supervised clinical speech-language pathology experience in the graduate degree program. Students enrolled in this course complete requirements through a clinical assignment in the La Salle University Speech-Language-Hearing Community Clinics (LSU-SLHCC). Students are supervised by an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist. In this unique practicum setting, student clinicians apply theoretical knowledge, develop clinical management skills, develop self-analysis and evaluation abilities, and become familiar with professional issues in the discipline. Emphasis is placed on selection and administration of diagnostic instruments. Students write reports and daily progress notes and conduct family/patient counseling. Students may have the opportunity to communicate with other health care and educational professionals as needed.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Fall
How Offered: Face to Face

This course examines principles and strategies in the management of hearing status in children and adults. Development and maintenance of communication through speech reading, auditory training, and the use of technology in aural habilitation/rehabilitation are investigated.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

This course reviews the development of speech sound production and speech perception skills in children. Factors affecting speech sound development are discussed. Prominent theories of phonology are reviewed and critiqued and assessment and modification of atypical articulatory patterns are emphasized. The differential diagnosis of speech sound disorders is explored. Case studies are used to illustrate methodologies and to plan remediation.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Fall
How Offered: Face to Face

This course provides information about typical fluency as well as the history, theories, development, nature, and symptomatology of stuttering and other fluency disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. Cluttering, neurogenic, and psychogenic fluency disorders and their evaluation and management are discussed. Controversies regarding theoretical explanations about the causes and the nature of stuttering that influence management strategies are discussed. Stuttering modification, fluency shaping, and holistic therapeutic approaches are reviewed, and video case studies are used to illustrate the approaches. Students are afforded the opportunity to evaluate and create a treatment plan for an adult who stutters as part of the final project for the course.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

This course explores the nature and treatment of language disorders in young children, from birth to age six. Theoretical approaches are combined with hands-on application to provide a comprehensive overview of assessment and intervention across key language domains and developmental stages. Students will engage in real world case studies, analysis of current research, diagnostic reasoning, and the development of evidence-based intervention plans for home, school, and community settings. Diagnostic information including language sampling, stages of emergent literacy, and stages of play are discussed in relation to early intervention.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Fall
How Offered: Face to Face

This course provides an overview of acquired language disorders. Neuropathology, symptomatology, and speech-language rehabilitation of individuals with aphasia, traumatic brain injury, right-hemisphere disorders, dementia, and related cognitive-communication disorders are examined. Theoretical models in the evaluation and treatment of acquired language disorders are discussed and contrasted.
Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

This course focuses on language learning disabilities and differences in school-age children and adolescents and the cognitive/linguistic processes involved in the classroom performance of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It explores the role of the speech-language pathologist in the evaluation and treatment of students with language and literacy needs within the academic curriculum.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Fall
How Offered: Face to Face

This course investigates the etiology, symptomatology, development, diagnosis, intervention, and prevention of voice disorders in children and adults. Models of current treatment strategies are discussed.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

This clinical practicum course provides observation and supervised clinical experience focusing on the evaluation and treatment of communication disorders, counseling of clients and families, development of treatment plans, and writing of evaluation and progress reports. Emphasis is placed on increasing diagnostic and therapeutic skills with children and adults with communication disorders. COSD 516 takes place in an affiliated clinic, rehabilitation facility, school, or other appropriate setting under the supervision of an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist. Students meet with the University Clinical Instructor to reflect on and discuss procedures within the clinical experience.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

This course explores the relationships among research, theory, and practice. Critique of published research focuses students on literature review and purpose methods and findings of studies with applicability of research to clinical situations. Treatment and outcome variables, sampling, measurement theory, qualitative and quantitative analyses, and the use of technology in data analysis are emphasized.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Fall
How Offered: Face to Face

This course examines anatomy and physiology of normal swallowing and respiration and the anatomic and physiologic disturbances affecting swallowing in infants, children, and adults. Radiographic and bedside diagnostic and treatment procedures are presented. Indications and methods for non-oral and modified oral feeding are discussed.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

Candidates for the Educational Specialist I School Speech & Language Pathologist PK-12 or the Teacher Instructional Certificate I for Speech and Language Impaired PK-12 engage in an advance school practicum experience in public or private schools in the greater Philadelphia area under the supervision of a school-based ASHA certified speech-language pathologist and a University Supervisor. Students investigate how speech and language affects the child's achievement and functioning in the school environment and assess the child's communication ability in relation to academic achievement with consideration of age-appropriate curriculum in the classroom. Students learn Federal and State special education regulations as they relate to developing and modifying the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) and other legal documents. They also participate in parent-teacher conferences pertaining to the child's communication and education, organize a caseload, and provide appropriate assessment and intervention in areas including speech, language, voice and fluency for children who may range in grade from preschool through high school.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Fall, Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

Augmentative and alternative communication course will discuss evidence-based assessment and intervention for complex communicators across the lifespan. The course will examine the need for AAC in both developmental disabilities and acquired disabilities. The intent of this course is to provide graduate level students with an understanding of terminology, techniques, assessment principles, research, and therapeutic procedures for persons with severe communication disorders. The course will provide exploration of access, symbols, systems, communication, and language.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Summer
How Offered: Face to Face

This course provides an overview of the neurological disorders that affect speech production. Normal speech production processes are reviewed from a neurophysiological perspective. All 7 types of dysarthria are discussed and video examples of patients exhibiting those types are used as part of the instructional materials. Procedures for assessing motor speech disorders associated with neuromotor impairments are investigated. Neuropathology, symptomatology, and speech-language habilitation/rehabilitation of individuals with apraxia and/or dysarthria are discussed.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Fall
How Offered: Face to Face

This course provides an overview of counseling in communication disorders and in the helping professions. Components of the therapeutic relationship including the interpersonal nature of communication, attending to clients, clinical interviewing, and recognizing communication patterns are surveyed. Counseling theories, goal setting, and strategic interventions with clients and their families are critiqued. This course includes active learning strategies and case study analysis.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Fall
How Offered: Face to Face

Current scientific and professional problems and issues in communication disorders are investigated. Students may re-enroll for a maximum of 12 credits.

Number of Credits: 3
How Offered: Face to Face

Speech, hearing, language, and cognitive problems associated with normal aging and/or various pathological conditions are explored. The course emphasizes evaluation and intervention strategies.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Summer
How Offered: Face to Face

This course provides advanced knowledge and skills in assessment principles, processes, and applied practice. Through a case-based, client-centered approach, students apply content knowledge to clinical cases to improve decision-making across assessments of speech sounds, language, voice, fluency, swallowing, and neurologically based disorders. Students interact with live and simulated clients and other professionals to measure, analyze, and integrate information for diagnosis and clinical reporting. Emphasis is placed on selection, administration, and interpretation of standardized assessments, informal measures, and observational data.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Summer
How Offered: Face to Face

This course continues the supervised clinical speech-language pathology experience of COSD 516 necessary to fulfill clinical practicum requirements. Students enrolled in this course will complete requirements in an affiliated hospital, clinic, rehabilitation facility, school, or other appropriate setting treating patients/clients 18 years or older. Students are supervised by an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist. Emphasis is placed on the interpretation and application of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with individuals with a variety of communication disorders. Students prepare a detailed case study using a patient from their current clinical site and are required to incorporate the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and the ICF Model to capture the lived experiences of their patient. Feedback and reflection regarding clinical decision-making are emphasized.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Fall, Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

This course provides an overview of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the principles for speech-language pathologists in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of ASD and selective mutism (SM). Professional issues relating to assessment and treatment of children on the autism spectrum and selective mutism are discussed and applied to evaluation protocols, behavioral strategies, and treatment methodologies. This course also addresses current topics within the field, engaging students in debated issues. Augmentative-alternative communication (AAC) for children in need of non-vocal communication is addressed.
Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Summer, Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

This course introduces the graduate student in speech-language hearing science to medical speech pathology as it is practiced in the acute care setting. The student will be introduced to the six major service areas in the acute care setting that interface most commonly with Speech-Language Pathology Services. Those areas are: Neurology, Radiology, Trauma/Neurosurgery, ENT, Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) and Medicine. The information necessary to interact with these services and treat their patients will be provided. Video presentations using the Acute Care Consultative Model is a basis for discussing disorder. An interprofessional expert panel is invited to take questions from the students regarding their interface with speech-language pathologists in the acute care setting.
Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Summer
How Offered: Face to Face

This course provides information about the anatomy and physiology of normal and disordered pediatric swallowing and explores its evaluation and treatment through a neurodevelopmental lens. Students will develop skills in the diagnosis and management of feeding and swallowing disorders across a range of pediatric clinical populations and settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, early intervention programs, schools, and in-home services. Emphasis is placed on the speech-language pathologist’s role as a member of an interdisciplinary team. Problem-based and experiential learning methods are used to address the complex medical, developmental, and social factors influencing pediatric dysphagia.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Summer
How Offered: Face to Face

This course focuses on the pros and cons of instrumentation in Speech Language Pathology (SLP). Current instrumentation commonly used in the evaluation and treatment of swallowing, voice, and speech disorders will be closely reviewed. A comprehensive review of clinical and theoretical research will be conducted to comprehend the clinical benefits and disadvantages of instrumentations. The instruments being discussed will be available for hands on experience to further enhance comprehension of their applications. The following instruments will be included: Electrical Stimulators (VitalStim), Surface Electromyography (sEMG), Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBS), Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing and Sensory Testing (FEESST), Computer Speech Lab (CSL), and Videostroboscopy. Emphasis will be given to the instrumentation's purpose, application, risk and management, disinfection, and proper maintenance.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

This seminar course is designed as a comprehensive overview, integration, and analysis of the field of Speech-Language Pathology. This course provides a formative and summative evaluation of the students' work. Formatively, students will develop a portfolio that exemplifies their progress throughout the academic program. Summatively, the course provides students with an opportunity to review clinical research across the discipline and gain new insights into the field. Students formally present information from scholarly texts in preparation for professional certification and licensure.

Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Spring
How Offered: Face to Face

This course is an opportunity to pursue descriptive and/or experimental research. This thesis option will result in approved, original, scholarly research within the field of communication disorders under the supervision of a member of the faculty to produce an acceptable thesis. Students present their thesis orally to faculty and students in lieu of the master's comprehensive examination. Students may re-register for this course until completion of thesis.

Number of Credits: 3
How Offered: Face to Face

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the cognitive-communication disorders associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI), right-hemisphere brain damage (RHBD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Students will learn clinical methods for differential diagnosis and treatment provision. Topics to be covered include neuropathology of TBI, RHBD, and neurodegenerative diseases; variables of recovery; assessment and treatment of individuals with cognitive-communication disorders; and patient and family education.
Number of Credits: 3
When Offered: Summer
How Offered: Face to Face