Graduate Catalog 2023-2024

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/communicationdisorders

Kimberly Green, (Interim) Department Chair
Academic Complex 104
(270) 745-4541
communicationdisorders@wku.edu

Accreditation
The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Western Kentucky University is accredited by:
The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard, #310
Rockville, MD 20850
800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700
accreditation@asha.org

Faculty

Associate Professor

Lauren E. Bland PhD (Communication Disorders), University of Cincinnati Main Campus, 1995

Kimberly J. Green EdD (Educational Leadership, Postsecondary Leadership), Western Kentucky University, 2015

Brian K. Weiler PhD (Hearing and Speech Sciences), Vanderbilt University, 2016

Assistant Professor

Jenny M. Burton PhD (Communication Disorders and Sciences), University of Cincinnati Main Campus, 2019

Amy E. Engelhoven PhD (Communication Disorders and Sciences), University of Arkansas Main Campus, 2016

Ashley C. Fox PhD (Educational Leadership and Organizational Development), University of Louisville, 2010

Courtney A. Hatcher PhD (Rehabilitation Sciences), University of Kentucky, 2017

Clinical Assistant Professor

Brittney R. Vickous MS (Communication Disorders), Western Kentucky University, 2011

Clinical Associate Professor

Jeffrey A. Barefoot AUD (Audiology), A T Still University of Health Scien, 2013

Leigh Anne Roden EdD (Educational Leadership, P-12 Leadership), Western Kentucky University, 2011

Communication Disorders Courses

CD 486G    Language Disorders    3 Hours (repeatable max of 3 hrs)

Identification, diagnosis, and treatment approaches used with language delayed children. Covers current state and federal legislation as related to service delivery models. Evaluation strategies include language sampling and report writing. Treatment approaches based on medical and educational models with emphasis on functional language therapy.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

Speech Language Pathology Courses

SLP 500    Research Methodology in Communication Sciences and Disorders    3 Hours

Interpretation of empirical research designs used in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology. Includes understanding the various statistical analysis used to determine research outcomes and their relevance to clinical practice.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023

SLP 501    Early Intervention in Speech-Language Pathology    3 Hours

Theory and practice in the assessment and intervention of speech and language disorders in the infant/toddler population.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Speech-Language Pathology (0466)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023

SLP 502    Motor Speech Disorders    3 Hours

The etiologies, communication characteristics, appraisal and treatment of motor speech disorders in children and adults.

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2021; fall 2021; summer 2022; fall 2022; summer 2023; fall 2023

SLP 504    Child Language Disorders    3 Hours

Theory and practice in the assessment and intervention of language disorders in the preschool and school age populations.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Speech-Language Pathology (0466)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023

SLP 506    Fluency Disorders    3 Hours

Prevention, assessment and treatment of stuttering and other fluency disorders in children and adults.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Speech-Language Pathology (0466)

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023

SLP 507    Aphasia    3 Hours

Symptomatology, etiology, differential diagnosis, and remediation of adult aphasia

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023

SLP 508    Voice Disorders    3 Hours

Diagnosis and remediation techniques for voice disorders in children and adults. Rehabilitation of the laryngectomee including use of electrolarynx, esophageal speech, and other voice substitutes.

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2021; fall 2021; summer 2022; fall 2022; summer 2023; fall 2023

SLP 509    Speech Science    3 Hours

Study and review of current research in acoustics, speech production, and speech perception. Emphasis on physiological, acoustical and biomedical recording, measurement and interpretation of speech signals.

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2021

SLP 510    Seminar in Professional Issues    3 Hours

Current local, regional, and national issues that impact service delivery by the speech pathologist and audiologist. Includes ethics and requirements for state and American Speech-Language Hearing Association certification and licensure.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SLP 511    Neurological Foundations for Speech Language Pathology    3 Hours

Study of nervous system organization and how it affects speech, language, and swallowing. Areas of speech, language, and cognition that are affected by diseases, trauma, and disorders. Medical testing including CT scan, MRI, functional imaging and application in the profession are discussed.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023

SLP 512    Speech Sound Disorders    3 Hours

Prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, and management of appropriate intervention strategies for persons presenting with articulation and/or phonological disorders as well as dialectal variations of speech sound production.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023

SLP 513    Cognitive-Communication Disorders    3 Hours

Neural based cognitive-communication disorders, with an emphasis on traumatic brain injury, dementia, and other etiologies that cause cognitive-communication disorders. Prevention, identification, assessment, therapeutic strategies and classification of cognitive-communication disorders.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023

SLP 514    Dysphagia    3 Hours

Etiology, characteristics, assessment, intervention protocols and treatment techniques for individuals with dysphagia.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023

SLP 515    Rehabilitation Audiology    3 Hours

Methods and procedures for evaluating hearing loss and the selection and fitting of amplification across the lifespan will be addressed. Intervention techniques and counseling will be discussed.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023

SLP 517    Normal Language Development    3 Hours

Introduction to development of speech and language across the lifespan with emphasis on comprehensive child development. Topics include development of speech and language, play, cognition, socialization, and emerging literacy.

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2021; summer 2022; summer 2023

SLP 518    Alternative and Augmentative Communication Modalities    3 Hours

Surveys terminology and service delivery for alternative and augmentative communication; specifies the rationale for high or low tech device selection based on client needs.

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2021; winter 2022; summer 2022; summer 2023

SLP 519    Social and Cultural Foundations in SLP    3 Hours

In-depth examination of social and cultural aspects of assessment and intervention in speech-language pathology

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2022; winter 2023

SLP 550    Speech-Language Pathology and Counseling: Strategies for Clinical Practice    3 Hours

Designed to teach clinicians how to help clients and their families in a positive, empathetic manner. Disorder-specific guidance with respect to client/family understanding of the communication impairment will be presented. Students will be given opportunities to apply their knowledge through interpretation of research and evaluation of case studies.

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023

SLP 553    Diagnostic Procedures    3 Hours

Teaches in depth assessment, interpretation of results and clinical report writing skills. Focus on identification of pediatric to geriatric persons with communication disabilities in various clinical settings. Addresses assessment in multicultural populations. Elaboration and extension of basic diagnostic skills and techniques.

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2022; winter 2023

SLP 555    Orofacial Anomalies    3 Hours

Etiology, diagnosis, and management of speech/language dysfunctions associated with cleft palate and other syndromes resulting from neuropathologies.

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2023

SLP 557    Speech-Language Pathology and Autism Spectrum Disorders    3 Hours

Development of strategies for speech-language pathologists to assess and treat the social and communication needs of those with autism spectrum disorders.

Prerequisite(s): SLP 501 and SLP 504

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023

SLP 558    Interprofessional Practice Across the Lifespan    3 Hours

Principles of interprofessional collaboration and exploration of roles of family/caregivers and health care and educational professionals; interprofessional communication, decision making and collaborative team problem solving as it relates to a variety of settings across the lifespan.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

SLP 560    Medical Speech- Language Pathology    3 Hours

Current issues encountered in the medical environment in preparation for an externship and career in a healthcare setting. Collaborative roles, ethics, documentation, communication, advanced diagnostics, impact of various medical conditions on communication, cognition, and swallowing.

Prerequisite(s): SLP 514

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023

SLP 567    School Based Speech-Language Pathology    3 Hours

Review, analysis and critique of speech-language pathology service delivery in schools, including credentialing, professional issues, regulations, due process, assessment, and treatment.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023

SLP 572    Contemporary Issues in Communication Disorders    3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

An in-depth examination of a topic of current interest and relevance to speech-language pathologists.

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2021; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; winter 2022; spring 2022; summer 2022; summer 2023

SLP 575    The Speech Language Pathologist's Role in Literacy Practice    3 Hours

An examination of how difficulties involving phonological awareness, memory, retrieval, language demands of textbooks, academic talk, and curriculum may stress a student's capabilities at different ages and grade levels and learn how speech-language pathologists can assess and provide intervention.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021

SLP 579    Seminar in Professional Issues    1 Hour

Current local, regional, and national issues that impact speech-language pathology service delivery. Includes requirements for state licensure and national certification.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023

SLP 580    Clinical Observation    1 Hour

Provides graduate speech-language pathology students with opportunities to observe, evaluate, then analyze a variety of professional assessment and intervention sessions. A minimum of 25 hours of treatment or assessment of communication disorders in children or adults is required.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023

SLP 588    Clinical Methods in Speech-Language Pathology    1 Hour

Introduction to clinical policies and procedures in speech-language pathology.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Speech-Language Pathology (0466)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023

SLP 589    Special Topics in Communication Disorders    1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 3 hrs)

Independent but guided inquiry of pre-approved topics in the field of Speech Pathology-Audiology. Not substituted for course offered same term.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022; spring 2023

SLP 590    Clinical Internship    1 Hour (repeatable max of 2 hrs)

Advanced, supervised, clinical practicum that provides varied on-campus experiences with clients presenting communication disorders. Maximum of one hour allowed per semester.

Course Fee: $250

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023

SLP 591    Clinical Externship    2,3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Advanced, supervised clinical experience in a variety of settings external to the campus. Maximum of 3 hours per semester.

Course Fee: $50

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023

SLP 596    International Speech-Language Pathology    3 Hours

Knowledge and understanding of how speech and language services are rendered in other countries will be gained through study abroad.

Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Speech-Language Pathology (0466)

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2023

SLP 599    Thesis Research and Writing    3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Faculty supervised research project on a topic related to speech-language pathology.

Prerequisite(s): SLP 500 and permission of instructor

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Speech-Language Pathology (0466)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023

SLP 600    Maintaining Matriculation    1-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Maintaining matriculation while completing thesis or comprehensive examination. Note: Completion of all program requirements except thesis or comprehensive examination.

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Speech-Language Pathology (0466)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; summer 2022; fall 2022; summer 2023