Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

comdis.appstate.edu

Gail Donaldson, Chair

Speech-Language Pathology

Kim McCullough, Program Director
mcculloughkc@appstate.edu

When individuals cannot communicate because of an inability to understand or appropriately use the speech and language systems of society, they are at risk for serious social, emotional, vocational, and educational isolation. The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders prepares specialists in the prevention, evaluation, and management of human communication disorders through relevant educational experiences, clinical practica, and research opportunities. Students will be expected to:

understand the basic processes of human communication based on a foundation of knowledge in the physical, social, and cognitive sciences;
understand the nature of disorders of human communication;
understand the basic principles underlying the prevention, evaluation, and management of those disorders;
have ability to apply those principles in the provision of clinical services; become competent consumers and users of research; and
develop a commitment to continuing education and professional development.

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Appalachian is devoted to the study of human communication and associated disorders and prepares speech-language pathologists for work in a variety of settings (e.g., schools, hospitals, nursing homes, community clinics, home health, private practice). Students gain the academic and clinical experiences necessary for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, licensure by the North Carolina Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and advanced licensure by the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction. This graduate degree program requires the equivalent of five full-time semesters for students with undergraduate degrees in speech-language pathology. For students entering the program with undergraduate degrees in fields other than speech-language pathology, prerequisite courses must be completed prior to enrolling in graduate coursework. The course of study for out-of-field students will require one to three additional semesters to complete.

Programs

Master of Science

Speech-Language Pathology, MS

Courses

Communication Sciences & Disorders