The complete program requires a minimum of 64 credits beyond the master's degree in communicative disorders. Twenty-two credits are core courses which all students in the doctoral program must take. Fifteen credits are specialization credits based on the student's individual interests. Eight credits comprise the student's professional products and experiences. One credit is the preliminary exam. Six credits are additional research methods. Student dissertation/thesis comprise of a minimum of 12 credits.
Core Courses
These courses must be taken by all students in the doctoral program:
EDUC 6570 Introduction to Educational and Psychological Research (3 credits)
Introduction to research methods including identifying research questions, conducting research literature reviews, and design and implementation of research projects.
EDUC 6600 Measurement, Design, & Analysis (3 credits)
This course integrates concepts in measurement, research design, and statistical analysis for research in psychology and education.
SPED 7920 Doctoral Orientation Seminar (3 credits)
Orients new students to the doctoral program including career planning, program planning, fundamental concepts of scientific research and literature review, and knowledge of the available facilities and faculty members.
SPED 7940 Journal Reading Group (2 credits *2 semesters)
Under faculty direction, students read and discuss published research. Students learn to critique empirical and theoretical papers as well as current research findings in important areas of Disability Disciplines.
SPED 7950 Multicultural Issues in Disability (3 credits)
This seminar will focus on the juxtaposition of disability and ethnic/cultural/linguistic diversity. Three broad areas will be presented. The first area will focus on the ethnic/cultural/linguistic demography of disability. The second area will focus on the prejudice, discrimination, and handicapism and the ways in which these forces impact upon an individual who has a disability and who is a member of an ethnic/cultural/linguistic minority group. The third area will focus on practice applications, translating the concept of the first two areas into practical suggestions for professional practice.
SPED 7820 Cross-Specialization Topical Seminars (3 credits *2 courses)
In-depth study of special topics in special education, rehabilitation, behavior analysis, and disabilities studies. Seminars examine historical aspects, relevant research, and theoretical positions.
Specialization-Specific Coursework
Students will enroll in at least one graduate content area course that relates to their primary interest area. Specialization courses will comprise 15 credits. Examples of possible courses include:
COMD 6020 Language Diagnosis and Intervention with School-age Children
COMD 6030 Disorders of Fluency
COMD 6120 Adult Disorders of Motor Speech & Swallowing
COMD 6130 Neuropathologies
COMD 6140 Pediatric Neurogenic Disorders
COMD 6210 Bilingual/Multicultural Services
COMD 6810 Disorders of Phonation
COMD 6900 Advanced Topics in Speech and Language Disorders (3 credits * 2 courses)
Discussion of advanced topics and issues in language disorders, including theories of information processing and learning mechanisms underlying language disorders, the nature of various types of language disorders, language assessment, and language intervention.
COMD Seminars (3 credits *2 courses)
Students will take an additional 6 credits in seminars on topics of relevance to their programs. Examples of possible seminars include:
COMD 7820 Research Seminar in Communication Disorders
COMD 7830 Seminar: Special Topics
Additional Research Methods
Students will take a minimum of 6 additional credits in research methods. Students are encouraged to consider the following courses, although students' committees will consider additional options:
SPED 7700 Single Subject Research Methods
SPED 7710 Advanced Single-Subject Research Methods and Design
EDUC 7610 Measurement, Design and Analysis II
PSYC 7020 Advanced Evaluation Methodology and Techniques
PSYC 7780 Multivariate Methods in Psychology and Education
PSYC 7670 Literature Reviews in Education and Psychology
Preliminary Examination
The preliminary examination will be administered after the first academic year of courses. The examination will be one credit and will cover the student's knowledge in three principle areas:
- Theoretical and empirical bases of speech and language disorders
- Experimental design
- Journal article critique
Comprehensive Exam: Products and Experiences
Students will enroll in 8 credits of professional products and experiences. These may include
COMD 7910 Research Internship (1 credit *2 courses)
Students engage in empirical research supervised by faculty. Directed research experiences are a critical element of the student's doctoral program regardless of their funding source. Students should obtain research experiences with at least two different faculty members. Students must also plan and conduct at least one research project. A project proposal should be approved by the project/faculty mentor prior to initiation. It is expected that these projects will involve development of a research design, data collection and data analysis. In accordance with USU policy, students must receive IRB approval before initiating any research project.
Students are required to present the results of at least one research project at a Research Colloquium in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education. The first part of each of these meetings will be open to other members of the departmental community (other doctoral students are particularly urged to attend), and will consist of a presentation and questions from the committee and the audience. The second part will be closed to the public; the student will defend his/her work before the committee. The committee will then deliberate privately to determine whether the work is considered acceptable, and if not, to formulate recommendations for improvement and later resubmission for approval.
SPED 7340 College Teaching Internship (1 credit)
The student will teach one or more undergraduate courses in professional personnel preparation, including courses that use instructional technologies. Guided teaching experiences include preparation and presentation of at least one section of a course (4-5 consecutive class meetings), planning for evaluation of student learning (development of tests and/or assignments), and grading of the material (development of grading rubrics) plus primary responsibility for teaching at least one course under the supervision of a COMD faculty member. Students must play a primary role in designing the course. The material shall include a detailed syllabus, reading list, assignments, and handouts/overheads/slides. At the discretion of the committee, the course may be an adaptation of an existing course, or it may be a course in a topic area in which the student has not previously taught. The specific courses to be taught will be determined by the student's doctoral committee but will be drawn from the extensive coursework in the undergraduate and masters programs in Speech-Language Pathology.
SPED 7930 Internship - Conference Presentation (1 credit)
The student will prepare and present a presentation on a topic related to speech-language pathology at a major academic conference. One or more members of the student?s doctoral advisory committee will evaluate the presentation.
SPED 7930 Internship - Publication (1 credit)
The student will write a report summarizing the results of at least one study. This manuscript should be of publishable quality and must be approved by the Doctoral Advisory Committee. It is expected that this paper will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. A publication decision is not a requirement to meet this competency.
SPED 7930 Internship - Review of Literature (1 credit)
The student will conduct and write a systematic review of the literature on a topic related to speech-language pathology. It is recommended that this paper be completed during the first year of doctoral study. However, the exact nature and timing of the assignment will be at the discretion of the student?s mentor and Doctoral Committee.
SPED 7070 Internship - Grant Writing (1 credit)
The student, in collaboration with a faculty member, writes and submits a grant to an extramural funding agency.
SPED 7930 Internship ? Supervision (1 credit)
The student, in collaboration with a faculty member, will supervise undergraduate or graduate students earning clinical practicum hours in speech-language pathology.
Dissertation
SPED 7970 Dissertation (minimum of 12 credits)
The student plans, carries out, analyzes, and interprets a substantial original research project on a topic related to speech-language pathology.