Communication Disorders Department

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Teri James Bellis, Chairperson
Room 122, Noteboom Hall
(605) 677-5474
dcom@usd.edu

FACULTY:

Associate Professor:

Teri James Bellis, Central Auditory Processing Disorders, Advanced Research Methods, Genetics of Hearing Loss, Professional Issues, Audiologic Assessment

Assistant Professors:

Samuel R. Atcherson, Auditory Electrophysiology and Neurophysiology, Advanced Hearing Science, Amplification II, American Sign Language

Paul Brueggeman, Clinical Audiology, Amplification, Aural Rehabilitation, Hearing Conservation, Pediatric Audiology, Instrumentation and Calibration

Elizabeth Hanson, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Craniofacial Anomalies, Neuromotor Disorders, Advanced Communication Science, Research Methods

Liane Grayson, Language Disorders in Children, Advanced Language Disorders, Disorders of Phonology/Articulation, Diagnosis in Speech-Language Pathology

Marni Johnson, Clinical Audiology, Amplification, Hearing Science, Practice Management

Mandy Williams, Fluency Disorders, Voice Disorders, Acquired Disorders of Language and Cognition, Craniofacial Anomalies

Instructors:

Angela Brown, Clinical Speech-Language Pathology

Elizabeth Develder, Clinical Speech-Language Pathology, Language Development

Jane Clem, Swallowing and Oral Motor Disorders, Clinical Speech-Language Pathology, Dysphagia

Solveig Korte, Speech Science, Phonetics, Clinical Speech-Language Pathology

Tracey Lorang, Clinical Speech-Language Pathology

MAJOR: COMMUNICATION DISORDERS, B.A., B.S.
MINOR: COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

The undergraduate and graduate Communication Disorders Program prepares students for professional positions in the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology. Speech-language pathology is concerned with the evaluation, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of persons with speech and language disorders. Audiology is concerned with the evaluation and rehabilitation of persons with hearing, other auditory, and balance disorders.

Professionals in this field are employed as clinicians, educators, administrators, and consultants in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, public school systems, colleges and universities, state and federal government agencies, and private practice. The master’s degree is generally required for entrance into the profession. National certification in speech-language pathology or audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) requires the master’s degree. All state licensure laws also require the master’s degree. Beginning in January, 2007, the doctoral degree or its equivalent will be required for the practice of audiology.

The Department of Communication Disorders (Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology) offers a general Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders, a master’s degree program in speech-language pathology, and a doctoral degree program in audiology (beginning Fall, 2005.) The undergraduate degree program is a pre-professional program that is a blend of a liberal arts foundation and a general core curriculum in the communication sciences and in disorders of communication. It is designed as a preparatory curriculum for graduate study, and students do not emphasize either speech-language pathology or audiology at the undergraduate level but instead take courses in both areas. The academic and clinical practicum requirements for national certification in speech-language pathology and audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) may be completed across the undergraduate and graduate programs. The department’s graduate programs in audiology and in speech-language pathology are nationally accredited by ASHA.

FACILITIES

The USD Speech and Hearing Center serves as a clinical education center for students majoring in Communication Disorders and as a clinical services center for children and adults in need of diagnostic, therapeutic, and counseling services for a wide variety of communication disorders. This Center contains clinical observation rooms, clinical service rooms, audiometric facilities, a speech and hearing science laboratory, classrooms, offices and lounges, student computer labs, and study space for students. There is a USD Scottish Rite Children’s Clinic for Speech and Language Disorders located in the USD Speech and Hearing Center in Vermillion and a second one at the Masonic Center in Sioux Falls.

SCHOOL CERTIFICATION IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY OR AUDIOLOGY

Persons completing only the Bachelor degree will not be recommended by the University for public school certification. To be approved for this certification, students must complete the master’s degree in the professional area in which they want school certification, including specific academic and clinical practicum requirements. Consult your advisor for these requirements. Individual states have their own school certification requirements. Consult your advisors and individual certifying state education agencies as to their specific requirements. The USD master’s degree program in speech-language pathology is an approved program for school certification by the South Dakota Department of Education. The State of South Dakota requires the completion of the master’s degree for school certification in speech-language pathology.

NSSLHA CHAPTER

There is a USD Chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) that is active in the Department of Communication Disorders.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Communication Disorders Department offers a wide variety of scholarships and awards for students majoring in communication disorders. Please contact the department for information about available scholarships and awards.

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