Communication Sciences and Disorders Department

Department Chairperson and Graduate Program Director: Lindsey Jorgensen, Au.D., Ph.D.

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Room 206, McKusick
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-658-3870
csd@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/csd

FACULTY

Professors:

Lindsey Jorgensen, Au.D., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh. Specialization: Clinical Audiology, Amplification, Aural Rehabilitation, Tinnitus.
Jessica Messersmith, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Specialization: Psychoacoustics, Signal Encoding, Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Devices, Pediatric Audiology, Anatomy and Physiology of Hearing.

Associate Professors:

Elizabeth Hanson, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Specialization: Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Neuromotor Disorders, Communication Sciences, Research Methods. 
Mandy Williams, Ph.D., University of Nevada-Reno. Specialization: Fluency Disorders, Voice Disorders, Craniofacial Anomalies, Acquired Disorders of Language and Cognition.

Assistant Professor:

Coral Dirks, Au.D., Ph.D., University of Minnesota. Specialization: Cochlear Implants, Spacial Hearing, Hearing in Noise, Localization.
Michelle Novak, Au.D., Universtiy of South Dakota. Specialization: Amplification, Hearing Assistive Technology, Aural Rehabilitation, Auditory Processing.

Assistant Professor of Practice:

Jennifer Phelan, Au.D., Ohio State University. Specialization: Pediatric Audiology, Amplification, Clinical Supervision.

Lecturer:

Elizabeth DeVelder, M.A., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Clinical Speech-Language Pathology, Language Development, Autism.
Julie Kelderman, M.A., Hunter College-City University of New York, American Sign Language.
Jessica Schneider, SLP.D., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Child Language Development and Dyslexia.

Clinical Instructors:

Stacie Carlson, M.A., University of South Dakota Specialization: Child Speech and Language Development and Dyslexia.
Jason Fornwald, Ed.S., Minnesota State University. Specialization: Clinical Speech-Language Pathology, Speech/Language Impairments, Assistive Technology, Autism Spectrum Disorder
Shelly Grinde, M.A., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Clinical Speech-Language Pathology, Medical Speech Pathology.

Affiliate Faculty:

Laura Ball, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Shana Bauer Vaith, Au.D., University of South Dakota
Rebecca FIfe, M.A., University of Illionis at Urbana-Champaign
Patricia Gaffney, Au.D., University of Pittsburgh
Rachel Huber, Ph.D., University of Memphis
Marni Johnson Martin, Au.D., Salus University
Laura Scholten, M.A., University of South Dakota
Lori Kober, M.A., University of the District of Columbia
Emily Mcmahan, Au.D., Osborne College of Audiology

Emeritus Faculty:

Teri James Bellis, Ph.D., Northwestern University.
Jane Clem Heinemeyer, M.A., University of South Dakota.
Solveig Sperati Korte, M.A., Ohio University

DEGREE

Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
Doctor of Audiology

Program Description

The Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at the University of South Dakota prepares students for professional positions in the specialties 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, diagnosis, and rehabilitation of persons with auditory and vestibular disorders. The Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) program is a four-year post-baccalaureate program consisting of three years of didactic coursework and on- and off-campus clinical rotations and a fourth-year, full-time, external clinical placement. Students also are required to complete a research experience during their third year of study. The program is typically completed in eleven semesters of full-time enrollement. The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Speech-Language Pathology is a two-year post-baccalaureate program consisting of four semesters of didactic coursework, clinical practicum and a minimum of two external, full-time clinical placements. the program is typically completed in five to eight semesters of full-time enrollment.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Speech-Language Pathology and the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) residential educational programs at the University of South Dakota are 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 toll-free or 301-296-5700.

WICHE Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) eligible program.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Completed application through the centralized application service for Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDCAS) found at: https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com. You can begin the CSDCAS application on July 15th in the year of the application.
In order to complete your Graduate School application to the University of South Dakota, you must submit a $35 application fee, in addition to the CSDCAS fee. The USD Graduate Application Fee cannot be waived or deferred and it is nonrefundable. The fee can be paid on the USD payment site website.
Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels (in English or with translation). Transcripts must be complete (e.g., if currently enrolled, work-in-progress coursework must be included, foreign transcripts must include a grading scale, and for countries that issue, copy of degree certificate/diploma. The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an institution with institutional accreditation for that degree. A minimum cumulative undergraduate and major GPA of 3.0 or better based on 4.0 scale and/or graduate cummulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Post-baccalaureate education will also be considered. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy.
Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institutionally accredited American college or university or an accredited institution approved list of English-speaking countries are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT), 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), 8.5 on the TOEFL Essentials, 6.0 on the IELTS Academic, 53 on the PTE, or 110 on Duolingo is required for graduate admission. 
1. Speech-Language Pathology: A degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders or the completion of core foundational coursework^* in communication disorders after completing and receiving an undergraduate degree in another discipline is required. 
Personal essay. In 500 words or less, please describe what distinguishes you from other qualified applicants. Include how your experiences have shaped you and share your long-range goals.

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

Three (3) professional letters of recommendation are required to be submitted to CSDCAS.
Applicants must successfully complete a criminal background check upon acceptance.

*The prerequisite speech-language pathology coursework includes the following courses or their equivalency:

DCOM 131 Introduction to Communication Disorders (3 credit hours)
DCOM 211 Phonetics (3 credit hours)
DCOM 212 Language Development (3 credit hours)
DCOM 221 Introduction to Audiology (3 credit hours)
DCOM 224 Speech Science (4 credit hours)
DCOM 421 Hearing Science (3 credit hours)

Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Application Deadlines:

Fall admission January 15th
Spring admission (M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology only) September 15th

Library, Clinical, and Research Facilities

The University’s I.D. Weeks Library, the Lommen Health Sciences Library, and the program’s specialized Communication Disorders Library provide excellent collections of professional journals, texts, and reference material. The University of South Dakota Speech and Hearing Center serves as a clinical education center for students majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. This center contains clinical rooms, clinical observation rooms, audiometric facilities, a speech and hearing science laboratory, videotaping facilities, a computer laboratory, classrooms, offices, and lounges and study space for students. Additional clinical education and research opportunities are available through the University Affiliated Program in the School of Medicine, Individual Mobile Unit projects, the USD Scottish Rite Children’s Speech, Language, and Hearing Disorders Clinic Programs, and numerous off-campus internship opportunities.

Student Learning Outcomes for Speech - Language Pathology (M.A.)

Students will exhibit knowledge and skills in the areas of foundations of clinical practice, including professional codes of ethics, credentialing, and health care and educational service delivery systems.
Students will conduct prevention, screening, and evaluation/diagnostic procedures (including selection of appropriate evaluation materials and interpretation of results) in each disorder area (articulation/phonology, fluency, voice/resonance, language, swallowing, hearing, cognition, communication modalities, and social communication)
Students will develop, implement, and monitor the effectiveness of setting-appropriate intervention plans with measurable and achievable goals that meet clients’/patients’ needs in each disorder area (articulation/phonology, fluency, voice/resonance, language, swallowing, hearing, cognition, communication modalities, and social communication)
Students will demonstrate knowledge of processes used in research and the integration of research principles into evidence-based clinical practice.
Graduates from the MA SLP program will demonstrate sufficient knowledge to meet national certification requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes for Audiology Doctorate (Au.D.)

Students will exhibit knowledge and skills in the areas of foundations of clinical practice, including professional codes of ethics, credentialing, and health care and educational service delivery systems.
Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate and apply knowledge and skills regarding methods of prevention and identification of auditory and vestibular disorders. 
Students will conduct and interpret behavioral/ psychophysical, electroacoustic, and electrophysiologic evaluation/diagnostic procedures for individuals suspected of disorders of auditory, balance, communication, and related systems. 
Students will develop, implement, and monitor the effectiveness of setting-appropriate treatment plans for individuals with auditory, balance, and related communication disorders with measurable and achievable goals that meet clients’/patients’ needs.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of principles and practices of research, including experimental design, statistical methods, and application to clinical populations.
Graduates from the AuD program will demonstrate sufficient knowledge to meet national certification requirements.