Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders
School of Health and Human Sciences
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
300 Ferguson Building
PO Box 26170
Greensboro, North Carolina 27402
Phone: 336-334-5184 or 336-334-5939
Fax: 336-334-4475
Volume 1, August 10, 2013
Compiled by L. Raleigh & K. Hall
CSD Graduate Student Handbook
Departmental Organization
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is one of seven
departments within the School of Health and Human Sciences (HHS). Within HHS
there are also three programs and a middle college. The UNCG Speech and Hearing
Center is an extension of the CSD department. The department and its faculty, as well
as the Speech and Hearing Center, occupy the third floor of the Ferguson Building.
Degrees Offered: The CSD department offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, and
Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The MA degree in speech-language pathology is a twoyear program and the PhD degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders is a post
master’s research degree which can take from four to seven years to complete. Doctoral
students may enroll in part or full-time study.
Speech and Hearing Center: The mission of the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center is to
provide clinical education to students and to engage in clinical research and community
outreach. The Center also has a mission to provide prevention, evaluation, and
intervention services on campus and in the community to individuals of all ages with
hearing and communication disorders and differences. The Center serves as a clinical
practicum site for students and as a research laboratory setting for faculty as well as
students. The audiology clinic is staffed by a full-time audiologist and a fourth year
AuD student. The speech-language clinic is currently staffed by five speech-language
pathologists who also serve as the clinical educators on clinical teaching teams. You
may refer to the Center’s website at http://csd.uncg.edu/.
Accreditation: The MA in speech-language pathology is accredited by the Council of
Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and
provides academic and clinical instruction sufficient for the Certificate of Clinical
Competence (CCC) in speech-language pathology awarded by the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association (ASHA), as well as licensure granted by the North
Carolina Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Please see
www.asha.org/about/Membership-Certification.
Faculty and Staff: The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders has
wonderful faculty and staff who are great resources. Students are encouraged to
familiarize themselves with faculty members and their interests, specialties, and special
projects. Information about CSD faculty and staff may be found on the website at
http://csd.uncg.edu/overview/faculty/.
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Department and Speech and Hearing Center Offices
All departmental offices (with the exception of the Dean of HHS), clinical rooms, and
supply rooms are located on the third floor of the Ferguson Building as listed below:
Faculty & Staff
Booker, Patty
Edwards, Colette
Flynn, Perry
Fox-Thomas, Lisa
Hall, Kelly
Hinton, Ginger
Hooper, Celia
Kamhi, Alan
Lundgren, Kristine
Mankoff, Lyn
Mayo, Robert
McDonald, Lisa
Olejarczyk ,Olga
Patten, Elena
Pittman, Caroline
Phillips, Susan
Raleigh, Louise
Ramsey, Terri
Tucker, Denise
Location
300
319
301
309
325-A
338
HHP
Bldg.
310
320
311
314
323-A
300
316
300
337
343
318
317
Office Manager
Coordinator of Audiology Services
Director of Graduate Studies
Dean of the School of Health and
Human Sciences
Internship Coordinator
Patient Relations/Accounts
Academic Administrative Assistant
Director of Speech & Hearing Center
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department Chair
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
Clinic Rooms
Therapy
306, 307, 308, 330, 332, 333 341 (PLP)
Clinical Observation (adjoining)
306-A, 307-A, 308-A, 330-A, 332-A, 333A, 342-B
Graduate Student Room
304
Applied Communicative Sciences 327
Laboratory (CSL)
Neuro Research Laboratory
327-A
Audiological Suites
331, 334
Clinic Materials
340
Clinic Materials and Clinical
312
Observation (referred to as AV
room)
Client Records
341-A
Conference
315
Student Services
Parking: Parking permits are recommended for students living further than walking
distance from UNCG’s campus, as there are limited free parking spaces near the
Ferguson Building. Permits are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, so it is
recommended for incoming students to purchase them as soon as the window for
purchase opens. The Speech and Hearing Center has parking spaces adjacent to the
Ferguson Building that are for use by clients of the Center. Students should not park in
these spaces at any time.
The typical parking permits that incoming graduate students purchase are the “C”
commuter permit or the “E” commuter permit. The “C” permit is a 24/7 permit with
access to all “C” lots, one of which is mere steps from the Ferguson Building. The “E”
permit is more cost-effective and allows students to park in an off-site parking lot and
be transported to campus using a “Park & Ride” bus. After 3:00 p.m. students with the
“E” permit can park in the lot mentioned above. There are also pay-by-the-hour parking
decks on McIver St., Oakland Ave., and Walker Ave. For more information please see
the “Parking Operations & Campus Access Management” website at:
http://parking.uncg.edu/.
Graduate Student Room: Ferguson Room 304 has been designated as the graduate
student room. All graduate students are invited to use this room for doing homework,
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
preparing for therapy/assessments, waiting for clients, or relaxing. A flat-screen
television mounted on the wall displays a closed-circuit camera view of the Speech and
Hearing Center lobby so that students can see when their on-campus clients arrive. A
refrigerator and microwave are available for use. Students are required to use Medicat/
P computers, housed in this room, to create and store protected health information
(PHI). Two regular computers, two black-and-white printers, a shredder, a papercutter, and a black-and-white copy machine may be used to create therapy materials.
Graduate students will likely spend a lot of time in this room, so it is important to use
the lockers to store personal items to prevent theft. Lockers are only assigned to firstyear graduate students. Students are responsible for purchasing their own locks and
providing a copy of their combination to the academic administrative assistant in the
main office in case they forget it. There are also small file cabinets under each island of
desks in which students can store therapy and classroom materials, as long as they do
not contain PHI. Because second-year students spend less time on campus, these
lockers and drawers will be vacated at the end of first year in preparation for a new
cohort of students.
Each graduate student is assigned a mailbox space. Mail, personal messages, paperwork
and announcements will be placed in those boxes so they should be checked frequently.
Communications are also maintained with students via the white board at the front of
the room.
Keys: Each graduate student must complete a key request form in order to obtain a key
that allows access to therapy and materials rooms and Room 304. The student is
responsible for the key and if it is lost he or she should contact the academic
administrative assistant in the front office.
Accessing the Building After-Hours & On Weekends: The Ferguson Building is locked
after hours and on weekends. The Spartan ID Card issued by UNCG will allow access
after the student gives the card number to Ms. Pittman. There is a place to the right of
the main entrance doors to Ferguson to slide the card for entry.
Student Organization: UNCG has a chapter of the National Student Speech-LanguageHearing Association (NSSLHA). Graduate students are encouraged to join this chapter
and become actively involved with the various fundraisers and volunteer opportunities
provided through this organization. If a student maintains a membership with
NSSLHA for two years, ASHA fees (e.g., when applying for a license) will be
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
discounted. As members, students can access ASHA’s online database for peerreviewed journals.
Other Campus Resources: The following resources are helpful when creating therapy
lessons, writing papers for class, or needing assistance with other academic areas:
Teaching Resources Center (TRC) provides instructional materials, equipment, and
services that support the students, faculty, and staff of the UNCG School of Education,
as well as teachers in the Triad community. The TRC serves as a model school library
media center, offering a large collection of Pre-K-12 picture books, young adult fiction,
nonfiction books, audiobooks, board books, big books, kits, manipulatives and DVD’s.
The TRC also has professional resources useful in preparing lesson plans, teacher’s
editions of state adopted textbooks, and Praxis study guides. It is located in room 310 of
the new School of Education Building on Spring Garden Street, between Kenilworth
and Forest. Questions should be directed to (336) 334-4035.
Career Services Center (CSC) offers professional guidance and resources to
undergraduate and graduate students and alumni for their lifelong career development.
Programs and services are designed to educate, counsel, and engage students and
alumni in career planning and decision-making, experiential learning, continuing
education, and/or employment search activities. To provide these programs and
services, the CSC establishes mutually beneficial relationships with students, alumni,
employers, faculty, staff, and the community. It is located on the first floor of the Elliot
University Center (EUC) building, near Subway. Appointments can be made by calling
(336) 334-5454.
Writing Center (WC) connects writers with readers and takes a collaborative approach
to sessions where students and consultants engage in one-on-one conversations about
writing—conversations that center on shared knowledge and expertise, as opposed to
hierarchical instruction that treats writing center sessions as remediation. The WC is
located at 3211 in the MHRS Building. Appointments can be made by calling (336) 3343125.
The Office of Accessibility Resources & Services has a mission to provide, coordinate,
and advocate for services which enable undergraduate and graduate students with
disabilities to receive equal access to a college education and to all aspects of university
life. For more information on this campus resource and others go to
http://ods.uncg.edu/.
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
Student Affairs Information: The following websites contain additional important
information for all graduate students:
Academic Integrity Policy: Students are expected to adhere to the Academic Integrity
Policy which can be found at: http://sa.uncg.edu/handbook/academic-integrity-policy/
Student Code of Conduct: Students are expected to adhere to the Code, a formal policy
that governs student conduct at UNCG, which can be found at
http://sa.uncg.edu/handbook/student-code-of-conduct/
Student Grievance and Appeals Policies and Procedures: UNCG has several means by
which a student may address complaints and grievances. For more information go to
http://sa.uncg.edu/grievance/
Records Retention Policy: Records are destroyed five years after graduation or
separation. See
http://its.uncg.edu/Records_Management/General_Schedule/Student/Academic/#GU
234.
Information on Title IX: Information on Title IX, the amendment pertaining to sex
discrimination, harassment, and assault can be found at:
http://web.uncg.edu/hrs/Inclusive_Excellence/Title_IX/
Policy on Discriminatory Conduct: http://policy.uncg.edu/discriminatory_conduct/
The UNCG Sexual Harassment Policy: http://policy.uncg.edu/sexual_harassment/
UNCG Police Department: http://police.uncg.edu/
Graduate Coursework
Course-Sequence: The following list is the 2013-2015 course sequence:
Fall Semester Year I
○ CSD 606 (3)
○ CSD 614 (3)
○ CSD 629 (3)
○ CSD 571 (3)
○ CSD 638 (1)
Cognitive-Linguistic Disorders in Adults
Language Learning Disabilities
Dysphagia
Beginning Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology
Minor Area Clinical Practicum
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
Spring Semester Year I
○ CSD 604 (2) Fluency disorders
○ CSD 616 (3) Motor Speech Disorders
○ CSD 632 (3) Introduction to Research in CSD
○ CSD 637 (3) Prevention, Assessment, and Intervention: School-Age
○ CSD 678 (3) Advanced Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology
Summer Semester Year I
○ One of the following seminars:
■ CSD 608 (3): Seminar in Cleft Palate
OR
■ CSD 605 (3) Seminar in Speech and Language Pathology
○ One of the following clinical practicum courses:
■ CSD 678 (3) Advanced Clinical Practice in Speech-Language
Pathology or
■ CSD 677 (3) Internship in Communication Disorders
Fall Semester Year II
○ CSD 600 (3) Professional Issues and Ethics
○ CSD 601 (1) Augmentative/Alternative Communication
○ CSD 627 (1) Multi-Cultural Issues in Communication Sciences and
Disorders
○ CDS 636 (3) Prevention, Assessment and Intervention: Birth – 5
○ CSD 677 (9) Internship in Communication Disorders
Spring Semester Year II
○ CSD 601 (3) Special Topics
○ CSD 633 (3) Special Projects in CSD Research
○ CSD 677 (9) Internship in Comm. Disorders
○ CSD 699 (Thesis) Option
○ CSD 650 (1-3 credits): Independent Study as elective
Grade Requirements: The Graduate School and the CSD graduate program require that
students maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Resource Files: Many CSD graduate courses will require students to create a resource
file. It is helpful to work with colleagues to compile as much information as possible,
including relevant studies, useful therapy materials and activities, goal banks, helpful
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
websites, and client handouts. These resource files have been helpful to post-graduates
during CFY (clinical fellowship year) and to clinicians for years to come.
Graduate Clinical Work
Liability Insurance: All students enrolled in clinical practicum courses must have the
liability insurance coverage from ASHA in accordance with the department’s policy.
Liability insurance is designed to protect the professional advice- and service-providing
individuals from bearing the full cost of defending against a negligence claim made by
a client. The insurance does not prevent someone from bringing suit, but it does
provide financial assistance for legal fees and other expenses of defending oneself. In
order to obtain insurance coverage students must join the National Student SpeechHearing-Language Association (NSSHLA). For information on how to join NSSHLA, go
to http://www.asha.org/nsslha/ and click on How to Join NSSLHA then, Apply now for
2013 national membership in NSSLHA. The UNCG University Code required on the
application is 5913. Students receive all the benefits of becoming a member of the only
official national student organization recognized by ASHA. The cost for membership in
NSSHLA is $60.00 annually; however, joining now provides coverage through
December 31, 2014. Students must give their NSSHLA member numbers to the
Internship Coordinator.
Clinical Courses: Each full-time graduate student must fulfill a clinical practicum
during each regular semester and summer term of enrollment as an integral part of the
training program. Completion of a minimum of 25 hours of documented clinical
observation is required by ASHA and it is preferred that students complete those hours
prior to participation in clinic. Clinical courses are described below:
CSD 571-Beginning Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology: This course is
graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. If a student receives a grade of
Unsatisfactory/Fail in this course, he or she may not be permitted to continue to
Advanced Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology. Students register for CSD
571 for three credit hours and spend an average of four clock hours per week in clinical
contact with clients. If assigned to a diagnostic team or an off-campus contract site,
clock hours will likely exceed this amount. All graduate students will be evaluated by
their clinical educators at the mid-term and at the end of the semester in the following
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
areas: intervention, oral and written communication, diagnostic evaluation and
professionalism. Mid-term and final ratings on the practicum evaluation for Fall
Semester will correspond to a High Pass (HP), Pass (P), Low Pass (LP), or Fail (F).
Although these descriptors will not be recorded by the Registrar’s office, they will be
recorded internally in the CSD department. A semester grade of LP for a graduate
student will indicate the need for a Performance Remediation Plan (See CSD 571
Blackboard under Practicum Evaluation Materials).
CSD 638-Minor Area Clinical Practice for Speech-Language Pathology Majors: All
students must complete at least five hours of hearing screening under the supervision
of an ASHA-certified audiologist. Students enroll in CSD 638 only once in the Fall
Semester of the first year for one credit hour. Students are responsible for signing up for
hearing screening opportunities as they become available. A final grade of pass or fail
will be submitted upon completion of all course requirements.
CSD 677- Internship in Communication Disorders: In addition to work in the Center,
some practicum is completed in external practicum sites such as skilled nursing
facilities, schools and hospitals. Second-year students will be assigned to these sites by
the faculty coordinator for internships. Students must have completed at least 125
clock hours of clinical practicum, two semesters of clinical instruction, plus a summer
clinic or mini-internship before Fall placement in hospitals or schools. Students register
for nine semester hours and the placements are considered half-time, i.e., on-site for 20
hours a week.
CSD 678-Advanced Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology: Each time that a
student registers for this course it will be for three credit hours. Students are expected
to receive a B minus or higher and if he or she earns a grade of B minus or below at
midterm, a Performance Remediation Plan will be created by the student’s clinical
educator in order to help the student improve performance. If a student earns below a
B minus as a final grade, he or she will be unable to complete an internship.
Clinical Teaching Teams (CTT) and Supervisory Conferences: Each student will be
assigned to a Clinical Teaching Team led by a clinical educator. These teams generally
meet weekly to provide students an opportunity to be a part of a professional service
team and to share ideas about treatment, ask questions, identify issues, and plan
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
approaches to treatment. Individual supervisory conferences are scheduled as needed.
Client Assignments: Paper health records for clients of the Center are located in
Ferguson 341-A. Students are expected to read only their clients’ records. When a paper
record is removed the student will need to place a check-out card containing his or her
name and date in its place in the file drawer. The card serves as documentation of the
location of the record in case it is needed. Electronic health records for clients are stored
on a secure network space, referred to as Medicat /P. Medicat is a system for client
health management that includes, for our purposes, both practice management and
electronic health records. The P-drive, as we refer to it, is a university network space
dedicated to the Speech and Hearing Center for housing protected health information.
Confidentiality and Ethics: As healthcare providers, SLPs and audiologists are
governed by the Code of Ethics of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association
(ASHA) and by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA
regulations include both privacy and security standards that restrict the use and
disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI). In order to be compliant, all members
of the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center workforce are required to receive UNCG
HIPAA training annually. As members of this workforce, students will also be required
to pass a university online quiz on HIPAA regulations annually. Students must also
complete the Speech and Hearing Center HIPAA training at orientation and they are
expected to:
1. access only their clients’ files and maintain confidentiality of information.
2. never remove a client file or any of its contents from the third floor of
Ferguson (the term “content” includes both diagnostic and therapy notes).
3. never remove portions of the file. Check out the entire file.
4. never store PHI electronically anywhere except on designated clinic
computers marked Medicat/P. These computers contain the only secure network
space for housing PHI.
Initial Client Appointments: All initial client appointments must be confirmed,
generally by phone. If the client’s original appointment time requires a change,
students should check with their clinical educator. New or clients returning for the first
time in a semester will receive an appointment packet containing a parking permit for
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designated clinic spaces. If a student is asked about payment arrangements or fees, he
or she should refer the client to the Center’s accounts administrator. Clients should be
advised to sign in at the front desk upon arrival for every appointment.
If it is necessary to leave a message for a client, do so without giving a detailed reason
for the call. The message might be “Please call_____ at the UNCG Speech and Hearing
Center at 336-334-5939.” Document what transpired during the phone call on a Running
Note in the client’s file, even if there was no answer.
Record of Clinical Practicum Hours: This is one of the most important pieces of
documentation students will be required to keep while in graduate school. Forms for
recording all treatment and evaluation hours are provided in 304 and on Blackboard
under the clinical practicum courses. Students must submit these forms throughout the
semester and keep copies for their personal records. Students are responsible for
maintaining an accurate record of their practicum hours and making sure that each
form is signed and dated by the supervisor. At the end of each semester, total hours are
recorded on the Clinical Clock Hours Summary form. Hours must be accurately recorded,
so check and double-check totals. Clinical Experience Diversity Log must also be
completed.
Dressing for Clinical Responsibilities: In providing or participating in professional
service, clinicians and authorized student observers are expected to wear the designated
Center identification and to dress in a manner befitting a professional person. This
expectation applies to clinical responsibilities both at the Center and at off-campus sites.
Dress standards may vary with the off-campus site, so students should inquire about
the dress code at the site. At the Center, denim jeans, revealing tops (that expose
cleavage or midriff), shorts, very low rise pants (that reveal hips or underwear),
extremely short skirts, rumpled clothing and flip flops are not acceptable modes of
dress. This guideline applies to authorized student observers as well.
File Etiquette: Paper files for clients are filed alphabetically in Room 341-A. That room
is to remain locked at all times. Any files removed from that room must be signed out
on a card available on the top shelf of the first file cabinet on the left upon entering the
room. Remove the entire file versus parts of it. Sign the card as indicated and place it
in the spot where the file was removed. This allows the faculty and staff to know where
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the file is at all times. Remove the card when the file is replaced. Under no
circumstances are files or their contents to leave the Center.
Cancellations:
By clients: Clients should be advised to leave messages for students in the office
at 336-334-5939. Students should check their 304 mailboxes for messages several times a
day. Students should notify their clinical educators of any schedule changes
immediately. When a scheduled session is not held, students must document the
cancellation in the running notes and submit a billing slip that is marked cancelled to
the Patient Relations/ Accounts Administrator. When a client is absent for two sessions
without prior notice the clinical educator should be informed. The Center’s Client
Attendance Policy is located on Blackboard under clinical practice courses.
By clinicians: Clinicians are expected to attend all scheduled therapy sessions
except in cases of illness or emergency. For other occasions requiring an absence,
clinicians should consult their clinical educator for permission. When a student cancels
an appointment with a client, it is his or her responsibility to notify the client and the
clinical educator in advance. Students are advised to have client phone numbers handy.
No clients’ names may be used to identify those numbers, so it is necessary to “code”
them. Arrangements for make-up therapy sessions should be made first with the
clinical educator. In the event of bad weather, the Center follows the UNCG closing
schedule which can be found on the UNCG website and on local radio and TV stations.
Policy for Exposure Control: All students are trained on the Exposure Control Plan for
Blood Borne Pathogens at orientation. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has stressed
the need for health care personnel to follow universal precautions against infection and
to comply with current guidelines for sterilizing reusable devices used in invasive
procedures. In accordance with this recommendation, earphones, impedance tips, and
otoscopic specula are to be sterilized after each use. In addition, rubber gloves are to be
utilized during oral mechanism examinations, otoscopic inspection, immittance testing,
and impedance tip specula sterilization. Before using rubber gloves, students and
faculty should check with the client about allergies to latex. After each appointment
with a client, students must sterilize all counter tops with antibacterial wipes. When a
child puts a toy in his or her mouth, students should gently remove it from the play
area and disinfect it later. The Center’s Exposure Control Plan for Blood Borne Pathogens is
located on Blackboard under clinical practice courses.
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Emergency Response Plan: All students are trained on the Emergency Response Plan at
orientation. The Center’s Emergency Response Plan is located on Blackboard under
clinical practice courses.
Fire Evacuation Policy: On the door of each observation room and on selected therapy
rooms is a sign indicating whether the room is “vacant” or “in use.” Students are
responsible for indicating the status of the room on the sign at both the beginning and
the end of a session. This allows a quick glance of which rooms are occupied in the
event of an emergency. All room doors must remain unlocked when the room is
occupied and locked when the room is vacant.
Smoking: Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the Ferguson Building or within 25
feet of the building outside.
Children in the Center: Minor children should be accompanied by an adult. Students
should not allow young children to ride on the elevator alone nor to run or engage in
excessively loud talking or play in the lobby or hallways. Such behaviors disturb the
functions of the clinic and classrooms. The seating area in the lobby is designated for
clients of the Speech and Hearing Center only.
Video and Audio Recording: Digital recording of all clients requires advance written
authorization from them. Recordings are to be made only with permission of the
clinical educators. Video recordings must be properly identified (i.e., name of client,
date and name of clinical educator) and given to the supervising clinical educator to be
maintained under lock and key. No recordings are to be left unattended. Audio
recordings are to be reviewed on the third floor of Ferguson only and erased
immediately after review. The supervising clinical educator should be informed when
that recording is erased. Instructions for operating DVD recorders can be found in each
therapy observation room. Students are responsible for buying their own re-writable
DVDs (Minus R only) to record sessions. Removal of digital recordings from the third
floor of Ferguson, like removal of client files and information, is a violation of HIPAA
laws. Any student who violates these rules risks dismissal from clinic.
Personal Equipment: Students are required to furnish the following items for their own
use in clinic:
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




digital voice recorder
dry erase boards (small and medium sizes recommended) and markers
antibacterial wipes
clipboards with built in storage compartments
notebooks for storing hours logs
Clinic Forms: Most forms used in clinic may be found online and in the large gray
shelving unit beside the door in 304. Students should make copies before taking the last
form from a category.
Correspondence: No correspondence or written material (e.g., hand-outs, letters, carryover materials) related to diagnostic or therapy services should be mailed or distributed
without the express approval of the supervising clinical educator.
Materials in the UNCG Speech and Hearing Center: All diagnostic tests and test
protocols are located in Room 340. Treatment materials are housed in the various
locations found under the heading “Clinic Rooms” contained in this document. All
materials must be signed out and returned as soon as possible. Tests should not be
removed from the third floor of Ferguson building or kept overnight.
Thinking About the Future
Plan of Study: During the first semester of registration, an academic Plan of Study must
be developed in consultation with the director of graduate studies. The form will be
given to all students and reviewed at the beginning of their first semester. It is helpful
for students to have access to their true transcripts to ascertain what classes have been
taken.
● Registration: Registration dates for the semester will be provided on the UNCG
calendar. Be aware of dates.
Fall Semester, First Year
Clinic: A minimum of 25 hours of documented clinical observation is required by
ASHA and it is preferable that those hours are completed prior to clinical participation.
Each graduate student must fulfill a clinical practicum during each semester and
summer term of enrollment as an integral part of the training program. During the first
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semester of their first year, graduate students will be assigned to clinical practicum
sites, including on and off-campus sites.
Coursework: Students will be enrolled in five courses during the fall semester, all of
which meet on Monday through Thursday.
Spring Semester, First Year
Clinic: Clinic sites will change between the fall and spring semesters. Students will be
placed by specific needs, such as number of hours or types of clients needed. Students
will be asked to fill out a form at the end of the first semester with their current hours
and interests, and every effort will be made to place students at the sites they prefer.
Special Project/Thesis: Students will be required to begin working on a research thesis
or special project starting this semester through their CSD 632 class. Students will work
with a faculty advisor on this project during the time they are attending graduate
school. Before beginning this course, it is recommended that students begin to think
about their interests and possible research areas, at which point they may contact a
faculty member to ask about his or her availability for supervising such a project. More
specific information will be provided in the CSD 632 course that will be taken during
this semester. Completing this project is required for graduation.
For Your Information: During the Spring semester of their first year, students will fill
out two forms--one indicating their preference for clinical practicum placement for the
Summer, and one indicating their preference for clinical practicum placements for the
Fall and Spring of their second year. At this point, students should consider the
diversity of their practicum hours thus far (e.g., adult speech, adult language, child
speech, child language) in order to make choices about where they would like to be
placed for the Summer, Fall, and Spring. Notebooks containing information about
where UNCG Master’s students have completed clinical practicums are located
underneath the whiteboard in Ferguson 304. Students who wish to complete any
practicum out of state should start early, i.e., begin researching and contacting sites in
the state in which they would like to complete their internship. These students should
also communicate their wish to do an internship out of state with the Internship
Coordinator.
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Summer Semester, First Year
Coursework: During the first summer session students will be enrolled in at least one
course. Students may take any additional courses such as neurology or statistics to
satisfy requirements, if they do not have the courses from their undergraduate
coursework.
Clinic: Clinic class will be in the form of “camps” or “mini internships” during the
summer session. The Speech and Hearing Center offers camps such as language/literacy
camp for young children and “HorsePower,” a therapeutic horseback-riding camp for
young adults with intellectual disability. If students plan to be out of the area, “mini
internships” at different locations can be set up. The Internship Coordinator will work
with students to establish placements. Again, placements are based on students’ current
diversity of clinical hours.
Break: Until graduate students know where they will be placed for their clinical
practicums, the dates of their summer “break” are subject to change. Typically, if a
student is assigned to a language/literacy camp or “Horse Power,” the clinical
practicum will likely take place in June. If a student is assigned to a “mini internship,”
the dates of his or her clinical practicum will likely vary.
Fall Semester, Second Year
Internship: Students will spend nine credit hours at an internship. Internships will be
assigned to students based on a sheet they fill out in the Spring of their first year and
every effort is made to place the student where he or she indicated preference.
Consideration of the student’s location and his or her current number of treatment and
diagnostic hours also influence the internship assignment. It is imperative that students
be responsible for keeping track of their hours at their internship sites. Internship
locations can include places such as, Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro, High Point
Regional Hospital, High Point and Guilford County Schools.
Class: Students will take classes on UNCG’s campus along with completing their
internships. These classes meet two days per week, leaving the other days open for
students to obtain their clinical hours.
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Application for Graduation: It is the student's responsibility to file the application to
graduate and pay the graduation fee prior to the deadline specified by the Graduate
School. Typically, the deadline for applying for graduation is in January.
Spring Semester, Second Year
Internship: Graduate students will spend their entire last semester at an internship site.
Internships will be assigned to students based on a sheet they fill out in the Spring of
their first year, and every effort is made to place the student where he/she indicated
preference. Consideration of the student’s current number of treatment and diagnostic
hours also influence his or her internship assignment. In certain cases, assignments can
be out-of-state if coordinated ahead of time with the Internship Coordinator and the
selected site. Students should be aware of different certification requirements in
different states. It is imperative that students be responsible for keeping track of their
hours at their internship sites.
Vital Next Steps…A Message from the Director of Graduate Studies
Credentialing Information
There are two credentialing bodies for speech-language pathologists and audiologists:
one in North Carolina - the NC Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and
Audiology; and one at the national level-ASHA. Although graduates are not required
to hold the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) or the Board of Examiners’
License to be employed in North Carolina public schools, both credentials are highly
recommended. The CCC and the Board of Examiners’ license are required to work in
every setting with except the schools in North Carolina.
Graduation Paperwork Instructions
Immediately after you have completed your last session of clinical practicum, you will
need to complete your Clinical Clock Hours Summary Sheet. It is important to triple check
your numbers for accuracy and to be certain that every hour accounted for on the sheets
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
has been verified and signed off on by your clinical supervisors. The Clinical Clock Hours
Summary Sheet should EXACTLY match the total hours count on the supervisor
signature pages.
KASA and BOE Forms
Everyone needs to fill out a North Carolina Board of Examiner’s (BOE) for SpeechLanguage Pathologists and Audiologists application even if you are going to work out
of state. Everyone graduating from this state institution must meet the requirement for
employment in this state.
How to proceed:
First fill in your final hours on your BOE application (or similar application for
licensure from another state). Be absolutely sure that the total hours on your clinical
clock hour summary sheet exactly match the totals on your BOE application because
both are submitted to the Board. Be assured that if you make an error they will find it
and that will delay getting your temporary license by at least a month, if not more. As
soon as you have these finished (BOE and Clock Hour Summary Sheets), e-mail them to
the Director of Graduate Studies. On CSD 677 Blackboard you will find ASHA CCC’s
application and Form V. You will print out copies of these forms and put them together
in a package for the Director of Graduate Studies to sign. The packet will include the
following in this order:
1. Three copies of the ASHA CCC’s application VERIFICATION PAGE (not the
entire application): Fill in everything except the Director of Graduate Studies’
signature (“X’s” yes in all the boxes, etc). You do not fill out the entire
application now; you do that when you apply for your CCC’s after your CF
year. You must keep an original signed copy (signed by the Director of
Graduate Studies) of the verification page to submit to ASHA when you apply
for your CCC’s. Print off three copies of the verification page and paper clip
them together. The Director of Graduate Studies will sign all three and give one
back to you.
2. Two copies of BOE application that are paper clipped: The Director of Graduate
Studies signs both copies and you keep one to submit to the BOE. The Director
of Graduate Studies keeps one on file just in case. Be sure that your BOE has the
date assigned by the Director of Graduate Studies and an “X” filled in for
“passed comprehensive exam.”
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
3. Three copies of your clinic Clock Hour Summary Sheets paper clipped: You will
need 3 copies for me to sign; one for you to keep, one for me to keep, and one for
me to send in with your BOE application.
4. One copy of the KASA form: PRINT IT OUT IN LANDSCAPE. This will go into
your permanent record and is proof to ASHA that you met the standards.
5. Two copies of Form V: The Director of Graduate Studies will sign both and keep
one in your file.
The BOE forms must be turned in by May 17th and the Director of Graduate Studies
will take them over in one large bunch. The Board meets on May 24th and you will
hear back in a week. YOU CANNOT START WORKING UNTIL YOUR
TEMPORARY LICENSE HAS BEEN AWARDED (after May 31st).
PRAXIS Exam: Students typically take the Praxis Exam during the Spring semester of
their second year. The Speech-Language Pathology Praxis test measures knowledge
important for independent practice as a speech-language pathologist in all primary
employment settings, including schools, hospitals, clinics, private practice, etc. The
examination assesses knowledge important for the beginning practitioner in all primary
employment settings. The examination is typically taken by examinees who are in or
who have completed a master's degree program. Recognized as the national
examination in speech-language pathology, the test is one of several requirements for
the Certificate of Clinical Competence issued by the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association (ASHA, 2200 Research Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850). The 120
multiple-choice test questions focus on content related to the major practice areas of
basic human communication processes, phonological and language disorders, speech
disorders, neurogenic disorders, audiology/hearing, clinical management, and
professional issues/psychometrics/research. Case studies assess the examinee's
knowledge of possible applications to clinical situations and issues. Research articles are
included to assess the examinee's ability to synthesize information and to apply it to
specific examples. UNCG may offer Praxis study sessions. Praxis study guides can be
purchased and students’ resource files are a good way to study for this standardized
test. ASHA is another good resource for study materials. UNCG’s graduate cohorts
have a 100% pass rate on the Praxis.
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY)
Following graduation, students will complete a clinical fellowship year (CFY). CFY is a
9-month period in which graduates are paid a regular salary, but are still supervised
closely since they are not yet fully certified. During this year graduates work full time
under the supervision or mentoring of a certified SLP. Students will complete the rest of
the certification process for their Certification of Clinical Competence at this time.
It students wish to complete their CFY in a state other than North Carolina, it is advised
that they research that state’s requirements for a CFY.
If students are interested in a part-time CFY, or have questions they can find
information here: http://www.asha.org/Certification/Clinical-Fellowship.htm
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CSD Graduate Student Handbook
RECEIPT OF CSD GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
I, _______________________________________ (please print name), have thoroughly read
the CSD Graduate Student Handbook.
______________________________
Student’s Signature
______________________
Today’s Date
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