Communication Disorders Program:
Distance Master's Degree
UFT Cohort

About Us
 

The Communication Disorders Department at Western Kentucky University (WKU) was established in 1975, and accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in 1993.  We are now part of the College of Health and Human Services, though our physical facilities still reside within the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.  For information about our traditional on-campus program click here.

UFT Partnership
 

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in New York City was searching for a mechanism by which members of the Speech Chapter could complete a Master's Degree without leaving the service of the city schools.

WKU Full Time Faculty
Click on name to view individual faculty webpages and syllabi.
 

Dr. Stan Cooke, Ed.D.	Dept. Head, Communication Disorders.  Teaches Dysphasia, and Orofacial Anomalies.
Dr. Barbara Brindle, Ph.D.	Distance Program Coordinator; graduate advisor.  Teaches Geriatric Communication Disorders, Dysphagia, and Voice Disorders.
Dr. Joseph Etienne, Ph.D.	Audiologist.  Teaches Pediatric Audiology and Speech Science.
Dr. Frank Kersting, Ed.D.	Rank I Coordinator.  Teaches Language Disorders, Phonology, and Dysfluency.
Richard Dressler, ABD	Teaches Neurology,  Advanced Diagnostics, Motor Speech Disorders, Speech Science, and Professional Issues.

Program of Study

General

The Master of Science in Communication Disorders is designed to prepare professional speech pathologists to meet the needs of the communicatively impaired in hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, schools, etc.  It is also designed to meet the academic and clinical requirements of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, leading to national certification and state licensure.

A minimum of 45 academic and 6 clinical credits are required for graduation, as listed below.  The Research Methods (CD 500) course may be taken at WKU, or any convenient local institution.  Individuals lacking pre-requisite coursework may be required to take additional classes.

Courses

Required:       CD 489G       CD 506       CD 511              CD 500 [Research Methods]
                    CD 502        CD 507        CD 512
                    CD 503        CD 508        CD 514
                    CD 504        CD 509        CD 515
                    CD 505        CD 510        CD 591 (6cr.)

    For course descriptions access the WKU catalog at http://www.cgf.org/cat209/96600.pdf
    (Left click on right sidebar to p.136-7 (p.145-6 text)).

Recommended Sequence
 

YEAR 1	YEAR 2	YEAR 3
Fall	Fall	Fall
CD 503 - Advanced Diagnostics	CD 502 - Motor Speech Dis.	CD 500 - Research Methods
CD 512 - Phonology	CD 504 - Seminar in Language	CD 515 - Pediatric Audiology
Spring	Spring	Spring
CD 489G - Geriatric Com.Dis.	CD 505 - Orofacial Disorders	CD 506 - Dysfluency
CD 511 -   Neurology	CD 514 - Dysphagia	CD 510 - Professional Issues
Summer	Summer	Summer
CD 507 -   Dysphasia	CD 509 - Speech Science	CD 508 - Voice Disorders
CD 591 - UFT Clinical  (2 cr.)	CD 591 - Clinical (2 cr.)	CD 591 - Clinical (2 cr.)

Clinical Experience

ASHA requires that the first 25 hours of clinical experience in any program be supervised by instructional staff.  The United Federation of Teachers has agreed to develop a Communication Disorders Clinic to serve both as a clinical training opportunity for students enrolled in this partnership program and as a clinical service for its extended membership.  Two of your members have agreed to serve as adjunct faculty, so that this requirement may be met in New York City.  Additional clinical experience can be accommodated in your area, provided that an ASHA-certified supervisor is available.

ASHA requirements effective January, 2005:

Additional Requirements

  Research Methods - A graduate level course in research
    design and methodology is required by the Graduate
    College for all graduate students.  You do not need to
    take this course through WKU if a local institution has
    one available.

  Transferring Graduate Credits - The Graduate College will
    accept up to 12 graduate credits from other accredited
    institutions.  You must have a grade of B or better, and
    a gpa of 3.0 or better. Please provide course description
    and copy of the syllabus for evaluation. Courses must be
    equivalent to WKU course offerings to be credited.  Prior
    approval of the advisor is required.
  Note:  The Graduate College mandates that all coursework
    be completed within a six year period.  That means that
    graduates of Summer 2005 may only apply courses
    completed after the Summer of 1999.

  State Teacher Certification - Standards vary per state.
    Check with the Department of Education in your state to
    see if any additional coursework is required.  This would
    be in addition to the 51 hours required for graduation.

  Comprehensive Exams - By the final semester of coursework,
    the student must have taken and passed the PRAXIS exam
    in speech-language pathology.  Students who do not pass
    must successfully complete a written exams prepared by
    program area faculty.

  Clinical Hours - We will need an official summary of clinical
    hours from your undergraduate institution if you intend to
    use them for ASHA certification.

Forms

The following forms are required by the Graduate College during your course of study:

    Form C - This program form for Master's level students details your plan of
    study.  The Graduate College Checks this against what you have completed
    before you can graduate.  You may take up to 12 credits before filling out the
    Form C.

    Form D - Admission to Candidacy.  Due before the last 9 hours of coursework.
    Research Methods must have been completed before this form is submitted.

    Form E -  Completion of Competency.  Due last semester, after completion of
    the PRAXIS or competency examination.
 

Access to Coursework

Western Kentucky University support the Blackboard CourseInfo software, which provides a template upon which web-based courses are constructed.  You can reach the log-in page via the Information Technology and Academic Technology pages, or by direct URL:  http://ecourses.wku.edu/

The ReachU webpage is another good resource, found at
http://www.wku.edu/Dept/Support/AcadAffairs/CorrStudy/reachu.htm
You can also reach this page via the WKU Homepage by clicking on the QuickLinks box at the bottom of the page, then on Distance Learning.  A Log-In link is located at the top of the left sidebar.  Bookmark the log-in page for future easy access.

Orientation to Online Learning is a free tutorial which will introduce you to the features of CourseInfo and facets of learning online.  We strongly encourage you to review this prior to beginning coursework.
 

Technical Requirements

Minimum System Requirements

    COMPUTER:         PC                               MAC
                                    Windows 95, 98, 2000,          MacOS 8.X or later
                                        ME, or XT                       PowerPC, G3, G4 Processor
                                    Pentium MMX, II, III,            64 MB RAM
                                        IV, Celeron, AMD Processor
                                    64 MB of RAM
                                    56 K modem *                     56 K modem *
                                    Sound card                          Speakers
                                    Speakers
                                  * Note: High Speed Access - DSL, ISDN, Cable or LAN -
                                             is preferred.

    INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER (ISP):
        The ISP is the company that provides you with access to the Internet.
          High speed access, as found via cable companies and DSLs, provides
          easier and more rapid access.  Please be aware that course accessibility
          is limited with America Online, Prodigy, and CompuServe.  AOL has
          problems interacting with JAVA script.  This will make use of chat
          functions difficult.

    E-MAIL
      Required so that we may get in touch with you.  Most ISPs will provide
        an E-mail account, as do many companies and agencies.  Check with
        your ISP if you do not know your E-mail address. WKU will also provide
        an e-mail account once you are registered as a student.  Go to Information
        Technology on the WKU Homepage for student account information.
 

    BROWSER  PC                          MAC____________
                        Netscape 4.0 or higher        Mac Internet Explorer 4.5+
                            (Java Enabled)
                        Internet Explorer 5.0+
            If you do not know what type of browser you have, launch it, go to
            help, then click on About ...  This will tell you which version of the
            Browser you have.  Download free browsers at netscape.com and
            microsoft.com.
            Caution:  Netscape 6.0 is not currently compatible with CourseInfo.

Additional Software & Plug-Ins
            Powerpoint  or Powerpoint Viewer
            Windows Media Player or RealPlayer
            Adobe Acrobat Reader - available at adobe.com
            Macromedia Flash - available at macromedia.com
           Others may be required by individual instructors.

MS Word is the word-processing software of choice supported by WKU.  Students using another word-processing system should save their files as Rich Text Files (RTF) before transmitting.  Inform your instructor that you are doing so.

Technical Support

WKU Phone:  Toll Free at 866-LERN WKU (537-6958)
                    or local 270-745-7020
Assistance available between 9 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 7 p.m. until midnight EST.

WKU E-Mail:  cihelp@atech.wku.edu
 

Admissions

Screening Application

By October 1, 2003, send your completed application form, UFT addendum, copies of transcripts and GRE scores (for those without a Master's Degree in another area), three letters of reference and a letter of intent, describing why you want to pursue a distance master's degree in communication disorders.  At least one of the letters of reference should be from your current supervisor or employer.  Those taking the GREs must take and pass the exam by September 2003.  Please send all documents directly to Dr. Brindle in the Communication Disorders Program at the address at the bottom of the page.  Access the application form on the Graduate Admissions WKU webpage at
http://www.wku.edu/Dept/Academic/Graduate/admain.html.

You will be contacted by November 1st as to whether or not you have passed the prescreening process.  Once you have received an affirmative response, you must make formal application to Graduate Studies.

Formal Application

For information on WKU Admissions Requirements, Policies and Procedures, Fees and Expenses, and Application (print out & mail in with $35), go to the WKU webpage at
http://www.wku.edu/Dept/Academic/Graduate/admain.html.

By December 1, 2003, send application and official transcripts/GRE scores and $35 to:
                Office of Graduate Studies
                WAB
                Western Kentucky University
                1 Big Red Way
                Bowling Green, KY 42101
 

Registration

Register online for distance master's courses in Communication Disorders via Topnet, which is available from 7 a.m. to midnight, Mondays through Saturdays, on the WKU webpage at http://topnet.wku.edu/.  This site provides information on admissions, schedule bulletins, registration, student records, and financial aid.

Once the Graduate College has entered you into the computer system, log in for Student Services and follow the directions.  Your initial Personal Identification Number will be six digits from your social security number.  We strongly recommend that you change this as soon as possible.  Your advisor is Dr. Brindle.

Orientation Fall 2002

University Schedule:
 

	Fall  2002	Spring 2003	Summer 2003
Classes Begin	Sept.3, 2002 *	Jan. 13, 2003	June 2, 2003 **
Holidays	Nov.27-29,2002	Jan. 20, 2003 March 24-28, '03
Exam Week	*	May 5-9, 2003
End of Term	Dec.14, 2002	May 10, 2003	July 3, 2003
	Fall  2003	Spring 2004	Summer 2004
Classes Begin	Aug. 18, 2003	Jan. 12, 2004	June 1, 2004 **
Holidays	Oct. 2-3, 2003 Nov.26-28, 2003	Jan. 19, 2004 March 22-26, '04
Exam Week	Dec. 8-12, 2003	May 3-7, 2004
End of Term	Dec. 13, 2003	May 8, 2004	July 2, 2004

* Classes usually begin mid-August.  In light of time constraints with initial applications, this was pushed back to the day after Labor Day.  In order to make up the time, we will work through the WKU Fall Break and Exam Week.
** Summer clinical assignments for CD 591 are typically of 8 weeks duration.  Arrangements are made individually, depending on student and agency availability.  You will need to register during the June term.

Cohort 2:

The second UFT Cohort will begin in January 2004.  The course sequence will be similar to that of the first cohort, but will be delayed a term.
 

Class Schedule:

The benefit of web-based instruction is that most of the learning and contact is at your own convenience.  There are two functions during which you need to be concerned about specific times:  1) Assignment due dates, as specified in the syllabus per course; and 2) Synchronous chats.  Many instructors incorporate a weekly chat session to address questions and further explore more difficult concepts.  Instructors typically assign chat times in consultation with their students, or offer a choice of chat sessions.
 

Getting Started:

The first week of class you need to log into Blackboard/CourseInfo as indicated above.  Log-in will take you to your own Blackboard Homepage.  You will see the titles of the courses for which you are enrolled on the right side of the page.  Click on the title to go to the designated course site. Check the Announcements page for any recent instructions, then read the Syllabus [found under Course Information], Course Documents, and Assignments.  Go to Communications, then Student Roster, to make sure that your e-mail address is correct.  If not, go to Change Your Information under Tools to correct it.  Contact your instructor if you have difficulty accessing the course site.

Texts

Check the syllabi on the individual instructors webpage for texts and/or required materials.  You may opt to purchase from the publisher, request a local bookstore to order it for you, or order it online via the WKU Bookstore at http://www.wku.edu/Info/Bookstore

Advising

Dr. Barbara Brindle is the Graduate Advisor.  Call her at 270-745-4299 or E-mail via barbara.brindle@wku.edu.
 
 

Contact Us                Communication Disorders Department