MASTER OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION AND LEARNING DISORDERS
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Our Lady of the Lake University’s Master of Arts degree in communication and learning disorders prepares students for service careers in speech-language pathology through comprehensive course work with an emphasis on clinical training. The master’s program satisfies all academic and practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competency in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and for state licensure by the Texas Committee of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. OLLU’s graduate training program in CDIS is accredited in Speech-Language Pathology by the Council on Academic Accreditation of ASHA.
Practicum
Clinical practicum is an integral part of the graduate educational experience. It broadens the student’s experience in working with a variety of communication disorders in clients of all ages. Students need a total of 400 clock hours to satisfy practicum requirements, of which 325 must be taken at the graduate level. 375 out of the 400 hours must be direct client contact. Practicum requirements include the successful completion of clinical competencies as outlined in the program’s student handbook.
Part of the student’s practicum experience is obtained under direct faculty supervision at the University’s Harry Jersig Speech and Hearing Center. Students also gain on-the-job experience in other facilities including public schools, rehabilitation centers, community clinics and hospitals.
Bilingual speech-language pathology
The graduate CDIS program offers students the option to acquire academic knowledge and clinical skills needed to provide bilingual (English/Spanish) assessment and intervention. A bilingual certificate is earned through the completion of a minimum of 50 hours of Spanish-language clinical practicum and five hours of specialty coursework including a selected topic course taught in Spanish.
Graduate assistantships
A limited number of graduate assistantships are available for Communication Disorders (CDIS) graduate students. Applications may be made to the CDIS Dept at the beginning of the fall semester after acceptance into the graduate program.
Our Lady of the Lake University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Our Lady of the Lake University that fall under one of these areas: (1) to learn about the accreditation status of the institution, (2) to file a third-party comment at the time of the institution’s decennial review, or (3) to file a complaint against the institution for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement.