Department of Communication Disorders and Social Work

https://www.ucmo.edu/cdsw/

The Department of Communication Disorders and Social Work
Wood 005
660-543-4407
ucmo.edu/cdsw

Communication Disorders Policies

Social Work Policies

Communication Disorders

Overview of Program

The primary purpose of the B.S. Degree in Speech-Language Pathology is to prepare students for possible admission to graduate programs in either Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. Completion of the B.S. Degree in Speech-Language Pathology does not provide the qualifications that students will need for employment as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, nor does it guarantee admission to a graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology; however, the undergraduate degree can lead to employment opportunities in a variety of related fields. The Master’s degree is considered the entry level degree to enter the field of Speech-Language Pathology. UCM offers a Master’s degree program that is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) in Speech-Language Pathology. The clinical doctorate (AuD), not currently offered at UCM, is the entry level degree to enter the field of Audiology.

Undergraduate Student Learning Outcomes

The graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the program to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of information regarding prevention, assessment and intervention concerning communication differences and disorders and swallowing or other upper aerodigestive disorders.
2. Provide prevention, assessment and intervention services to children and adults across a wide range of speech and language disorders and differences in a closely supervised setting.
3. Demonstrate emerging skills in oral and written language to achieve effective clinical and professional interaction.
4. Begin to exhibit professional behavior as defined in the cardinal documents of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) including but not limited to Certification Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, ASHA Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology, ASHA Code of Ethics and ASHA Preferred Practice Patterns for the Profession of Speech-Language Pathology.
5. Collaborate with professionals and provide counseling to individuals and their families regarding speech and language differences and disorders in a closely supervised setting.
6. Begin to integrate classroom-based knowledge, clinical experience and technological resources to support Evidence-Based Practice in a guided clinical setting.

Undergraduate Admission Policies and Procedures

Student enrollment is limited to the following Communication Disorders courses unless the student is either provisionally or fully admitted to the undergraduate functional major in speech-language pathology: CD 1000 , CD 1800 , CD 2000 , CD 2301 , CD 3301 , CD 4401 , CD 4402 , CD 4900 . If the student is not provisionally or fully admitted to the undergraduate program, enrollment in Communication Disorders courses other than the ones listed above, shall be determined in conference with the director of undergraduate studies in the program.

Students who have been admitted to the undergraduate program and have not enrolled in Communication Disorders’ courses for three consecutive semesters will be dropped from the undergraduate program. These students must reapply for admission to the undergraduate program prior to enrollment in any additional courses in Communication Disorders.

1. Admission of Non-Transfer Students
   1. Admission Criteria:
      1. Must have a minimal overall GPA of 3.20.
      2. Must have earned a minimum of 30 university credit hours, applicable to graduation, including a grade of C or better in ENGL 1020  and ENGL 1030  or CTE 3060  or ENGL 1080 .
      3. Must have made a grade of C or better and a 3.20 GPA or better in the following CD courses: CD 1000 , CD 1800 , CD 2301 , CD 3301 .
      4. Students may enroll in the four courses listed under I.A.3. a maximum of two times.
      5. Students must complete a speech, language and hearing screening.
      6. Students must submit a formal application for admission to the undergraduate Communication Disorders program.
      7. Students who do not meet requirements I. A. 1-6. are ineligible for admission to the undergraduate Communication Disorders program.
   2. Maintenance Criteria:
      1. The first semester the student’s overall GPA drops below a 3.20 after being admitted to the undergraduate program in Communication Disorders, the student will receive a letter of written academic warning from the Communication Disorders program.
      2. Any student under academic warning whose overall GPA falls below a 3.20 for any subsequent semester will become ineligible to continue taking courses in the Communication Disorders program and/or to re-apply for admission to the undergraduate program.
      3. Any student who receives a grade below C in any CD course or whose GPA drops below a 3.20 in CD courses will receive a letter of warning. Students must obtain a grade of C or better and a 3.20 GPA or better in all CD courses taken prior to completing an undergraduate major in Communication Disorders. Students may enroll in any CD course a maximum of 2 times.
      4. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher.
2. Admission of Undergraduate Transfer Students
   1. Admission Criteria:
      1. Transfer students must meet requirements I.A.1-7.
      2. Students who are transferring two or more of the courses listed in I.A.3. and meet other criteria listed in I.A. will be provisionally admitted and must take an additional six semester hours of Communication Disorders courses at the University of Central Missouri before applying for full admission.
      3. Transfer students must demonstrate the competencies required for the UCM equivalent for any courses being transferred before applying for full admission to the undergraduate program.
   2. Maintenance Criteria:
      1. Same as for non-transfer students.
   3. Other
      1. A minimum letter grade of a C or better and a 3.20 GPA or better must be obtained for the six semester hours under II.A.2. for the transfer student to be able to apply for full admission to the undergraduate program. Those courses in which the undergraduate transfer student makes a grade below a C can be retaken only once. If this requirement is not met, the student becomes ineligible to continue taking courses in the Department of Communication Disorders and Social Work and/or to apply for full admission to the undergraduate major in speech-language pathology.
3. Post-Baccalaureate Students
   Post-Baccalaureate Students must have permission of the program director to enroll in any Communication Disorders course.
4. Clinical Practicum Requirements
   Undergraduate students will complete the following practicum requirements as described below:

Clinical Observation Requirements
Undergraduate students will complete 25 clock hours of clinical observation as follows:

1. CD 1800  : Observation of Clinical Practicum in Communication Disorders - 10 clock hours
2. CD 3503  : Principles of Clinical Management - 5 clock hours
3. CD 4504  : Introduction to Articulation and Phonological Disorders - 5 clock hours
4. CD 4505  : School Age Issues in Communication Disorders - 5 clock hours

Orientation Policies and Procedures
All first-semester clinicians must enroll in CD 4802  - Undergraduate Clinical Practicum (1). Students will pay a one-time fee for a Clinic Shirt and name tag.

CPR Certification
Students will obtain certification in adult and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation prior to enrolling in clinical practicum experiences. Students must maintain re-certification throughout all clinical practicum experiences.

Immunizations
Students must be tested yearly for Tuberculosis (TB) and submit results of testing to the Director of Clinical Services prior to beginning clinic each year. Additionally, students must submit proof of having initiated the three shot series of immunization against Hepatitis B prior to beginning clinical practicum.

Student Clinicians participating in the Welch-Schmidt Center for Communication Disorders are expected to comply with all University of Central Missouri health requirements. This includes current tuberculosis (TB) test and updated immunizations as recommended by the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

All immunizations that are required by the University of Central Missouri and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services must be up to date prior to beginning clinical practicum. People who are not properly immunized pose a public health risk to their patients, co-workers and themselves.

If immunizations and TB tests are not up to date [for example, by virtue of an exemption], you may not be accepted at medical and/or educational clinical rotation sites, etc. This could prevent you from participating in a variety of clinical experiences which would ultimately prevent you from graduating.

Seasonal flu shots are being required by many external clinical sites and will not accept student clinicians who have not had this immunization.

Criminal Background Check
Prior to beginning clinic, students will receive the most recent criminal background check procedures from the Director of Clinical Services. If a background check is unsatisfactory, placement in clinic may not be possible. A student unable to be placed in clinic will not be able to complete the program.

Grades
Students who are under academic warning from the department may not enroll in any clinical practicum courses.

Clinician Meetings
Clinicians are required to attend clinician meetings which cover a variety of topics ranging from paperwork and procedures to assessment and intervention tools available in our clinic. These meetings are scheduled as needed throughout the semester.

Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA)
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech-Language Pathology is a competency based program. These competencies reflect the knowledge and skills required by the ASHA Certification Standards III, Program of Study-Knowledge Outcomes IV, and Program of Study-Skill Outcomes. These required knowledges and skills are delineated on the KASA. To understand the procedures associated with the KASA documentation, students are required to attend KASA trainings offered each semester. Students will be expected to demonstrate competency related knowledges and skills throughout their undergraduate program through formative and summative assessments. For all courses listed on the KASA, students must achieve a grade of C or better. Students’ successful demonstration of the acquisition of knowledges and skills will be documented on the KASA. Students not demonstrating the achievement of course and practicum related knowledges and skills will be required to successfully complete remediation procedures that will then allow those knowledges and skills to be documented on the KASA. The faculty of the Communication Disorders Program has determined a grade of “B” or competency of a “4” or “5” on the KASA demonstrates specific knowledge and/or skills have been acquired for clinical practicum. In cases where the student’s progression in the acquisition of knowledge and/or skill does not meet expectations within the semester, a plan for clinical remediation may be established. Remediation plans are designed to improve a student’s knowledge and skills in a specific area of weakness. Successful completion of remediation procedures does not alter the final course grade.

Credit for Life Experience
Credit will not be given for life or previous work experience for courses required in the speech-language pathology major.

Social Work

Social Work Statement of Policy
A student may enroll in a course offered by the Social Work Program only if a grade of C or better is earned in each of the course’s prerequisites taken.

Purpose
The purpose of the social work profession is to promote human and community well-being. The BSW Program prepares students for professional generalist social work practice or graduate education. Students are expected to demonstrate mastery of all competencies and practice behaviors identified by the accrediting body.

Admission Policy
Students entering UCM as freshmen should indicate a social work major. Transfer students must meet all requirements. Admission to the social work program is conditional upon successful completion of all requirements.
Requirements for Admission to the Social Work Program

1. Completion of General Education courses listed as requirements of the social work major with a C or better.
2. Cumulative grade-point average of 2.00.
3. A minimum grade of C for courses listed as curriculum requirements of the social work major.
4. Completion of PSY 1100  , SOC 1800  , BIOL 2010 , SOWK 2600 , and SOWK 3601 .
5. Students must complete a social work prefix course in residence prior to applying for admission into the social work program.
6. Submission of:
   1.   Application for Admission to social work program.
   2.   Transcript of all university work.
   3.   Three references including one from the SOWK 3601  volunteer supervisor.
   4.   Autobiographical statement.
7. The Admissions Packet will be distributed during an informational meeting scheduled for students enrolled in SOWK 3601 . Students who miss the meeting or need assistance should meet with their faculty mentor. Admission to the program is required to enroll in SOWK 4630  and SOWK 4650  .
8. Successful completion of an interview with Social Work Admissions Committee.
9. Provisional admission requires the student to write a corrective action plan with approval by the faculty mentor prior to the end of the semester in which they receive a provisional admission.  The student will be interviewed a second time during the following semester, providing an opportunity to demonstrate time, effort and progress toward resolving provisional concerns.

Criteria for Retention
Social Work students will be permitted to continue in the Social Work major by meeting certain “Criteria for Retention” as established by the program.

1. An earned grade of C or better in all courses listed as requirements of the social work major.
2. Students failing to earn a grade of C or better in either SOWK 4660 - Field Practicum (9)  or SOWK 4661 - Field Practicum Seminar (3)  are not permitted to repeat the two courses and will not be allowed to continue in the Social Work Program at Central, nor be able to graduate with a BSW from the University of Central Missouri.
3. Adherence to the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics.
4. Demonstrate professional demeanor and maintain social functioning that allows for effective beginning level generalist social work practice.  Social Functioning refers to students’ ability to cope with the demands generated by interaction with their environment, including school, work, family, and personal and professional relationships.
5. Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills.
6. Continued enrollment as a student in good standing at UCM. A student who has not maintained enrollment in good standing for a period of one year must have a retention hearing upon their return to the program.

Credit for Life Experience
Credit will not be given for life or previous work experience for courses required in the social work major.

Accreditation
The Bachelor of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is located at 1725 Duke Street, Suite 500, Alexandria, VA 22314-3457; phone 703-683-8080; email
info@cswe.org.
 

Majors/Programs

• Social Work, BSW (48-847)
• Speech-Language Pathology, BS (43-273)