The Major
A departmental major consists of a minimum of 44 credits. The following courses are
required:
CDIS 103, 201, 202, 304, 305, 306, 351, 436, 458, 459 and 495
CDIS 100 is usually a prerequisite for all courses in the department.
Students should consider the following recommended sequence:
Modifications of this sequence to accommodate double majors, study abroad, and/or
honors programs should be made in consultation with the student's academic advisor.
Clinical Training and Internships.
Participation in the clinical training phase of the major is essential for students
in communicative disorders. Students who successfully complete the course sequence
up to CDIS 459 are permitted to assist in the treatment of clients with communicative
disorders in the University's speech and hearing clinic. Most students take part in clinical
training during both semesters of the senior year.
For undergraduate students, observational internships are available at off-campus
clinical locations. Arrangements for these internships are made with the student's
academic advisor on an individual basis. Such observation in addition to the undergraduate
curriculum is highly encouraged.
Related Areas of Study
Communicative disorders majors should also complete the following coursework, which
is required by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing:
PSYC 220 Exceptional Child
PSYC 335 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 343 Educational Psychology
Transfer Students
Transfer students with one or two years' study at another institution may complete
a major in communicative disorders by following this recommended sequence:
The Minor
Students who minor in communicative disorders must complete a minimum of 23 credits
including the following: CDIS 100, 103, 201, 202 and 304, and one elective.
Study Abroad
The department encourages majors to take advantage of the opportunity to live and
study abroad. Accordingly, required courses have been scheduled to allow students
to spend a semester off campus. However, communicative disorders courses are rarely
available during foreign travel, so careful advance planning is critical.
Departmental Honors
A departmental honors program is available for exceptionally able and well-motivated
students. Admission to the program may come by departmental invitation or, should
students initiate their own applications, by an affirmative vote of the Communicative
Disorders faculty. Interested students should consult with the department chair for information
about the application procedure and requirements.
Application for admission should be directed to the department. Application deadlines
are November 1 for spring admission and April 1 for fall admission. Applications
must include:
A completed application form;
The $40 non-refundable fee;
Official transcripts of all previous college work (a minimum cumulative GPA of
3.0 in undergraduate work is expected);
Two letters of recommendation from professionals qualified to assess the individual's
potential for graduate study; and
Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Official scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required
of all students from countries in which English is not the primary language. Although
not required, an interview with a faculty member is recommended for those applicants
who are able to visit the department.
Graduate Assistantships
The Department of Communicative Disorders has scholarships for tuition remission available
each semester. Applications for these scholarships are included in the admissions
material. They are awarded on the basis of clinical and academic qualifications as
well as financial need. Students are also encouraged to contact the Office of Financial
Aid to explore their qualifications for low-interest loan programs sponsored by the
University.
The department appoints graduate students to training assignments each semester. While
these positions are not related to financial aid, they provide students with experience
and training in extracurricular aspects of the field and are an integral part of
the programs of involved students. Clinical assignments are awarded for work in clinical
teaching with undergraduate students and for clinical work with specific programs
such as the adult neuropathology or voice/laryngectomee programs. Teaching assignments are offered for laboratory assistance in speech science, phonetics, and audiology.
Assignments are also offered in a variety of support areas such as materials management,
computer use, and alumni relations.
Students must work closely with their advisors to develop a program of study and clinical
practicum to suit their individual interests and satisfy the requirements for professional
certification.
Academic Requirements
A total of 45 graduate credits are required, with a thesis or non-thesis option. A
maximum of 6 transfer credits of graduate study may be applied to the degree with
the recommendation of the academic advisor. This limit applies to credits earned
at other institutions as well as to those earned in other departments at the University of Redlands.
Students are expected to have completed the following undergraduate courses or their
equivalents prior to graduate study: CDIS 103, 201, 202, 304, 305, 306, 351, 429, 436, 458, and 459. Descriptions of these courses are listed in the preceding undergraduate
section.
Academic requirements for the Master's Degree are currently under review. The following
are the requirements in effect at the time of publication. Please contact the department
chair for current information.
*Audiology: CDIS 610, 612, 613, 616, 617, 640, 641, 642, 652, 653, 655 and 683
Speech and Language: CDIS 620, 623, 630, 629 (if 429 not taken), 634, 640, 641, 642,
652, 664, and 683
*The M.S. in audiology is not currently being offered.
Academic Standards
Regular Graduate Standing is a prerequisite for acceptance to candidacy for a master's
degree and is granted by the chair of the program for which application is made.
The basic requirements for Regular Graduate Standing in communicative disorders are
as follows:
1. Graduation from an accredited college or university.
2. A minimum undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Maintenance of a satisfactory academic standing. See the paragraph titled, "Satisfactory
Academic Standing" below.
Provisional Graduate Standing may be granted to a student for one of the following
reasons: 1) application for Regular Graduate Standing is incomplete for reasons beyond
the applicant's control (applicants should be cautioned that this applies in very
few instances); and 2) a decision on the part of program faculty to evaluate more of a
student's work before recommending Regular Graduate Standing.
Provisional Graduate Standing may be granted for no more than one term for full-time
students. Registration is limited to a maximum of 12 credits. Students must attain
a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the first semester of their graduate work
in order to be advanced to Regular Graduate Standing. At the end of the allotted semester,
the chair of the graduate program may recommend that the student either be advanced
to Regular Graduate Standing or dropped from the program.
Limited Graduate Standing may be granted to a student who is approved as a credential
candidate in education or to applicants for full-time, non-degree study. However,
for those who later seek Regular Graduate Standing, not more than 6 credits earned
under Limited Graduate Standing may be applied toward a degree program.
Special Graduate Standing is a category only for students who are taking individual
courses on a part-time basis and do not intend to become candidates for a degree
or credential program. However, for those who later seek Regular Graduate Standing,
not more than 6 credits earned under Special Graduate Standing may be applied toward a degree
program.
Students admitted to Provisional Graduate Standing for further evaluation of academic
performance must attain a 3.0 grade point average in the first semester of work in
order to be advanced to Regular Graduate Standing (see "Academic Standards and Policies"). If a student fails to achieve Regular Graduate Standing during a semester on Provisional,
continuation in the program may not be permitted.
Satisfactory Academic Standing
A minimum GPA of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) in all graduate work taken at the University
of Redlands is required to qualify for a degree. A student whose cumulative grade
point average is below a 3.0 at the end of any semester will be placed on probation
and allowed one semester to restore the cumulative grade point average to 3.0. Any
student who fails to restore his or her cumulative grade point average to a 3.0 at
the end of the probationary period may be disqualified. Disqualification may also
occur if a student receives one grade of 0.0, or two grades of 1.0.
Credit for a course graded below 2.0 (under the numerical grade option) cannot be
applied toward a graduate degree. However, the course may be retaken with the second
grade determining acceptability toward both the degree and the grade point average.
The first grade will remain on the student's permanent record but will not become part
of the cumulative grade point average.
Theses will be graded as High Pass, Pass, or Fail, as determined by the examining
committee upon completion of the oral examination. Such grades are not included in
the calculation of the GPA, nor are they recorded on the transcript.
Auditing
A full-time student may audit a maximum of one course during the Fall or Spring semester
without an additional fee. Students who register for less than a full load will be
required to pay the usual fee for any audited course. No student may audit a course
without the consent of the instructor.
Clinical Requirements
Graduate study in communicative disorders requires a significant commitment of time
to clinical practicum. Students are expected to be available approximately 10 hours
each week for practicum in the Center for Communicative Disorders; this is in addition
to the clinical work associated with certain courses. Although it is possible to earn
a degree on a part-time basis, students must make morning hours available to complete
the practicum required for CDIS 622, 634, 640, 641, 642, 683 and 685.
A minimum of 375 hours of supervised clinical observation and clinical practicum are
required for the state license and the ASHA certificate. The following qualifications
apply (Note: c.h. means clinic hours):
250 c.h. at graduate level in the area in which the certificate is sought
50 c.h. in each of three types of clinical settings.
3. A minimum of 50 hours must have been completed in the University's Center for Communicative
Disorders before a student may apply for practicum in an off-campus facility.
4. Students must arrange to have a variety of practicum experiences with people of
different ages and with different disorders, as required by the certifying agencies.
Students who are identified by faculty as having difficulty meeting the standards
of professionalism or competence in skills required for clinical practicum will be
placed on Clinical Probation for one semester. During this period a program will
be set for improvement, and progress will be monitored by a subcommittee of the faculty. At
the end of the semester of probation, the entire department faculty will hear the
recommendation of the subcommittee and either recommend termination from the graduate
program, placement on Provisional Graduate Standing, or reinstatement of the student as
a clinician in good standing. A complete description of this process is on file in
the department.
Clinical-Rehabilitative Services Credential
Speech-Language Specialist
Academic requirements for this credential are currently under review. The following
are the requirements in effect at the time of publication. Please contact the department
chair for current information.
