Welcome to the Graduate Program of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus (hereafter referred to as "The Graduate Program"). The Department of CSD seeks to advance the study of human communication sciences and disorders within a culturally- and linguistically-diverse society. Intellectual growth is promoted through the recognition and expression of multiple theoretical, cultural, and individual perspectives. The department fosters respect for diversity and a commitment to serve individuals with communication problems.

The Graduate Program in the Department of CSD provides a context within which students can acquire sound knowledge of speech, language, hearing, human development and communication disorders; learn to apply this understanding effectively in clinical decision-making and problem-solving; and undertake careers dedicated to lifelong expansion of professional knowledge. We have prepared this handbook to acquaint you with the history, facilities, faculty, curriculum, support services, rules and regulations of the program.

The Graduate Program at LIU-Brooklyn Campus is an independent program, unrelated to the Graduate Speech Pathology Program on the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. The program is registered by the New York State Department of Education and is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Graduates of the program receive a Master of Science Degree in Speech Language Pathology, satisfy the academic and professional requirements specified by ASHA for the CCC-SLP, and are eligible to apply for licensure in SLP by the New York State Department of Education's Office of the Professions. Students who wish to satisfy the New York State Education Office of Teaching's requirements for Teacher of Speech and Hearing Handicapped may also prepare for this certification as part of their graduate program. Students demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English may further prepare for a certificate in Teacher of Speech and Hearing Handicapped with a Bilingual Extension. This program will prepare students to work with individuals who are bilingual or speak a language other than English. Admissions procedures and requirements for admission to both the monolingual and bilingual specializations are detailed below.
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All students are assigned a departmental faculty advisor upon admission. Students must meet with their advisor at least once each term, during the registration period, to have their course registration forms approved. Additional meeting times can be scheduled during the term if problems or concerns arise. Students will also be required to see their advisor if their grade point average falls below the requisite 3.0. Finally, all students must meet with their advisors in the term before they expect to graduate, to review course requirements, clinical practicum hours, and to prepare the ASHA membership application.

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The Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the Brooklyn Campus can be completed in 2.5-3 years of intensive study. The time limit for the degree is 5 years. Candidates for the degree must have completed a minimum of 55 credits and passed a written comprehensive examination. Candidates for the Master of Science degree with a Bilingual Specialization must have completed a minimum of 64 credits and passed a written comprehensive examination. In addition to the above, students preparing for the certification in Teacher of Speech and Hearing Handicapped with a Bilingual Extension must have taken SLP 644, completed six additional education credits, and performed supervised assessment and intervention with culturally- and linguistically-diverse individuals.

All students preparing for TSSLD must pass both the LAST and the ATS-W prior to taking SLP 611. Up to 50 clock hours of undergraduate practicum and 25 hours of observation may be credited toward clinical practicum requirements. Clinical practica are completed in several locations: On campus, in the university clinic; at LIU satellite centers; at off-campus hospital settings; and in school settings. Clinical practicum requirements, facilities, and regulations are described in detail in the Clinic Procedures Manual. Students are advised that the specific hourly requirements listed here and by ASHA constitute minimum standards requirements, and may be adjusted upwards according to individual students' needs and skill levels.

The advisement form that will be completed for each student in the Graduate Program is presented at the back of this book. The form outlines specific courses and requirements within each coursework category. An electronic and hard copy will be kept in the administrative offices of the Graduate Program. Students may receive a copy of their current form each term.

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Students must take a comprehensive examination as part of the program and degree requirements. Students are generally advised to take the comprehensive exam during their last semester in the program, and may not take the exam before completing at least 30 graduate credits. The comprehensive examination consists of two parts: (a) Satisfactory completion of the National Teachers Examination (NTE), and (b) an essay component addressing the application of content from foundations, speech science and disorders and language disorders courses to speech-language assessment and intervention. Students must pass both portions of the exam to graduate from the program. Students who fail the exam must be counseled by the Department Chairperson, be directed toward remedial instruction, and retake the exam(s).

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Graduate students in the Dept. of Comm. Sci. & Disorders at LIU-Brooklyn who entered the program in Fall, 2002 may apply to the student research option (SRO). Students who are accepted to the SRO will, under faculty guidance, design and complete an independent research project, and submit their project for presentation at a professional meeting (such as NYSSLHA or
ASHA).

Application to the SRO must be made in the semester during which students complete the foundations sequence. To be accepted to the SRO, students must have a 3.5 GPA, and write a proposal (with input from a faculty advisor) that is subsequently accepted by a committee of 3 faculty members whose research interests are appropriate to the student's topic. Students then have 3 semesters to complete their project. Completion of a research project through the SRO will be accepted in lieu of the master's exam for completing the requirements for the master's degree in SLP.

Application to the SRO must be made by the 4th week of the semester in which you plan to complete the Foundations sequence. If you are finishing the Foundations this semester, and are interested in pursuing the SRO, you should contact an appropriate faculty member ASAP to discuss preparing your proposal.

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The Committee on Graduate Scholastic Standing of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (the Committee) is responsible for monitoring the academic and professional performance of graduate students and determining whether students are making satisfactory progress toward the Master's Degree. The Committee reviews academic records and assigns conditions under which a student who is not making satisfactory progress may continue in the Program. The Committee also recommends which students on academic probation are to be dismissed from the Program. Throughout the review of students' scholastic standing, every effort is made to help students resolve in a timely fashion any difficulties or deficiencies which may exist.

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Clinical skills are developed and evaluated throughout the practicum sequence. The graduate student clinician evaluation form will serve as the primary evaluation instrument. Full details of practicum requirements and evaluations of clinical performance are presented in the Clinic Procedures Manual of the Department of CSD, LIU-Brooklyn Campus.

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In matters of serious dispute with members of the administration or faculty, students may avail themselves of the grievance procedure outlined below which assures due process. This shall also be the formal procedure for grievances alleging illegal actions.

1. The student will write out a clear statement of the grievance.

2. The student may submit this statement to the faculty member involved,
who will give the student a written response within a reasonable time.
Alternatively, or as part of an appeal process, the student may submit a
statement to both the department chairperson and the Academic Standing
Committee of the department. Within a reasonable time, the student will
receive a written response from the chairperson.

3. If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of these procedures, he or she may institute a formal complaint with the Dean. The Dean will review the foregoing proceedings, hear the student and the staff member(s), and decide the matter.

4. All students are informed that the program is accredited by the American-
Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and registered with the New York State Department of Education. Students will receive an ASHA handbook, and information on the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA), and ASHA's website (www.asha.org) and NYSED's website (www.highered.nysed.gov/). Students are thus aware that they can file a complaint with these accrediting agencies.

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