This program (thesis or non-thesis) provides students with the competencies associated with the delivery of high quality clinical services. The objective of the program is to prepare beginning clinicians for independent professional activities. The graduate program extends over a two-year period for regular, full-time students (September entry only). Supervision of practicum is accomplished by a faculty of experienced clinicians and a faculty-student ratio that permits considerable individual attention. In addition to weekly observations of the student’s practicum, the supervisor and student have one-hour conferences each week to discuss various aspects of the student’s clinical work. Clinical practicum experiences are provided in a variety of settings, with persons across the lifespan who have a wide range of communication disorders. The CSD department’s Conley Speech and Hearing Center is the primary teaching facility where students obtain their first clinical experiences, providing speech, language, and hearing services to children and adults. Additional clinical placements are in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, public and private schools, and community speech and hearing centers. The program welcomes applications from students whose undergraduate backgrounds do not include coursework in communication disorders. Such students are admitted as Provisional Graduate Students, and spend their first two semesters completing undergraduate prerequisite courses. Upon completion of prerequisite courses, students begin the two-year regular graduate curriculum. The Master’s program in CSD at the University of Maine is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. The program’s accreditation is in the area of speech-language pathology. Student selection for the coming academic year occurs between February 1 - March 15. Students wishing to be considered for the coming academic year must have their completed application submitted by January 15.

A complete application contains:

• a completed Graduate School Application form (sent to them by the Graduate School);
• transcripts of completed undergraduate and graduate work;
• letters of recommendation from three persons familiar with their academic and/or clinical performance; and
• a transcript of their GRE scores.

Applicants are responsible for monitoring the completion of their application in a timely manner.

Students wishing to register in CSD 686 Clinical Practicum II, must make an advanced special written request to the Clinical Director, Conley Speech & Hearing Center - UMaine, 5724 Dunn Hall, Orono ME 04469-5724, by November 1 for the Spring semester; March 1 for the Summer session; and May 1 for the Fall semester.

The basic program requirements meet the current academic and clinical education requirements for clinical certification in Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. As a matter of policy, we require those admitted to the program to meet these certification standards.

Financial Information

In addition to University fellowships and scholarships listed elsewhere in this catalog, graduate students in the Communication Disorders Program may also apply for research assistantships, pending the availability of funds. Assistantships include a partial tuition waiver and monthly stipends. Applicants interested in assistantships are invited to apply once they are admitted into the graduate program. Additional information about the program can be obtained from the department located in Dunn Hall (Mailing address, 5724 Dunn Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5724, web site: http://www.umaine.edu/comscidis/.)

Graduate Faculty

Amy Engler Booth, M.A. (Kent State University, 1987), Lecturer, Staff Audiologist. Audiological assessment and hearing aid fitting, hearing impairment, aural rehabilitation.

Nancy E. Hall, Ph.D. (Case Western Reserve, 1992), Associate Professor. Fluency disorders, developmental language disorders.

Allan B. Smith, Ph.D. (University of Connecticut, 2002), Associate Professor and Department Chair. Child speech development and disorders, speech science.

Judith L. Stickles, M.A. (University of Maine, 1982), Lecturer, Staff Speech-Language Pathologist, Clinical Director. Child language development and disorders, school-based practice.

Judy P. Walker, Ph.D. (University of Massachusetts, 1994), Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator. Aphasia, TBI, motor speech disorders, dysphagia.

Associate Faculty

Susan D. Burgess, M.A. (University of Maine, 1998), Lecturer, Staff Speech-Language Pathologist. Language development and disorders, phonological development and disorders, family-centered practice.

Casey L. Monnier, M.A. (University of Maine, 2002), Lecturer, Staff Speech-Language Pathologist. Child speech and language disorders, neurogenic rehab.

External Faculty

Steven Belanger, Ph.D. (University of Connecticut), Neurogenic Communication Disorders.

Lori Edwards, M.S. (Northeastern University, 1985). Swallowing and motor speech disorders.

Mike Towey, M.A. (University of Maine). Voice Disorders.