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 program holds accreditation from the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Student selection for the coming academic year occurs between February 15 and April 15. Students wishing to be considered for the coming academic year must have their completed application submitted by February 1.

A complete application contains:

1. a completed Graduate School Application form (sent to them by the Graduate School);
2. transcripts of completed undergraduate and graduate work;
3. letters of recommendation from three persons familiar with their academic and/or clinical performance; and
4. 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 also are eligible for clinical traineeships, pending the availability of funds. Traineeships include tuition waiver and monthly stipends. Applicants interested in financial aid should so indicate in their initial application for admission.

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), Assistant Professor. Fluency disorders, developmental language disorders.

Marisue Pickering, Ed.D. (Boston U., 1979), Professor and Cooperating Professor of Education. Interpersonal communication in clinical relationships, cross-cultural communication, international issues, clinical education.

Susan K. Riley, M.S. (Wisconsin, 1965), Lecturer. Staff Speech-Language Pathologist, Clinical Director, family-centered practice.

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

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

Associate Faculty

Marybeth S. Allen, M.A. (University of Maine, 1990), Lecturer, Staff Speech-Language Pathologist. Fluency disorders, child speech and language disorders.

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.

Lorriann Orr, M.S. (Boston University, 1986), Lecturer, Staff Speech-Language Pathologist. Child language development and disorders, phonological disorders, school-based practice, family-centered practice.