General Division/Undergraduate Catalog

Department of Communication Sciences

Chair: Alfred H. White, Jr., Ph.D., Professor

Location: MCL 806

Telephone: (817) 898-2025

Please note: TWU's area code (817) will change to 940 on May 25, 1997.

Faculty: Professor D. Walker-Baston; Associate Professors A. Bird, D. Grant,

K. Millay, P. Scott; Assistant Clinical Professor J. Ford; Clinical Instructors B. Tepper, R. Brusniak, L. Moorer.

The primary goals of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders are to provide students with an understanding of the processes involved in human communication and to prepare students for professional careers in the areas of Speech-Language Pathology and Education of the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing.

Students who complete a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology will be eligible for certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and students who complete their master's degree in Education of the Hearing Impaired (deaf and hard of hearing) will be eligible for certification by the Council on the Education of the Deaf (CED).

An academic minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders requires 18 semester hours to be specified by the Department Chair. [Note: Students interested in a Human Biology major with a minor in Communication Sciences and Disorders are directed to the Biology section of this catalog.]

For detailed information about the bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences, the TEA certification program in education of the hearing impaired, or the graduate programs in speech-language pathology or education of the hearing impaired, write to the Chair, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Texas Woman's University, Box 23775, Denton, Texas 76204-1775.

Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic

The Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic within the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is open throughout most of the year and affords qualified students an opportunity to enroll in clinical practice. Students work with clients from the TWU student body and the community who have various speech, language and/or hearing problems.

Admission Requirements

Students must apply to the Department for admission into the Communication Sciences Program. To apply students must have completed 30 semester hours and have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and/or a GPA of 2.75 over their last 30 semester hours of course work. Additionally, students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 once admitted to the program. No more than two grades of C will apply toward the major, nor will credit be awarded toward the major for a grade of D or F.

Students wishing to apply for the TEA certification program in education of the deaf and hard of hearing should do so through the College of Education and Human Ecology after they have successfully completed 15 hours of coursework within the Department. To be accepted into the TEA certification program, a student must meet admission requirements established by the College of Education and Human Ecology and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

It is important to note that TEA required education courses should be taken at the undergraduate level. However, some courses leading to TEA certification offered by the Department are taken at the undergraduate level while others are taken at the graduate level. Students who wish to secure TEA certification should plan for one year of post-baccalaureate studies.

Undergraduate Degrees

B.S. in Communication Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences

Required Courses

COMS 2003. Articulatory Phonetics

COMS 3033. Acoustic Phonetics and Perceptual Processing

COMS 3063. Normal Speech and Language Development

COMS 3503. Intervention Strategies for Speech Development

COMS 3523. Audiology

COMS 3533. Assisted Listening Strategies: Acoustic Technology and Methods for the Deaf

COMS 3553. Normal/Language Development in School Age Children

COMS 3563. Intervention Strategies for Language Development

COMS 4203. Diagnostic Procedures I

COMS 4213. Diagnostic Procedures II

COMS 4483. English Sign Systems

COMS 4563. Advanced Signed English

NOTE: Students seeking TEA certification in deaf education need to take ERDB 3133, ELDR 3133, ELDR 3503/3513 as electives. They also need 6 additional hours taken from the following: Environmental Studies, Health and Fitness, Philosophy, or Social Sciences.

A Suggested Sequence of Courses
FRESHMAN YEAR

First Semester

ENG 1013.............................................3

HIST 1013.............................................3

GOV 2013.............................................3

SPCH 1013............................................3

Fine Arts......................................... 3

15
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester

Sophomore English...............................3

Mathematics..........................................3

Elective (COMS 2513 Recommended).3

COMS 3533..........................................3

COMS 3523...........................................3

15

JUNIOR YEAR
First Semester

COMS 3503..........................................3

COMS 3553..........................................3

Elective..........................................3

COMS 4591..........................................1

Multicultural Studies.............................3

Women's Studies...................................3

16

SENIOR YEAR
First Semester

COMS 4203..........................................3

COMS 4563.........................................3

COMS 4591......................................1

Interdisciplinary Elective.....................3

Elective...........................................3

Elective......................................... ...3

16

* COMS 4501/4502 Should be taken by students seeking to enter the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology
Second Semester

ENG 1023.............................................3

HIST 1023.............................................3

GOV 2023.............................................3

Mathematics..........................................3

COMS 2003...........................................3

15
Second Semester

Sophomore English...............................3

Elective.....................................3

Science with lab....................................4

COMS 3033..........................................3

COMS 3063.........................................3

16

Second Semester

CSCI 1403.............................................3

Elective........................................3

COMS3563.......................................3

COMS 4483..........................................3

COMS 4591....................................1 Science with Lab...................................4

17
Second Semester

Elective*...............................................3

Elective.................................................3

COMS 4213................................3

COMS 4653.......................................3

Elective (COMS 4553)...........................3

15
Communication Sciences and Disorders Undergraduate Courses

COMS 1501. Speech and Language Improvement. Individualized speech and language improvement in the University Speech Clinic for Texas Woman's University students evidencing oral communication differences. Minimum one hour a week. Credit: One hour.

COMS 2003. Introduction to Speech Science and Phonetics. Structure and function of the vocal organs, the international phonetic alphabet, practice with broad phonetic transcription. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 2513. Deaf Culture. History of deaf community, its art, literature and language (American Sign Language), including current attitudes, movements, policies and trends which affect the deaf as a minority. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 3033. Acoustic Phonetics and Perceptual Processing. Basic acoustical properties of sound. Acoustic phonetics. Phonetic transcription of disordered speech. Speech perception. Tactile, visual and motor speech processes, suprasegmental aspects of speech and speech instrumentation. Prerequisite: COMS 2003. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 3063. Normal Speech and Language Development. Nature of language, language-learning theories, and milestones of speech and language development; emphasis on preschool years. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 3503. Intervention Strategies for Speech Development. Normal speech development; etiology, diagnosis and treatment for speech disorders as they relate to children and adults. Factors involved in the learning and teaching of speech to the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Prerequisite: COMS 3033. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 3523. Audiology I. Introduction to the assessment of hearing loss through audiometric techniques, including supervised testing of children and adults with hearing losses. Required observation in University Clinic. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 3533. Assisted Listening Strategies. Acoustic Technology and Methods for the Deaf. Environmental management, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, tactile transducers, cochlear implants, speech reading and auditory training methods for adults and children with hearing and/or listening differences. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 3553. Normal Language Development in School Age Children. Nature of oral and written language, the relationship of language to academic learning and language development in the school age years. Prerequisite: COMS 3063. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 3563. Speech Development for the Hearing-Impaired I. Problems of speech acquisition, phonetic systems, formation, and articulation of speech sounds; emphasis on intelligible speech development. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 4201. Clinical Practicum of Diagnostic Procedures in Speech and Hearing Disorders. Administration of current diagnostic tests of speech and language disorders in practice situations. Observation of formal diagnostic sessions of clinic patients. Corequisite: COMS 4202. Three laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.

COMS 4203. Diagnostic Procedures I. Instruction in current evaluative procedures of speech and language both formal and informal; using test data to plan for intervention strategies. Corequisite: COMS 4201. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 4213. Diagnostic Procedures II. Informal evaluation procedures for speech and language using test data to plan for intervention strategies. Prerequisite: COMS 4203. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 4483. English Sign Systems. The use of various manual code systems (SOS, MSS, Cued Speech) to facilitate the development of English by teachers of the hearing impaired. Prerequisite: COMS 2513 or permission of the instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 4501. Clinical Practicum I. Participation in clinical sessions as clinical assistant. Prerequisites: 3.0 GPA in COMS courses, permission of COMS Clinical Review Committee. Corequisite: COMS 4502. Three laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.

COMS 4502. Introduction to Clinical Process. Introduction to clinical handbook and basic clinical procedures. Prerequisites: COMS 3501 and 3503. Corequisite: COMS 4512. Two lecture hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

COMS 4511. Clinical Process. Planned experiences related to client assessment, therapeutic and behavior management, and effective interaction. Prerequisites: 3.0 GPA in COMS classes, permission of COMS Clinical Review Committee, and proof of clinical liability insurance. Corequisite: COMS 4512. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

COMS 4512. Clinical Practicum II. Assessment and management of clients with speech, language and hearing disorders in TWU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic under supervision of ASHA-certified supervisors. Prerequisites: COMS 3501 and 3503. Corequisite: COMS 4502. Four laboratory hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

COMS 4524. Language Development for the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing. Processes and practices associated with facilitating the development of language for the deaf and hard-of-hearing with an emphasis on school age children. This course must be taken in both fall and spring semesters in the same academic year. Prerequisite: Acceptance into certification program for education of the hearing impaired. Corequisite: COMS 4534, ERDB 4573, ERDB 4783. Two lecture and three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Four hours.

COMS 4534. Speech Development for the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing. Techniques for developing speech skills in the deaf and hard-of-hearing school age population. Emphasis placed on evaluation and subsequent planning using the Ling Method/Model. This course must be taken in both fall and spring
semesters in the same academic year. Prerequisite: Acceptance into certification program for education of the hearing impaired. Corequisite: COMS 4524. Two lecture and three laboratory hours a week. Credit: Four hours.

COMS 4553. American Sign Language. A first course in American Sign Language (ASL). Development of a minimal working vocabulary of signs taken from ASL and to develop some understanding of and the ability to use ASL grammar. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: three hours.

COMS 4563. Advanced Signed English. The development of functional skills in the use of Signed English, including Morphemic Sign System (MSS). Prerequisite: A course in signed English or permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 4591. Signed English Practicum. Increase the receptive and expressive signing ability of students. Corequisite with COMS 4583. One lecture and 3 laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.

COMS 4653. Literacy Development in the Hearing Impaired. Review of research in the reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills of both hearing and hearing-impaired populations. Linguistic and literacy development explored in-depth as they relate to whole language development in hearing-impaired children. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 4903. Selected Topics in Communication Sciences. Study of selected topics. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

COMS 4913. Independent Study. Individual study of specific problems. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: Three hours.

Graduate Courses

COMS 5003. Research in Communication Sciences

COMS 5202. Diagnostic Audiology

COMS 5212. Clinical Diagnostic Audiology

COMS 5302. Diagnostic Procedures in Speech and Language Disorders

COMS 5312. Clinical Diagnosis of Speech and Language Disorders

COMS 5401. Advanced Clinical Practicum I

COMS 5402. Clinical Process Orientation

COMS 5411. Advanced Clinical Process

COMS 5412. Advanced Clinical Practicum II

COMS 5422. Advanced Clinical Practicum III

COMS 5432. Advanced Clinical Practicum IV

COMS 5483. Neuronal Pathways of Communication

COMS 5503. Problems of Stuttering

COMS 5523. Voice Science

COMS 5533. Cleft Palate

COMS 5543. Fluency Disorders

COMS 5553. Articulation Disorders

COMS 5573. Voice Disorders

COMS 5583. Seminar in Neurological Problems

COMS 5603. Language Disorders

COMS 5643. Neurological Problems III

COMS 5663. Problems in Teaching Language to the Hearing Impaired

COMS 5674. Language Intervention Strategies for the Deaf and Hard-of- Hearing

COMS 5683. Problems in Teaching Speech to the Hearing Impaired

COMS 5694. Speech Intervention Strategies for the Deaf and Hard-of Hearing

COMS 5746. Advanced Study of American Sign Language

COMS 5753. Deaf Culture: Psychosocial and Sociolinguistic Aspects of Deafness

COMS 5803. Parent-Professional Communication Strategies

COMS 5813. Teaching Reading to the Deaf or Hard of Hearing

COMS 5823. Literacy Development for the Hearing Impaired

COMS 5833. Micro-Computer Applications and Methods for

Communicatively Handicapped

COMS 5843. Innovative Program Development for the Hearing Impaired

COMS 5853. Teacher Friendly Assessment Strategies

COMS 5883. Instrumentation in Speech and Hearing

COMS 5893. Semantic-Syntactic Aspects of American Sign Language

COMS 5903. Special Topics

COMS 5913. Independent Study

COMS 5973. Professional Paper

COMS 5983. Thesis

COMS 5993. Thesis