Communication Sciences and Disorders
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does a speech-language pathologist do?
Speech-language pathologists provide therapy services for children and adult clients who exhibit a wide range of communication disorders including articulation disorders, language disorders, swallowing fluency, voice disorders, and communication difficulties related to a hearing loss.

Where do speech-language pathologists work?
Speech-language pathologists are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools, clinics and rehabilitation companies. The certifiying organization for speech-language pathologists is the American Speech-Langauge Hearing Association (ASHA).

They also have a special section for students at

http://www.asha.org/students/professions/

Do I need a master's degree to work in the field of speech-language pathology?
Yes, a master's degree is required for almost any position in this field.

What minimum GPA do I need to get into the master's program?
An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is recommended when applying to the master's program.

Can I take classes in the department of CSD as a non-major?
Yes, as long as you have fulfilled any prerequisite courses.

Can I get a minor in CSD?
Yes, a minor is completed by taking 15-16 hours in the CSD department and these courses are outlined in the catalog. This minor works nicely for students majoring in education, foreign language, psychology, rehabilitation and numerous other majors.

What state organizations exist for speech-language pathologists?
The Missouri Speech-Langauge Hearing Association (MSHA) and the Kansas Speech-Language Hearing Association (KSHA).

Where do your students complete their clinical practicum hours?
Students at Rockhurst University complete their clinical practicum hours at a variety of sites in the Kansas City area. These sites include schools, hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation facilities.  This allows students to obtain real-world experience starting their first semester of graduate school, while they are obtaining the necessary clinical hours for graduation!

How long will it take me to complete a master's degree at Rockhurst University?
The program can be completed in two years by full-time students and three years for part-time students, but this time may vary depending on prerequisites.

When I complete the program, will I have a teaching certificate that will allow me to work in the public schools in the state of Missouri?
Yes, the Department of Elementary and Secondary education now issues a Certificate of Student Services for speech-language pathologists and if you have completed your master's degree and obtained your license, you will have met the requirements for this certificate.

How can I check on the status of my admission to the program?
Call the departmental secretary, Lauren Schwartze, at (816) 501-4791.

What prerequisites do I have to fulfill to apply to the program?
Call the departmental secretary, Lauren Schwartze , at (816) 501-4791.

What if my bachelor's degree is in a related field, not communication disorders? Can I still be accepted into the master's program?
You would be interested in the Prep Track program in which you would complete the necessary undergraduate classes during your first year of study and then the following two years, you would complete the graduate courses.

What if I earned a grade below a "C" in one of my prerequisites?
A grade of "C" in a prerequisite is acceptable but if a student earned any grade below that (including a "C-"), that prerequisite course must be retaken. That course could be taken at Rockhurst early in your program or at a local community college in Kansas City.

Who will help me plan my program of study?
Every student in the program is assigned a faculty adviser in the department to help plan an individual program of study.

Is Rockhurst's CSD Program accredited?
Rockurst's master of science program in CSD began in 1999 and is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).  For a student to be eligible to apply for national certification with ASHA, he/she must initiate and complete coursework and clinical practicum at a CAA accredited institution.

Is financial assistance available?
Yes, the office of financial assistance has support available. The CSD department may also have funds available through graduate assistantships and grants, or other awards, including the following scholarships:

AMBUCS - Junior or senior undergraduate, or graduate students pursuing degrees in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, or audiology. On-line applications are available to all students through www.ambucs.org

SERTOMA Communicative Disorders Scholarship Program for graduate level degrees in communication disorders, GPA of 3.2 or better.  Applications can be accessed online at www.sertoma.org and click on scholarships at the bottom of the page.

Do I have to take the GRE exam to be admitted into the Rockhurst program?
Yes, you must take the GRE exam to be admitted. The GRE score is one of the criteria used in the selection process, along with letters of recommendation, letter of intent, overall and major GPA.

Can I take my prerequisites or any deficiencies I have at another university or a local community college?
Yes, you can. Several local colleges offer many of the prerequisites and you can get information from your advisor at Rockhurst about this option.

What if I have a special interest in augmentative communication or assistive technology?
The Equipment Technology Consortium (ETC) is located at Rockhurst. This program is a free short-term assistive device program for school districts and agencies in the state of Missouri. There are graduate assistantships available with the ETC program for graduate students For more information about this program, contact the Program coordinator, David Baker.

What if I need information about off-campus housing?

The graduate students in CSD live in a variety of areas in Kansas City. You may find the following website helpful:

www.rockhurstsearch.com