OMNIE COLLABORATIVE DISTANCE LEARNING
GRADUATE PROGRAM IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES OHIO RESIDENCY

Program Start January, 2011

GRADUATE PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The OMNIE collaborative distance learning graduate program in communication sciences and disorders will provide students an opportunity to complete the required graduate curriculum offered by Ohio's graduate programs accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Students will be admitted into the program and through The University of Akron, or the University of Cincinnati.  The Program will involve in-depth study of the various disorders of communication coupled with practicum experience in the areas of study.  Upon completion of the program, all graduates will be eligible for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence, licensing in the State of Ohio in Speech-Language Pathology, and State of Ohio Public School Licensure.

Speech-language pathology students at the master's level are expected to acquire those skills which would enable them to identify and manage a full range of speech/language and hearing disorders. Students are required to complete course work in the areas of neurogenic speech and language disorders, voice and craniofacial disorders, fluency disorders, language and literacy problems in children, hearing problems of children and adults.

In order to provide the master's level student with adequate advanced didactic and practicum experience with persons manifesting communication disorders, three years of study are necessary, including at three summer terms.  Students will follow a specific sequence of courses offered over the three year period, with two courses offered each session: autumn, winter/spring, and summer. Students satisfy all ASHA academic and clinical requirements for certification, including the National Teacher's Examination (Praxis) as part of the degree program. Clinical experience requires over 400 direct contact hours with both children and adults in a variety of settings. Practicum sites involve extern placements in a medical setting (such as hospital, rehabilitation site, etc.) and an educational setting (e.g., the public school to fulfill student teaching experience in speech-language pathology).

The school speech-language pathology licensure is issued by the Ohio Department of Education. To meet the course work and practicum requirements to be eligible for employment in the public school system in Ohio, the student must meet the 'home' university requirements for an education focus in speech-language pathology.

Completion of practicum requirements will be extremely difficult for individuals who must maintain full time employment for the entire year.

Graduate coursework will begin January, 2011.

Students will adhere to ASHA Guidelines and university protocols at all times.

Students must sign letter of intent to seek and accept two years of employment in Ohio schools following program completion. Upon Program completion and verification of full-time school based employment, OMNIE will provide tuition reimbursement of $10,000 mid-way through the program.

Program Features:

• Student matriculation will be from an ASHA accredited university in Ohio.
• Meets ASHA requirements for CCC in speech-language pathology.
• Meets Ohio licensure requirements in speech language pathology.
• Allow student to maintain employment.
• Student progresses through defined sequence of courses.
• All courses offered on-line.
• Supervised on-site practicum required.
• Requires 36 months for completion.
• Graduate receives same degree as 'on-campus' student.
• No more than 30 students will be admitted to each program.

Calendar:

• Programs will begin January, 2011.
• Courses offered on a trimester basis (Fall, Winter-Spring, Summer)
• Student will take two or three courses per session of study.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants must submit Preliminary Application for the Collaborative Distance Learning Graduate Program no later than June 1, 2010. This form is in PDF format- you will need Acrobat Reader 7.0 to view and print it. You can download Acrobat 7.0 at no cost from the Adobe web site.

Formal Application to the university graduate program will be made in June,2010, following submission of Preliminary Application. Applicants must meet participating university's Requirements for Admission.

For additional information, contact Nada Allender at nada@ameritech.net