Communication Disorders

Undergraduate Degree

The MCD is a professional degree, required for state licensure and the Certificate of Clinical Competence. Therefore, for students wishing to pursue the MCD, a pre-professional degree in communication disorders is strongly recommended.

Students possessing the undergraduate degree qualify to apply, however, if admitted, deficiencies in undergraduate preparation may be assigned as corequisites. These deficiencies include (but are not limited to) Fluency Disorders, Articulation and Phonological Disorders, and Statistics.

Non-Communication Disorders Undergraduates

Students that do not possess the undergraduate degree in CD are not eligible to apply for the MCD until the leveling requirements are met. See "Non-Communication Disorders Leveling Requirements" below for more details.

Competitive Admission

Students should be aware that admission to the MCD program is competitive and based on space available. Meeting minimum admission requirements and/or completion of the non-Communication Disorders leveling requirements does not imply or guarantee admission to the MCD program. Note: the MCD program only admits in the summer term.

Non-Communication Disorders Graduates

Applicants with undergraduate degrees in majors other than speech-language pathology may make application to the MCD program upon meeting the leveling requirements (listed below), which include 38 credit hours of core coursework.

Prior to Program Screening

The following courses must be completed prior to program screening and should be taken during the spring semester:

Program Screening

Upon completion of the above courses, post-degree students must complete Program Screening to qualify for continuation in the program.

• 2.75 or better Overall GPA
• A minimum of 30 hours of earned academic credit
• "C" or better in the following class:
  • MATH 1023 College Algebra
  
• "C" or better in the following classes:
  • ENG 1003 Composition I
  • ENG 1013 Composition II
• 3.20 or better combined GPA for the following classes:
  • BIO 2203 / 2201: Human Anatomy & Physiology Lecture & Lab, if taken
     Note: BIO 2203/BIO 2201 are only calculated if taken.  If not taken, GPA will be calculated on remaining courses only.
  • PSY 2013: Introduction to Psychology
  • CHEM 1013 and 1011: General Chemistry and Lab
  • CD 3033: Speech and Hearing Science
  • CD 2104: Anatomy and Physiology of Communication
  • CD 2203: Phonetics
• Ten (10) clock-hours of documented, prescribed observation
• A speech & hearing screening (Free for CD Students)

Remaining Coursework

Upon successfully qualifying, the remaining coursework should be completed in the next fall/spring academic year.

Applicants must identify the specific year for which they are applying, and will be considered for admission only after indicating in writing that they understand admission for the targeted year is contingent on their provision of evidence (in the form of an official transcript) of having successfully completed all of the screening and core specified leveling requirements. Such evidence must be received prior to the first day of classes for the targeted year, if admitted.

In the event documentation is not provided by that time, the admission decision will be considered null and void. The applicant may re-apply for admission for a subsequent year, however, admission is not guaranteed.

All equivalents/course substitutions must be approved by the CD Admissions and Credits Committee.

Note: the MCD program only admits in the summer term.

Essential Functions of Candidates for Admission & Continuance

Policy

The accredited graduate program in Communication Disorders (MCD) at Arkansas State University (A-State) adheres to the standards set by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Within ASHA standards, the MCD program has the freedom and ultimate responsibility for the following: the selection of students; the design, implementation, and evaluation of the curriculum; the evaluation of student progress in both classroom and clinical activities; the determination of whom should be awarded a degree; and the determination of whom should be recommended for ASHA certification and state licensure.

When requested, the University, College, and the Department will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students with properly certified disabilities. However, the MCD faculty holds responsibility for the welfare of students in the Department and the clients we serve. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the Department has established academic standards and minimum essential requirements that must be met with or without reasonable accommodations in order to participate in the program and graduate.

Essential Functions

In order to acquire the knowledge and skills requisite to the practice of speech-language pathology, to function in a broad variety of clinical situations, and to render a wide spectrum of patient care services, individuals must have essential skills and attributes in five areas: communication, motor, intellectual-cognitive, sensory-observational, and behavioral-social.

These skills enable a student to meet graduate and professional requirements as measured by state and national credentialing agencies. Many of these skills can be learned and developed during the course of the graduate program through coursework and clinical experience. Failure to meet or maintain Essential Functions may result in action against the student, including, but not limited to dismissal from the program.

Communication

A student must possess adequate communication skills to:

• Employ oral, written, auditory, and non-verbal communication at a level sufficient to meet academic and clinical competencies

• Adapt communication style to effectively interact with colleagues, clients, patients, caregivers, and invested parties of diverse backgrounds in various modes such as in person, over the phone, and in electronic format.

Motor

A student must possess adequate motor skills to:

• Engage in physical activities at a level required to accurately implement classroom and clinical responsibilities (e.g., manipulating testing and therapeutic equipment and technology, client/patient equipment, and practice management technology) while retaining the integrity of the process 

• Respond in a manner that ensures the safety of clients and others

Intellectual / Cognitive

A student must possess adequate intellectual and cognitive skills to:

• Retain, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and apply auditory, written, and oral information at a level sufficient to meet curricular and clinical competencies

• Employ informed critical thinking and ethical reasoning to formulate a differential diagnosis and create, implement, and adjust evaluation and treatment plans as appropriate for the client/patient's needs

• Engage in ongoing self-reflection and evaluation of one's existing knowledge and skills

• Critically examine and apply evidence-based judgment in keeping with best practices for client/patient care

Sensory / Observational

A student must possess adequate sensory skills to:

• Access sensory information to differentiate functional and disordered auditory, oral, written, and visual communication

• Access sensory information to correctly differentiate anatomical structures and diagnostic imaging findings

• Access sensory information to correctly differentiate and discriminate text, numbers, tables, and graphs associated with diagnostic instruments and tests

Interpersonal

A student must possess adequate interpersonal attributes to:

• Display compassion, respect, and concern for others during all academic and clinical interactions

• Adhere to all aspects of relevant professional codes of ethics, privacy, and information management policies

• Take personal responsibility for maintaining physical and mental health at a level that ensures safe, respectful, and successful participation in didactic and clinical activities

Cultural Responsiveness

• Engage in ongoing learning about cultures and belief systems different from one's own and the impacts of these on healthcare and educational disparities to foster effective provision of services

• Demonstrate the application of culturally responsive evidence-based decisions to guide clinical practice

Reference:  Adapted from the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (2023)

Applying To The MCD Program

Arkansas State University's MCD program subscribes to the Centralized Application Service for Communication Science & Disorders Programs (CSDCAS). Applicants for admission to the A-State MCD program MUST apply online using the CSDCAS application. In addition, students who are accepted must also apply online to the A-State Graduate School. Transcripts must be sent to both CSDCAS and A-State's Graduate School (see links below).

The deadline for submitting applications to CSDCAS is February 1st.

Applying to CSDCAS

To learn more about the CSDCAS application process and to get started, please go to CSDCAS. If you encounter difficulty with CSDCAS, please contact their Customer Service at 617-612-2030 or send an email to csdcasinfo@csdcas.org.

Once a student applies through CSDCAS, the transcript information is verified by CSDCAS. This process takes time and depends both on the efficiency of CSDCAS and the speed with which your schools respond to the inquiries from CSDCAS. A-State will accept completed, verified applications from CSDCAS until February 1st.

If CSDCAS has not completed the verification process by February 1st, the application will not be considered, even if it was submitted by the March 1st deadline. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications well before the deadline to ensure that the verification process will be completed by the deadline. All prerequisites must be completed at the time of graduation.

Applying to the A-State Graduate School

To apply to the A-State Graduate School, simply complete the online application on their website. You will be prompted for the program in which you wish to apply for on the application.

Go to the A-State graduate school application >>

Transcripts/Immunizations

Official transcripts MUST be sent to both CSDCAS and A-State Graduate School. Please do not send transcripts to the A-State Communication Disorders Department unless specifically requested to. Transcripts and immunization records for A-State Graduate School should be sent to:

The Graduate School @ A-State
PO Box 60
State University, AR 72467-0060

A-State Graduate School can be contacted at 870-972-3029 or gradadmissions@astate.edu.

The application fee of $50 can be paid online (through your applicant account) or by phone to the Cashier’s Window at 870-972-3847.

A-State Transcripts

Students who have attended one or more of the A-State campuses (i.e. Newport, Beebe, etc.) must still request transcripts from them separately to be sent to A-State in Jonesboro. A-State campuses are independent of each other in regards to transcripts and can only be verified by the campus where the courses were actually taken.

Background Checks

Based on Arkansas law, students will be required to complete a background check AFTER they receive conditional admission into the program.

Arkansas State University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions works with Verified Credentials, Inc. to establish an acceptable screening procedure. The cost of the background check is between $50 and $100.

Background Checks for Students Newly Admitted into the MCD Program

Once you are accepted and have decided to attend graduate school at Arkansas State University, information will be shared with you so you can complete the background check.

Rankings and Acceptance

After the deadline of February 1st, the CD Admissions and Credits Committee reviews all applications for minimum requirements and GPA's. Applicants that do not provide evidence of meeting the minimum requirements are not reviewed further.

Qualifying applicants are then ranked and awarded points (based on ranking) from a pre-determined scale and are ranked individually by GPA-overall and GPA-in the major. Points for affective applicant items (resume, video submission, intent letter, and recommendation letters) are totaled and result in a folder score and subsequent ranking. Total applicant points are then ranked and the class is selected based on the number of students the program can accept.

Formal letters are emailed to all qualified applicants notifying them of acceptance status. Invited applicants must respond at their earliest convenience but no later than April 15th. In the event attrition is high, the committee selects replacements from the remaining qualifying applicant pool, and additional invitations are extended.

Notice: Admitted MCD students begin the program in the first summer term following admission. Upon successful completion of coursework, practicum, and comprehensive examinations or thesis, matriculation is completed 19 months later, graduating in December.

Additional Expenses

In addition to tuition costs, Communication Disorders students will incur the following expenses:

Clinical Rotations

Every student will participate in clinical rotations prior to graduation. At the graduate level, the clinical experience will occur on-campus at the A-State Speech and Hearing Center as well as clinical affiliate sites off-campus. When the clinical rotation is scheduled at an off-campus clinical site, it is the responsibility of the student to arrange for transportation to and from clinical sites and any expense related to it.

CPR & TB Skin Test

CPR certification and a TB skin test are also required prior to clinical practicum enrollment. Students are notified of free or low-cost certification opportunities regularly (cost varies depending on provider).

Malpractice Insurance

All students in the College of Nursing and Health Professions must purchase malpractice insurance prior to rotating through clinical practicum sites. The annual cost of this insurance is approximately $40.00.

Information regarding purchase of malpractice insurance is distributed prior to the first clinical practicum rotation during preparatory courses.

Background Check

Additionally, if the clinical site requires it, a background check may be required at a cost between $50.00 and $100.00.

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association CAREERS

• "Professions on Fast Track for Growth" by Susan Boswell

• Best Jobs 2012 by U.S. News & World Report >> Speech-Language Pathologist: Job Profile & Salary 

• Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (Licensure Board)

• Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArkSHA) 

Praxis Pass Rates

Program Completion Rates

Graduates of the MCD program are required to maintain contact information with the department for a minimum of five (5) years for surveys related to accreditation.  Surveys are distributed at one year, three years, and five years post-graduation.  

MCD students are required to take the PRAXIS II proficiency exam and supply score to the department prior to graduation.

A clinical fellowship is required after graduation in order to receive the Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA.