Communicative Sciences and Disorders

Master's Program

Clinical Practica

Enrolled students are required to complete a total of 400 clinical hours in order to be eligible for certification and licensure. Our department requires students to have 20 hours of clinical experience with adult clients, 20 hours with pediatric clients and 10 hours of audiology practice, ensuring exposure to various experiences. Almost all students obtain the requisite hours through their on-campus practicum experiences. However, student clinicians in our program often go beyond the minimum and participate in a wide variety of on and off-campus opportunities. These opportunities allow them to work with a vast array of clinical populations, preparing them to be well-rounded professionals.

Prior to engaging in any direct contact with clients, students are required to complete an established set of core courses, strategically planned by our faculty advisor. This course load provides a firm foundation for the clinical experience. Following the completion of core curricula, students concurrently enroll in electives with their on- and off-campus practicum in order to support their experience in the clinic. These electives cover a number of topics including, but not limited to: Aphasia Therapy, Voice Therapy, Multicultural and Professional Issues, Inter-disciplinary Case-Based Dysphagia Management, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Baby Trachs, Craniofacial Anomalies, and AAC. The breadth of the students’ coursework familiarizes them with a number of different topics in speech pathology, providing students with pertinent knowledge for working at off-campus sites.

When students participate in their on-campus experiences, our clinic allows them to practically apply their knowledge from their coursework to a wide variety of cases. Our clinic provides exposure to clients with aphasia, articulation/phonological disorders, traumatic brain injuries, motor speech and voice disorders, etc. On average, students spend about 50-60 clinical clock hours working with on-campus clients during their on-campus practicum. Student clinicians in our on-campus clinic also have the opportunity to expand their skills by leading group sessions. Presently, the NYU Speech, Language, and Hearing clinic facilitates groups for aphasia, transgender voice modification, accent modification and pragmatics. These experiences allow our students to understand the nuances of both individual and group treatment.

In addition to working in our on-campus clinic, our students also have the unique opportunity to work under the supervision of NYU adjunct clinical faculty in the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Center to gain experience working with adults with Huntington’s disease. A number of our students with a keen interest in Huntington’s disease elect to divide their time between NYU’s Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic and the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Center.

The time our students spend mastering clinical skills in their on-campus practicum effectively prepares them for a variety of off-campus settings. All of our students are required to participate in two off-campus externships. Many of our students enter their off-campus externships with experience with both adult and pediatric clients and are prepared to work with persons across the lifespan. As the off-campus practicum requirements stipulate students must spend 12-16 weeks, 3-5 days a week working at their field sites, the students’ off-campus experiences allow them to fully immerse themselves in a particular setting. The purpose of the off-campus externships is for our students to take on a professional role and familiarize themselves with the policies and procedures of the externship site while mastering their clinical competencies modeled after the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Disorders. Our partner sites include, but are not limited to: hospitals, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation clinics, schools for children with special needs and public schools. NYU’s Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders makes a conscious effort to promote a mutually beneficial experience for both the student and the site.

At their off-campus sites, students are encouraged to consider their clinical growth and challenge themselves in their clinical settings. The faculty in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders promotes this process in the off-campus seminar which students take concurrently with their off-campus field practicum. In this seminar, students are required to give presentations on their field experiences so other students gain insight into and cultivate interest in their peers’ off-campus work as well.

 

Clinical Practicum Courses

In addition to course requirements (see Curriculum Tab), students must meet the ASHA requirement for distribution and number of clinical hours plus 25 hours of clinical observation. Students must complete a minimum of five practicum courses at three different sites while attending New York University. While some students take more than five practicum courses, only five count toward the degree requirements. Please refer to the ASHA website for more information.

On-campus practica:
  • Three-semesters of on-campus initiation into clinic
  • Fully functional in-house clinic with a wide variety of clients including:
    • Voice
    • Fluency
    • Children with speech and language disorders
    • Multicultural and multilingual populations
    • Aphasia group and individual therapy
  • Opportunity to be placed at Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center which specializes in individuals with Huntington’s disease.
Off-campus practica:
  • Two semesters of off-campus experience
  • Over 100 off-campus sites in the tri-state area

Practicum Course Descriptions

CSCD-GE 2111 On-Campus Practicum I: Pre-Clinic (2 points)
Students are introduced to the basic concepts of the clinical experiences. This includes the diagnostic process with a focus on standardized tests and testing procedures, clinical writing, professionalism/interpersonal skills and clinical materials and equipment. The clinical experience is introduced through a series of weekly seminars, videos and on-site client observations and through hands-on participation in audiology screenings. The clinical practicum is supervised by ASHA certified and New York State licensed professionals.

CSCD-GE 2115 On-Campus Clinical Practicum II: Diagnostic Assessment (2 points)
Building on the knowledge and skills learned in Practicum I, learning is expanded to informal and dynamic assessment procedures, intervention planning and advanced clinical/professional writing. Clinical decision-making skills and opportunities for self-reflection are fostered in a “shadowing” experience. In addition, students perform independent diagnostic evaluations on clients with a variety of communication impairments under the supervision of ASHA certified and New York State licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

CSCD-GE 2116 On-Campus Clinical Practicum III: Treatment (2 points)
Students assume full case management responsibility for clients previously “shadowed” in Practicum II (schedule permitting) with the addition of newly assigned clients. Supervision is provided by ASHA certified & New York State licensed speech-language pathologists & audiologists. Students continue to improve goal writing and clinical decision-making skills in interactive weekly individual and/or small group supervisory conferences while also serving as a “mentor” for Practicum II students.

CSCD-GE 2117 Off-Campus Clinical Practicum: Pediatrics (1 point)
This clinical experience allows students to apply knowledge & skills learned in the classroom and the NYU on-campus clinic to real-life situations in a variety of pediatric settings. This includes schools, therapeutic preschool programs & private practices. The interactive clinical seminar includes individual student case presentations and a clinical lecture series where invited guest speakers from a variety of different settings and backgrounds are share their experiences and knowledge. The lecture is paired with an off-campus clinical practicum under the supervision of ASHA certified & New York State licensed speech-language pathologists in pediatric settings.

CSCD-GE2118 Off-Campus Clinical Practicum: Adults (1 point)
This clinical experience allows students to apply knowledge & skills learned in the classroom the NYU on-campus clinic to real-life situations in a variety of adult settings. This includes hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers & private practices. The interactive clinical seminar includes individual student case presentations and a clinical lecture series where invited guest speakers from a variety of different settings and backgrounds are share their experiences and knowledge. The lecture is paired with an off-campus clinical practicum under the supervision of ASHA certified & New York State licensed speech-language pathologists in adult settings.

CSCD-GE2119 Off-Campus Practicum (1 point)
This course remains as a supplemental practicum.