CLINICAL PRACTICUM EXTERNSHIPS

Unique Program Features

The COMSC Program offers a full array of course work in communication sciences and disorders. Clinical practicum experiences are obtained with a diverse population at the Program’s on-campus clinical center and its over 55 externship affiliates throughout New York City’s five boroughs. Multicultural and multilingual information is integrated in course work for speech-language pathology.

The unique features for speech-language pathology majors are:

• Course work and experience in the application of speech science instrumentation to the objective clinical assessment and treatment of various speech, voice, swallowing and fluency disorders,
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• Emphasis on the school-age language-learning child including issues related to the acquisition of literacy,
• Emphasis on assessment and treatment of dysphagia, tracheostomy and ventilator dependent children and adults,
• Specific clinical course work directly addressing non-biased assessment,
• A concentration in geriatric disorders, and,
• Treatment procedures for culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

Clinical Experience

Students must complete a minimum of 400 direct client contact clock hours of supervised clinical practicum with populations of children and adults presenting a variety of communicative disorders. Of these hours, 375 must be obtained on the graduate level in the professional area and must include satisfactory performance in (a) clinical practicum within the Center for Communication Disorders, and (b) at least two out of the four externship placements are to be at different affiliated settings. Twenty-five (25) hours of the 400 will be in clinical observation in speech-language pathology. Additionally all students must complete 20 hours of supervised hearing screening experience. Advanced clinical training is offered in a variety of affiliated medical, developmental and rehabilitation centers, community agencies, and public and private schools. All students are provided with broad clinical training with a wide array of communication and swallowing disorders in culturally and linguistically diverse preschool, school age and adult populations to meet the ASHA certification requirements.

Observation – 25 Clock Hours

Per ASHA requirements, all students must complete 25 hours of direct observation in speech-language pathology. Although COMSC Program requires 25 hours it does, however, expect the student to demonstrate a variety of observation of clinical work in adults and pediatrics, evaluation and treatment in language, articulation, fluency, voice, dysphagia, cognition, pragmatic skills, hearing and augmentative/alternative communication. Observation hours may be obtained from an undergraduate communication sciences program, although once matriculated, all students are given the opportunity to broaden the variety of hours. The 25 hours of observation are not an admission requirement.

Clinical Practicum – 375 hours

The minimum requisite 375 clinical contact hours are obtained at the graduate level as a matriculated student. The COMSC Program does not accept undergraduate clinical practicum experiences other than observations.

Students will begin their initial clinical placement in either the Spring semester of the first year or the Summer session of the first year. Timing of this placement will depend on academic achievement, clinic readiness criteria and space availability. Not all students admitted to the Program will be placed in clinic practicum in Spring of their first year following matriculation. Those who begin clinic in the Summer session of the first year must anticipate graduating in Summer following the second year (as long as all four clinic practica and academic coursework are successfully completed. Some students will require two years plus two summers rather than one to be eligible for graduation.