Communicative Disorders (CMDS)

Program Overview

Communicative Disorders (CMDS)

Course Fees

Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.

Course Descriptions

CMDS 563. Clinical Phonetics

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): Must be at least a Junior or Senior undergraduate student to register.
• Description: The International Phonetic Alphabet and other symbol systems are utilized in transcription of speech sounds. A description of speech sounds in terms of acoustics and physiologic dimensions. Special emphasis on speech disorders and dialects.
• Note: Cross-listed with CMDS 463.

CMDS 564. Normal Speech and Language Development

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Description: Reviews normal development of language and speech across the lifespan including syntax, semantics, morphology, pragmatics, and phonology. An overview of dialectical, cultural, and bilingual aspects are discussed as well as basic language sampling and analysis procedures.
• Note: Cross-listed with CMDS 464.

CMDS 570. Clinical Observation in Speech Pathology and Audiology

• Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Description: Observations in speech pathology and audiology. Additional observations may be assigned to introduce students to the variety of practicum opportunities available in the program.
• Note: Cross-listed with CMDS 270.

CMDS 571. Functional Neuroanatomy

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Description: An overview of general neuroanatomy and neuroanatomical principles applied to communication and communicative disorders including hearing, speech, language, cognition, swallowing, and emotion.
• Note: Cross-listed with CMDS 471.

CMDS 572. Anatomy and Physiology for Communication Sciences

• Prerequisite(s): Restricted to graduate students only.
• Fee: An additional $50.00 is charged for this course.
• Description: Structure and function of speech, auditory/vestibular mechanisms. Includes neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of communication. Emphasis on clinical applications. Dissection of human cadaver material.

CMDS 574. Multicultural Issues in Communicative Disorders

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Description: An overview of the research arena as applied to communication disorders. Techniques and applications of literature review, research design, statistical methods, and effective writing will be covered.

CMDS 600. Research Methods in Speech-Language Pathology

• Description: This course will introduce speech-language pathology graduate students to the various aspects of research including: where to find journal articles, how to read journal articles, basic statistical approaches, and research design. The course will include guest speakers from clinical and basic sciences and expose students to the plethora of research careers.

CMDS 602. Advanced Speech Sound Disorders

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 563.
• Description: This course covers the study of vowel and consonant characteristics; sequence of development of phonology and articulation; and procedures for diagnosing and treating phonological and articulation disorders.

CMDS 606. CMDS Independent Study

• Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
• Description: Individualized course with topics to be determined by the instructor. May be repeated.

CMDS 611. Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology

• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 563.
• Corequisite(s): CMDS 564.
• Description: Diagnostic and therapeutic contact with individuals who exhibit communication disorders. Practicum obligations include treatment planning, report writing and patient/parent counseling. Advanced students will be assigned to outside practicum sites with the consent of the instructor.

CMDS 612. Early Childhood Language Assessment & Intervention

• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 564.
• Description: This course covers early childhood language assessment and intervention - including phonology - for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children. Emphasis is placed on typical development as well as disordered populations.

CMDS 618. Counseling and Interviewing

• Description: An online course that reviews the speech-language pathologists' roles and responsibilities related to the techniques associated with counseling patients and their families. The course will review contemporary theories of counseling and will provide strategies for interviewing and reporting results.

CMDS 620. Motor Speech Disorders

• Corequisite(s): CMDS 572.
• Description: Motor speech disorders are speech disorders resulting from neurological damage that affects the motor control of speech muscles or motor programming/planning of speech movements. The most common motor speech disorders are dysarthria and acquired apraxia of speech. This course will cover diagnosis and treatment.

CMDS 630. Aural Rehabilitation for the Speech-Language Pathologist

• Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
• Prerequisite(s): AUDI 605 and CMDS 572.
• Description: This course provides an overview of the various hearing impaired habilitative/rehabilitative programs/techniques for pediatric through geriatric populations. Topics may include: speech/language development for children with impaired hearing; physiology and psychosocial impact of hearing loss in older adulthood; cochlear implants; educational management for children with impaired hearing; an overview of hearing aids; and assistive listening devices.
• Note: Cross-listed with CMDS 430.

CMDS 652. School-Age Language Assessment and Intervention

• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 564.
• Description: This course covers school-age language assessment and intervention - including phonology - for school-age children and adolescents. Emphasis is placed on typical development as well as disordered populations and emphasizes phonological and pragmatic aspects of language along with semantics, morphology and syntax.

CMDS 658. Interprofessional Education and Practice

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Description: Reviews the speech-language pathologist' roles/responsibilities when collaborating with other professionals in medical and/or educational settings. The course emphasizes learning about, from, and with other professionals in order to deliver the highest quality of care across settings.

CMDS 663. Voice Disorders

• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 572.
• Description: Study of abnormalities of voice production including dysphonia, psychogenic disturbance, and resonance imbalance. Incorporates laboratory demonstrations and exercises to develop skills using the following technologies: video stroboscopy, videoflouroscopy for VPI, manometry, the Visi-pitch, etc.

CMDS 665. Fluency Disorders

• Description: Examines fluency disorders of children and adults. Reviews the literature on etiology and theories of dysfluency. Assessment procedures and therapeutic management are discussed. Includes a review of current technological applications.

CMDS 667. Aphasia

• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 620.
• Description: Historical review of the neurological basis of language processing. Emphasis on the speech and language disorders, diagnosis and remediation of patients experiencing right and left cerebral vascular accidents.

CMDS 668. Professional Issues in Audiology and Speech Pathology

• Description: Survey of social, political, business and professional issues in health care delivery related to communicative disorders. Other topics include: curriculum vitae preparation, professional interviews, professional liabilities, contracts, and funding sources, quality assurance mechanism, etc. Pass-fail grading only.

CMDS 669. Cognitive-Communication Disorders

• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 620 and CMDS 572.
• Description: This course focuses on the cognitive-communication disorders that may result from dementia, neurological disorders, metabolic and drug-induced delirium and traumatic brain injury.

CMDS 690. Dysphagia

• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 572.
• Description: Evaluation and treatment of pediatric and adult patients with swallowing disorders. Specific emphasis on bedside dysphagia evaluations, modified barium swallow procedures, FEES, assistive devices, treatment techniques, and diet modifications.

CMDS 691. Advanced Dysphagia

• Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 690.
• Description: CMDS 691 is an elective course that investigates complex clinical issues in dysphagia assessment and management; includes discussion regarding end-of-life care and ethical situations.

CMDS 694. Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing

• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 690.
• Description: This course will focus on pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders from a whole body perspective. The course will cover typical feeding development, characteristics and ramifications of atypical feeding development, underlying diagnoses that may contribute to feeding problems, assessment, and treatment techniques from infancy through adolescence.

CMDS 696. Augmentative/ Alternative Communication

• Prerequisite(s): CMDS 652.
• Description: Provides exposure to the area of augmentative/alternative communication (AAC). Topics include functional dimensions of AAC systems; symbol systems; transmission techniques; and intervention strategies.

CMDS 699. Research Project

• Description: This course is the equivalent of a master's level thesis. The student will complete a research project that is suitable for future publication. The project is composed of developing a research question, completing a thorough review of the literature, developing the methodology to implement and conduct research, analyzing the data, and formulating conclusions, and need for future research. The completed project will be submitted to an appropriate journal for publication.