Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology

Learning Goals

Upon completion of the graduate program, the student in speech pathology or audiology will be able to:

1. Analyze ideas and make critical evaluations.
2. Understand and apply research literature to selected disciplines.
3. Demonstrate professional communication skills.
4. Understand and apply fundamental information in anatomy, physiology, neurology, and the psychology of communication.
5. Assess speech, language and hearing performance and appropriately interpret and apply information.
6. Plan, implement, evaluate and modify educational or clinical interventions across a wide range of patients.
7. Develop effective professional relationships with patients, caregivers and other professionals.
8. Appreciate, understand and apply multicultural information in assessment and therapy.
9. Recognize the need for and participate in professional activities that promote lifelong learning.
10. Earn appropriate credential, licenses and/or certifications.

For each of the above ten goals there are specific student outcomes expected. See Goals and corresponding outcome measures.

These outcomes will be assessed using ten outcome measures. A matrix is presented to outline how each goal will be measured. This model is based on one developed at Fresno State University.

Learning outcomes will be specifically assessed in two classes, counseling and acoustic phonetics (renamed speech and hearing science), which will be modified in the undergraduate and graduate curriculum beginning fall 2000. Upon completion of the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, the competent student will successfully attain the specific skills necessary to:

• Goal 1. Analyze ideas and make critical evaluations.
  
  • Outcome a. Students will evaluate the credibility of sources of information and opinion.
  • Outcome b. Students will critically evaluate competing ideas as applicable to their profession.
  • Outcome c. Students will develop conclusions from credible evidence and defend those conclusions.
    
• Goal 2. Understand and apply research literature to selected disciplines.
  
  • Outcome a. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method.
  • Outcome b. Students will understand major research designs, their applications and limitations.
  • Outcome c. Students will understand and apply basic measurement techniques.
  • Outcome d. Students will apply research methods in formal projects, or in clinical or education applications.
  • Outcome e. Students will appreciate and critically evaluate the role of and need for research in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology.
  • Outcome f. Students will critically evaluate research in speech-language pathology and audiology.
    
• Goal 3. Demonstrate professional communication skills.
  
  • Outcome a. Students will make well-organized presentations of information to classes and/or groups.
  • Outcome b. Students will write using appropriate spelling and grammar.
  • Outcome c. Students will produce well-organized papers using current American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines.
    
• Goal 4. Understand and apply fundamental information in anatomy, physiology, neurology, and the psychology of communication.
  
  • Outcome a. Students will understand and apply knowledge related to anatomy and physiology of speech, language and audition to needs of deaf, hard-of-hearing and/or communicatively-disordered individuals.
  • Outcome b. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the social and psychological implications of hearing loss or communication disorders.
  • Outcome c. Students will understand the physical basis of speech, language and audition.
  • Outcome d. Students will understand the behavioral, linguistic, academic and social aspects of speech and language.
  • Outcome e. Students will understand the disorders of speech, language and hearing.
    
• Goal 5. Assess speech, language and hearing performance and appropriately interpret and apply information.
  
  • Outcome a. Students will understand and apply psychometric principles in the assessment of individuals.
  • Outcome b. Students will use appropriate procedures to assess the speech, language, hearing or other communicative needs of individuals.
  • Outcome c. Students will accurately interpret the results of assessment and develop appropriate conclusions.
  • Outcome d. Students will have confidence in their abilities to provide and interpret effective educational or clinical assessments.
    
• Goal 6. Plan, implement, evaluate and modify educational or clinical interventions across a wide range of patients.
  
  • Outcome a. Students will plan intervention strategies based upon assessment results.
  • Outcome b. Students will effectively provide clinical services to meet the communicative needs of deaf, hard-of-hearing, or communicatively-disordered individual.
  • Outcome c. Students will understand the philosophies underlying current intervention and assessment methods.
  • Outcome d. Students will critically evaluate various assessment and management approaches.
  • Outcome e. Students will competently apply and modify clinical intervention plans.
  • Outcome f. Students will appropriately measure client progress.
    
• Goal 7. Develop effective professional relationships with individuals, their families, caregivers and with professionals across disciplines.
  
  • Outcome a. Students will establish and maintain good relationships with parents, professionals, administrators, school personnel and fellow students.
  • Outcome b. Students will demonstrate a professional attitude and good personal qualities including honesty, integrity, cooperation, appearance and good judgment.
  • Outcome c. Students will interview and counsel clients, care givers and family members within their scope of practice.
  • Outcome d. Students will know and apply the legal and ethical standards of their profession.
    
• Goal 8. Appreciate, understand and apply multicultural information in assessment and therapy.
  
  • Outcome a. Students will understand multicultural, multilingual, and social considerations concerning the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology.
  • Outcome b. Students will use appropriate assessment and intervention procedures and materials for individuals from a variety of cultural, linguistic or social populations.
    
• Goal 9. Recognize the need for and participate in professional activities that promote lifelong learning.
  
  • Outcome a. Students will participate in professional activities and organizations while students.
  • Outcome b. Students will continue to participate in professional activities and organizations after graduation.
    
• Goal 10. Earn appropriate credential, licenses and/or certifications.
  
  • Outcome a. Students will become eligible to apply for appropriate California state teaching or clinical credentials.
  • Outcome b. Students will become eligible to apply for professional licenses that apply to their profession.
  • Outcome c. Students will become eligible to apply for professional certifications that apply to their profession.