Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Graduate Program Policy on Competencies and Grades

Effective for graduate students beginning the graduate program in Fall 2003

Documentation of Academic and Clinical Progress

In order to fulfill requirements for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), "tracking records" are maintained of each SLP M.S. or Au.D. student¹s progress in achieving the knowledge and skills that the program expects students to master by the time of their graduation.

Over the course of each semester, formative and summative assessments are conducted to determine if students have demonstrated adequate progress relative to a variety of academic and clinical criteria that must be achieved. Thus, in addition to receiving an overall course grade for a class, students are also evaluated by the course instructors and, as needed, are required to undertake remediation activities to demonstrate that they have achieved certain knowledge and skills requirements for a given area.

In general, completion of these remediation activities does not result in changes to a student¹s overall grade in a course.

Academic Probation

If a student receives a grade of C+ or lower in more than one academic course, s/he is put on “academic probation” by the Department.  The instructor(s) of the courses will provide a letter to the Clinic Director and Director of Graduate Studies that includes the following: 

  1. a statement of the grade obtained,
  2. a statement that the student is at risk for successful clinical work in the area(s) covered by the courses (if applicable). 

The student’s committee will also meet with the Clinic Director and/or involved instructors to determine an appropriate plan for remediation, if necessary.  For example, the committee may require the student to repeat any or all of the problem courses (and obtain grades higher than C+) prior to the student beginning his/her externships.

Clinic Probation

If a student receives a grade of C+ or lower as an overall grade for a clinic registration, s/he is put on “clinical probation” by the Department. The Clinic Director and Clinic Instructors will determine an appropriate course of action to remediate the relevant deficiencies.  A student will not be able to begin his/her externships until satisfactory completion of whatever plan is developed.

If a student receives a single grade of D+ or lower as an overall course grade in any academic or clinical course, he or she will be required to repeat that course and obtain a grade higher than C+.  The student may not begin his/her externship until the course is repeated successfully.

Dismissal from the Program

If a student receives a D or F as an overall course grade in any academic or clinical course, s/he will be dismissed from the program under the following conditions:

  • If a grade of C+ or lower has been obtained in any other class, or
  • If s/he has an overall GPA of 2.75 or lower

The dismissal will be effective beginning the semester immediately following the receipt of the D or F (including Summer Semester).

A student will not be considered for readmission into the CSD Graduate Program following dismissal from the program except in the situation in which the University Disabilities Offices formally requires accommodation.

Notes:

  1. Retaking a course to improve the grade will not affect the Dismissal policy.
  2. The Graduate School requires that students maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to graduate.  A cumulative GPA below will place a student on probation with the Graduate School. A grade below C- is not accepted for credit toward a degree.