Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences

Speech-Language Pathology M.A.

This certifying master’s program is fully accredited and provides excellent academic, research, and clinical preparation.

Areas emphasized include:

• The science of communication;
• The nature, prevention, assessment, and management of:
  • developmental articulation disorders
  • language and literacy disorders
  • voice disorders
  • fluency disorders
  • pervasive developmental disorders, including autism
  • dysphagia
  • neurologic disorders including aphasia, apraxia, post head-injury disorders and dementia;
• Augmentative and alternative communication systems;
• Aural rehabilitation.

This program offers extensive supervised clinical experience through the well-equipped UNC Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Clinic and ancillary clinics in Colorado. This M.A. program is accredited by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Students who complete this program are eligible to apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Graduates can also qualify for licensure from the Colorado Department of Education. Career opportunities include: positions in schools, hospitals, practice in association with a range of physicians including otolaryngology, neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and pediatrics; rehabilitation centers, and private practice.

Admission. Students will be admitted to this limited-enrollment program on the basis of:

1. academic record,
2. Graduate Record Examination scores,
3. at least three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their academic/clinical performance,
4. a letter of intent.

Admission to the Graduate School does not guarantee admission to the Speech-Language Pathology graduate program.

Prerequisites. This program assumes an undergraduate background in speech-language pathology and/or audiology. Students who do not have such a background must fulfill academic requirements as determined by their major advisor and should be prepared to spend a minimum of two additional semesters to complete undergraduate level courses prior to beginning graduate coursework.

For degree and program requirements, see:

Speech-Language Pathology M.A.

Audiology Au.D.

This certifying clinical doctoral degree program in audiology (Au.D.) is fully accredited and provides excellent academic, research, and clinical preparation.

Areas emphasized include:

• Basic sciences underlying the hearing and balance mechanisms;
• Diagnosis of hearing disorders in persons ranging in age from infants through older adults;
• Audiological treatment of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, including counseling and specific treatment procedures for children and adults;
• Diagnosis for and dispensing of hearing aids and other amplification and auditory prosthetic devices;
• Educational audiology for diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders in early childhood and K-12 educational settings;
• Consultation for and execution of hearing conservation programs for industry, schools and other agencies;
• Instrumentation used in evaluation and treatment of hearing and balance disorders;
• Fundamentals of applied research.

Specific exceptions to Graduate School requirements for doctoral degrees have been approved. These exceptions relate to the dissertation proposal, dissertation, defense of dissertation, advancement to candidacy and doctoral committees. Because of the clinical focus of this degree, rigorous academic standards are maintained through measurement of clinical competencies throughout the program rather than completion of a dissertation. Students will be required to complete a capstone research project.

This program offers extensive supervised clinical experience through the well-equipped UNC Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Clinic and ancillary clinics in Colorado. The Au.D. program leading to certification is accredited by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Students who complete this program are eligible to apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and/or for Board Certification in Audiology awarded by the American Board of Audiology (ABA). Graduates can also qualify for licensure from the Colorado Department of Education and/or the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

Career opportunities include positions in hospitals; audiology clinics; otolyrngology medical practices; rehabilitation centers; schools; industry; and private practice.

Admission: Students will be admitted to this limited-enrollment program on the basis of:

1. academic record,
2. Graduate Record Examination scores,
3. at least three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their academic/clinical performance,
4. letter of intent.

Admission to the Graduate School does not guarantee admission to the Audiology graduate program.

Prerequisites: This program assumes an undergraduate background in audiology and/or speech-language pathology. Students who do not have such a background must fulfill academic requirements as determined by their major advisor and should be prepared to spend a minimum of two additional semesters to complete undergraduate level courses prior to beginning graduate coursework.

For degree and program requirements, see:

Audiology Au.D.

Community Health

Location: Gunter 2280

Telephone: 970.351.2755

FAX: 970.351.1489

Faculty: Elizabeth A. Gilbert, Ed.D.; Deborah A. Givray, Ed.D.; Douglas Marshall, Ph.D.; Stephen Nkansah-Amankra, Ph.D.; Ashley D. Walker, Ph.D.

Emeritus Faculty: Bryan E.M. Cooke, Ph.D.; Larry R. Harrison, M.S.; Jack LaBonde, M.A.; William Parkos, Ph.D.; Kathleen J. Zavela, Ph.D.

Public Health M.P.H.

Community Health Education Emphasis

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the primary professional degree in the field of public health, training students for a variety of public health areas. The program provides a broad, multidisciplinary focus on the factors that influence population health from behavioral risk to environmental exposures to socioeconomic and health policy. Students acquire knowledge, skills and practical experiences that prepare them for professional activities, including: epidemiological and health services research; community needs assessment; environmental and occupational health; health policy; health promotion; and administration of public health programs. Graduates find work in research settings, health care settings, industry, government health agencies, community-based organizations and foundations, and global health. Physicians, veterinarians, nurses and other health care professionals also comprise a portion of the MPH student body, acquiring graduate training in public health to enhance their understanding of the preventative measures and underlying causes of disease.

The future of public health, a field dedicated to improving the health of populations, depends on the collaboration of educators, researchers, policy makers, communities and citizens. The new Colorado School of Public Health, collaboratively formed by the University of Colorado Denver, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado, is the first and only school of public health in the Rocky Mountain region. Combining transferable courses, faculty and resources, the collaborative school allows students to access specializations, research and service centers located at the three universities.

The MPH with an emphasis in Community Health Education offered at UNC aims to prepare students to work with diverse populations and work within communities to prevent disease and develop positive, healthy lifestyles. Because of the great latitude within the field of community health education, the program allows students to tailor their program to emphasize special interests in public health. The Community Health Education concentration is designed to prepare students to serve as administrators or practitioners in a variety of health education settings. The curriculum is based upon the Council of Education for Public Health's accreditation guidelines. Elective coursework includes international health, reproductive health, stress management, grant writing and administration.

Admission: Applications to the MPH program are accepted yearly for summer or fall entry, with a deadline of February 1. Applicants should have a bachelors degree and submit the required application and materials as listed on www.cudenver.edu/Academics/Colleges/PublicHealth/admissions/reqanddeadlines/Pages/MPH.aspx.

Students who seek public health training have varied backgrounds and levels of experience, though many students have a bachelors degree in a biological or sociological science. In addition, a significant number of students are currently employed while seeking professional training and advancement. Approximately 30-40% of students have a prior graduate or professional degree, including fields such as nursing, medicine, veterinary medicine, law, social work, and various laboratory sciences.

Students in the Community Health Education track are prepared to work in population based programs-helping prevent disease and developing positive health lifestyles.

For degree and program requirements, see:

Public Health M.P.H.

Community Health Education Emphasis