Placement Unit Descriptions

This is a 40-day clinical placement with a focus on developing foundational clinical competencies. Students will have completed coursework in the areas of developmental language, articulation/phonology, fluency and audiology. By the end of this placement, students must achieve a novice level of competency or higher.

Students attend 2 mandatory Teaching Clinics at the University during the course. Please note that in this clinical placement students are given their first opportunity to practice emerging clinical skills. Ample time is needed for preparation and planning. As a result, hours expectations for students are lower than in later units.

This is a 20-day clinical skills lab course focused expanding the breadth of clinical experience and developing clinical reasoning, critical reflection and caseload management skills. Students participate in a range of clinical observations, live and simulated clinical cases and specific skills training. Small group SLP debrief sessions are an integral part of the learning experience.

In this neurogenic and structurally related disorders clinical placement, hours are typically accrued in acquired language, cognitive communication, neurologically based speech, dysphagia, and/or voice/resonance. Students must achieve an intermediate level of competency or higher during this unit.

Students will have 3 mandatory full days of Teaching Clinic with the University during this time period. Students may also need to complete aural rehabilitation/audiology hours as a supplemental placement in this period for up to three days. Please note that in this placement students are becoming more self-directed in their session planning, though they need support in making a link between academic knowledge and the neurogenic or structurally related disorder areas. Some time is needed for preparation and planning.

This is the last course completed in the program. Placements can be in any setting with any type of caseload. Please note that in the final 4 weeks of this placement students are expected to manage 75% of a typical caseload with your support and must achieve entry-to-practice competency by the end of this course.

Students will have 3 mandatory full days of Teaching Clinic with the University during this time period. Students may also need to complete aural rehabilitation/audiology hours as a supplemental placement in this period for up to 3 days.

NEW: This request for Supplemental Placements will be listed as an InPlace Opportunity Campaign this year. Stay Tuned!

Students are required to obtain a minimum of 20 direct or simulated hours in hearing disorders. Although many of these hours can be obtained through academic coursework and activities embedded in SLP-focused clinical placements (e.g., Infant Hearing Screenings, AVT shared practice), many students require targeted brief supplemental placements to obtain a reminder of these hours. Thus, some short supplemental placements in hearing disorders with an audiologist doing observation, shared practice and case discussion are required. From time to time, short supplemental placements in other SLP practice areas may also be arranged.

There are also exciting opportunities for speech-language pathologists to participate in other clinical teaching throughout the academic year in both clinical and academic courses, including Teaching Clinics, clinical laboratories guided observations and short supplemental placements. This is an ideal opportunity for clinicians with 1 year of experience to begin building their clinical education skills. It is also a great fit for speech-language pathologists in administrative roles and others who may not be able to offer a clinical placement but want to continue to be involved in educating their future colleagues! You can sign up using this link.