Submitted Fall, 2005
(Objectives 1,2,4,5,6,7,9)
Assessment
The comprehensive exam is a four-part exam (8 hours) covering normal processes of communication, clinical issues in children, clinical issues in adults, and professional issues. Each question is graded by two faculty members using the criteria of high pass, pass, low pass, and fail. Candidates must achieve an 80% overall in order to pass.
Thirteen students wrote comprehensive exams during the 2004/2005 academic year. All students passed with the overall ratings ranging from 85% to 95% and an average score of 89%. Category breakdowns are as follows: High Pass = 5 students; Pass = 7 students; Low Pass = 1 student; Fail = 0 students.
Recommendations
Data from this and previous administrations of this assessment indicate that the department is providing the appropriate knowledge base and clinical experiences for our students. Based on the 2003/2004 assessment, the faculty decided that information concerning verification of students for SLP services in the pubic schools should be added to several courses at the graduate level. Each of the courses (4) involve assessment and treatment of communication disorders that would be present in a public school caseload. Additionally, the information was first introduced to undergraduates in the undergraduate course, CDIS 488: Senior Seminar. As a result of adding this material to coursework, all students were able to successfully complete related questions on the comprehensive exam.