Endorsement

The Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education (COMD) is pleased to provide an endorsement in Hearing Impairment: Auditory Learning and Spoken Language that has been approved by the Utah State Office of Education. This new endorsement is designed to provide professionals with a teacher's license -- especially preschool teachers, special educators, regular education teachers, and speech-language pathologists – with additional training to meet the unique developmental, learning and communication needs of children with hearing loss who are learning to listen and talk.

Professionals seeking this endorsement will participate in interdisciplinary training, coursework, field experiences, and practica with graduate students enrolled in Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, and Early Childhood Special Education through the Graduate Studies Program in Auditory Learning and Spoken Language, which is housed in the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education.

Tuition and Financial Assistance

Professionals who wish to complete the endorsement may be eligible to receive a tuition waiver and other financial assistance; however, funding is limited. Fees are not paid by the Program, and students are expected to pay those expenses. To learn more about the available financial assistance, please contact Dr. K. Todd Houston at (435) 797-0434 or click here to send an e-mail.

Practicum and Field Experiences

Sound Beginnings of Cache Valley, an early intervention program and preschool for children with hearing loss, will be the primary practicum site for professionals completing the endorsement. Because many professionals will be public school educators, most coursework and practicum experiences will be completed during the summer semesters. Professionals also may receive mentoring and clinical supervision during the school-year with children they are currently serving on their caseload or in their classrooms.

Program of Study – Hearing Impairment Endorsement:  Auditory Learning and Spoken Language

Prerequisite Courses

The following courses are required prerequisites that are offered through the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education.  (Equivalent courses may be considered as meeting these requirements, which will be determined on a case-by-case basis after a thorough review of the student’s previous coursework and/or degree.) All of the prerequisite courses listed below are available through distance learning.

COMD 2500: Language, Speech, Hearing Development (3 credits)
COMD 2910: Sign Language I (4 credits)
COMD 3100: Anatomy for Speech and Language (3 credits)
COMD 3700: Basic Audiology (3 credits)
COMD 5070: Speech Science (3 credits)
COMD 5200: Language Assessment and Intervention – Birth to Five (3 credits)

Graduate Coursework
COMD 6340: Facilitating Auditory Learning & Spoken Language in Young Children with
                       Hearing Loss (3 credits)
COMD 6630: Teaching Speech to Children who are Deaf & Hard of Hearing (3 credits)
COMD 6320: Language & Emergent Literacy in Children with Hearing Loss (3 credits)
COMD 6700: Practicum in Education of Children who are Deaf & Hard of Hearing (3 credits)
COMD 6850: Research Seminar in Auditory Learning & Spoken Language (2 credits)
COMD 7340: Pediatric Audiology (2 credits)
COMD 7520: Cochlear Implantation (2 credits)
COMD 6900: Family Centered Practices for Children with Hearing Loss (3 credits)
COMD 6900: Multiple Disabilities and Hearing Loss in Children (3 credits)

For more information about the endorsement in Auditory Learning and Spoken Language, please contact Dr. Todd Houston at (435) 797-0434 or click here to send an e-mail.