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Technical Standards

The Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology indicates preparation in assuming a leadership role in clinical practice.

The clinical doctorate degree in speech-language pathology signifies that the holder is prepared to assume leadership in clinical practice after developing advanced practice competencies. Therefore, all individuals admitted to the University of Kansas must meet the following abilities and expectations with or without accommodations. KU is an AA/EO/Title XI institution.

Note: Reasonable accommodations will be considered and may be made to qualified students who disclose a disability, so long as such accommodation does not significantly alter the essential requirements of the curriculum and the training program, or significantly affect the safety of patient care. 

Students who disclose a disability are considered for the program if otherwise qualified. Qualified students with a disability who wish to request accommodations should provide appropriate documentation of disability and submit a request for accommodation to one of the following offices:

Cynthia Ukoko
Senior Coordinator for Academic Accommodations
3901 Rainbow Boulevard, MS 4029
Kansas City, KS 66160
cukoko@kumc.edu
913-588-7035; 711 TTY

Andrew Shoemaker
Director
Academic Achievement & Access Center
1450 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 22
Lawrence, KS 66045
shoe@ku.edu
785-864-4064; 711 TTY

Requirements and Expectations

All students admitted to the KU Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders must be able to meet the following requirements and expectations with or without accommodations

Problem Solving

The culminating activity in the preparation of the clinical doctorate in speech-language pathology is advanced clinical reasoning. The SLPD student is expected to develop advanced expertise and demonstrate leadership, teaching, advanced practice and evidence-based practice skills.  Therefore, a candidate should be able to understand research, make correct observations and engage in reasoning, analysis and synthesis.

Communication
  • Written Communication – The student must be able to assimilate information from a variety of written sources (e.g., medical/school records, professional journals and texts, etc.).  Students are required to use information from written sources and to produce appropriate written documentation for a variety of readers. Students demonstrate the ability to prioritize written information based on the needs of the reader.
  • Verbal Communication – Students must be able to communicate factual information effectively to a variety of audiences. Student communication must be appropriate to the setting (e.g., patients/clients, caregivers, professional colleagues, etc.). Students demonstrate the ability to prioritize verbal information based on the needs of the audience.
Sensorimotor

Students must have sufficient gross motor, fine motor and equilibrium functions, and functional use of sensory systems to enable them to perform all tasks essential to their career paths.

Behavior and Social Attributes

Students are expected to exhibit professional behaviors and attitudes during their participation in classroom, clinical and research experiences. The student must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds. This includes, but is not limited to, an ability to establish rapport and communicate with others, to use appropriate language, possess flexibility toward changes and to accept responsibility for one’s own conduct.

KU School of Health Professions