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Technical Standards

Certain technical standards and requirements must be met for admission to Doctor of Philosophy in Speech-Language Pathology program.

All individuals admitted to this program must meet the following abilities and expectations with or without accommodation(s). 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, as long as those accommodations don't 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:

Academic Accommodation Services
ada-kumc@kumc.edu
913-945-7035 (711 TTY)
Room 1006 Dykes Library

Academic Achievement & Access Center
1450 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 22
Lawrence, KS 66045
shoe@ku.edu

785-864-4064 (711 TTY)

Required Skills and Abilities

The culminating activity in the preparation of a researcher is the ability to formulate, conduct and disseminate research. In the academic arena, teaching skills usually also are required. Therefore, a candidate for the Ph.D. must be able to make correct observations and have the skills of measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis.

All students admitted to the KU Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders must be able to meet the following requirements and expectations with or without accommodation(s).

Observation/Sensory Motor

  • Observe demonstrations and learn from experiences in the classroom, laboratory and other research settings.
  • Carry out research techniques including the operation of complex, electronic instrumentation. Some types of research may involve the functional use of the senses in order to palpate certain areas of the patient’s head and neck or to observe the function of the head and neck.
  • Interpret and comprehend text, numbers and graphs displayed in print and video.
  • Observe and respond to subtle cues of participant’s moods, temperament and social behavior.

Physical/Psychomotor

  • Perform actions requiring coordination of both gross and fine muscular movement, equilibrium and use of the senses.
  • Respond quickly in research situations, not only for safety, but also for therapeutic purposes.
  • Travel to numerous research sites for practical experience.
  • Use an electronic keyboard to operate instruments and to calculate, record, evaluate and transmit information.

Communication

  • Be able to share and to elicit information from participants, mentors, peers and other research collaborators verbally and in a recorded format.
  • Effectively, confidently and sensitively converse with participants and their families.
  • Interpret and comprehend technical and professional materials.
  • Prepare papers, produce reports and complete documentation for research purposes.
  • Assimilate information from written sources (texts, journals, medical/school records).
  • Take paper, computer and laboratory examinations and prepare scholarly papers.

Judgment

  • Demonstrate judgment in the classroom, laboratory and other research situations that shows the intellect and emotional health necessary to make mature, sensitive and effective decisions in the following areas:
    • Relationships with professors, collaborators, peers and participants
    • Professional and ethical behavior
    • Effectiveness of research approaches
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the rationale and justification for one’s performance.
  • Critically evaluate one’s own performance and be flexible toward change to promote professional and research process.
  • Recognize and correct behaviors disruptive to classroom teaching and research.
  • Manage time effectively to complete research and academic assignments within realistic constraints.
  • Recognize potentially hazardous materials, equipment, and situations and proceed in a manner to minimize risk of injury to those in the area.
  • Make correct observations and have the problem solving skills necessary for measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis.
KU School of Health Professions