The Minnesota State University, Mankato program in Communication Disorders had its beginnings in 1953 with the first course offerings through the Department of Special Education. In 1959, the program faculty offices, the Speech and Hearing Clinic, the Speech Laboratory, and the classrooms were moved to Armstrong hall on the new Highland Campus and became a part of the Speech and Theater Arts Department. The program has remained in Armstrong Hall to the present day. In 1976, the program became the Speech Pathology Department, a separate department within the College of Health and Human Performance. Subsequently, the name of the department was changed to the Department of Communication Disorders and the name of the College was changed to the College of Allied Health and Nursing and is a division of the College of Graduate Studies.
In 1983, the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Clinics became affiliated with the Key City Sertoma Club of Mankato. The affiliation allows access to Sertoma Foundation Programs of Sertoma International. Sertoma is a service organization providing support for individuals with communication and other disabilities. The local Key City Club provides financial support to the clinic service program and Sertoma International sponsors matching grants for service projects and scholarship support for faculty and staff in continuing education.
In 1998, the Department of Communication Disorders merged with the Allied health and Nursing. In 1998, the Department of Communication Disorders merged with the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling. The merged department was renamed the Department of Speech, Hearing & Rehabilitation Services (SHRS). The new department offers three degrees: a BS in Communication Disorders, an MS in Communication Disorders, and an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling.
The undergraduate degree is offered is the Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) and the graduate degree is the Master of Science degree (M.S.). The M.S. has been available since 1970.
The department is based on a foundation of academic excellence and clinical competence in serving individuals with communicative disorders. Preparation in Communication Disorders entails both undergraduate and graduate coursework and clinical practicum experiences. The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is designed to meet all of the requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) issued by ASHA. Attainment of this certification is intended to assure that the individual is fully prepared as a speech-language pathologist. Such preparation also meets or exceed the speech pathology requirement for teacher licensure and health licensure in Minnesota.
The undergraduate curriculum in Communication Disorders is pre-professional, provides preparation for graduate study in Communication Disorders, and leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Employment as a speech pathologist with a Bachelor of Science degree is no longer possible. It is the position of ASHA and the Communication Disorders Program at Minnesota State University, Mankato that the Master's degree is the minimum level of professional preparation for clinical practice.
The graduate course of study begins in the Fall Semester of an academic year. The specific courses students must take are partially a function of their preparation at the undergraduate level of study. Students transferring from other institutions usually have little difficulty in establishing a course of study, if they have already earned a B.S. or B.A. degree with a major in Communication Disorders. Students without an undergraduate degree in the discipline (i.e., transition students) can expect to take at least an additional year of study to remove deficiencies. The graduate degree program focuses on the acquisition of clinical competency with a variety of specific classes focusing on disorders management and research in Communication Disorders.
The graduate program of study, when combined with undergraduate coursework and practicum experiences, meets the academic and practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) issued by ASHA.
Many of the program's hundreds of alumni have enjoyed careers in academia as well as careers in schools, rehabilitation centers, private practice, medical centers, and hospitals.
