NEVADA STATE COLLEGE PROGRAM HANDBOOK Information and Guidelines for B.A. in Speech Pathology Students SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Program Information... 1-2 Learner Outcomes Mission Statement Vision Statement Degree Post Baccalaureate Opportunities State Approval College Accreditation II. Pre-Major Information... 2 First Time Student Newly Admitted Transfer Student III. Program Admission... 2-3 Application Deadlines Criteria for Admission Admission Requirements Application Submission IV. Clinical Practicum... 3-4 Application Deadlines Practicum Requirements Application Submission V. Graduation and Licensing... 5 Application for Graduation Application for Teaching License VI. Appendix A-B... 6-8 Appendix A- Essay Rubric Appendix B- Navigating NSC
I. PROGRAM INTRODUCTION The Bachelor of Arts in Speech Pathology is pre-professional program designed to prepare students for advanced study in Speech Language Pathology and/or to obtain the necessary licensure to work within the school systems in the State of Nevada. Instructional emphasis is placed on the identification of speech and language disorders and intervention for students ages 3-21. The American Speech- Language-Hearing-Association s (ASHA) credentialing requirements for Speech Language Pathology are used as a framework for the curriculum and program assessment. LEARNER OUTCOMES Learner Outcome 1: Students will apply theories and principles of communication development and disorders from birth to age 21. Learner Outcome 2: Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the assessment and remediation of individuals with communication disorders. Understand the nature and characteristics of speech, language and auditory disorders in children. Learner Outcome 3: Apply effective, clinical, problem-solving skills through scientific oral and written skills. Learner Outcome 4: Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary professional issues and ethical standards in the profession. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Nevada State College School of Education is to prepare highly qualified, culturally responsive professionals. We accomplish this through effective pedagogy, state of the art technology, clinical experiences, scholarly inquiry, and community partnerships. Our graduates will be critical thinkers who contribute to a global, democratic society. VISION STATEMENT Teacher education and speech pathology candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skills of the profession inherent in the various discipline areas represented. Authentic experiences that emphasize the connection between content and pedagogy are essential to student s learning. The diversity of SOE candidates will reflect the changing and dynamic populations found across the state, nation, and world. Candidates will effectively integrate a variety of technologies that are both inclusive of best practice and support information gathering and communication with a variety of individuals and groups globally. Our practice will be informed by contemporary research and continuous assessment which actively involves internal and external stakeholders local and worldwide. Students and faculty will be connected with peers across the nation and in other countries to enrich their cultural and educational knowledge and bolster their respect for human differences and similarities. Students will participate in multiple opportunities to connect with families and individuals from various cultural, ethnic, academic, geographic, and professional backgrounds to enrich their own knowledge and experience. Candidates will successfully incorporate evidence-based practice, critically analyze information and resources, and creatively integrate the arts into their instructional practice. Our Northern Nevada satellite will be at the forefront of effectively using technology to develop innovative ways to meet the unique needs of those residing in rural areas. DEGREE Bachelor of Arts in Speech Pathology
POST BACCALAUREATE OPPORTUNITIES For individuals with a Bachelor s degree, courses leading to an endorsement from the Nevada State Department of Education are available. For advisement, contact the School of Education at 702-992- 2515. PROGRAM APPROVAL The School of Education has full approval of the Nevada State Board of Education. The Speech Pathology program is approved for licensure by the Nevada Department of Education. COLLEGE ACCREDITATION Nevada State College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The effective date is September 2010. II. PRE-MAJOR INFORMATION All freshman and transfer students considering Speech Pathology as a major are first admitted to Nevada State College as pre-majors. It is not until the student has met all the Speech Pathology program admission requirements, of the School of Education, that the pre-major is removed. Pre-major students are advised by the Advising Academic Center (AAC). The School of Education recommends consulting with an advisor before every semester. Centralized Advising Academic Center (AAC) Phone: 702.992.2160 Email: caac@nsc.edu Location: Liberal Arts & Sciences building III. PROGRAM ADMISSION All students seeking a degree will need to apply for admission to the Speech Pathology Program before registering for initial (300 & 400 level) courses. It is strongly recommended that students submit their application at least one semester before they plan to begin upper division course work. Failure to do so may result in their inability to register for courses. Applications for admission to the Speech Pathology Program are accepted twice each year. All application materials must be received no later than the application deadline. Applications may be obtained online at http://nsc.edu/1163.asp. APPLICATION DEADLINES Spring Semester: October 15 Fall Semester: March 1 CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION 1. General admission into Nevada State College. Students will need to apply for undergraduate admissions through the Office of Admissions. Students may apply online at http://nsc.edu/admissions.asp
2. Completion of 30-45 credits that apply towards the major. 3. Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS (Items 1-3 must be included at the time of submittal. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.) 1. A 500-word typed essay entitled: Why I Want to Become a Speech Pathologist. (1 inch margins, double spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman font). The essay will be reviewed by 2-3 evaluators using an essay rubric (Appendix A). 2. Signed disposition form. 3. Official copy of passing scores on the reading, writing, and mathematics portions of the Praxis Core Exam. For test dates and to schedule an appointment call Prometric Candidate Services at: 1-800- 853-6773. You may also contact the testing center below to schedule your appointment: Prometric Testing Center 6625 S. Valley View Blvd, Suite #414 Las Vegas, NV 89117 Phone: (702) 889-4132 APPLICATION SUBMISSION The program application can be submitted in-person or by mail to: Physical Address: School of Education 311 S. Water Street Henderson, NV 89015 Mailing Address: Nevada State College School of Education 1125 Nevada State Drive, MS 1006 Henderson, NV 89002 IV. CLINICAL PRACTICUM Clinical practicum is a full-time, semester long experience in a school-based setting. A mandatory, weekly seminar accompanies the supervised clinical practicum during which the student gradually assumes assessment and therapy responsibilities. Speech practicum students receive continual coaching and mentoring through regularly scheduled observations and evaluations by the site SLP supervisor and the NSC supervisor. Outside employment while completing practicum is strongly discouraged due to the intensity of this experience. Clinical practicum placements are restricted to the State of Nevada. The application for the clinical practicum will need to be completed during the semester prior to the internship. All application materials must be received no later than the application deadline. Applications may be obtained online at http://nsc.edu/3823.asp Students will need to meet with their advisor two semesters prior to the internship to map out their final sequence of courses.
APPLICATION DEADLINES Spring Semester: September 15 Fall Semester: March 1 PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS 1. Acceptance into the Bachelor of Arts in Speech Pathology Program. 2. Earned a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. 3. Completion of all required courses in the program of study. 4. Met with a Nevada State College School of Education academic advisor two semesters prior to the practicum. Students interested in scheduling a practicum advising appointment can contact the School of Education Speech Pathology Program at: (702) 992-2515. 5. Proof of possession of $1 million in liability insurance through Nevada State Education Association. An application can be found online at the NSEA. https://ims.nea.org/howtojoin/statestudent.do?mbrtype=student&sea=nv. Students must submit a copy of their receipt as documentation. To receive a paper application, please contact the School of Education Speech Pathology Program at: (702) 992-2515. 6. Proof of passing scores on the Praxis II test. Please note that it may take 3-4 weeks for the School of Education to receive official scores from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Passing Praxis II scores are required for the NSC practicum and for licensure by the Nevada Department of Education. To ensure timely submission of the scores, students are strongly encouraged to take the test(s) one semester prior to practicum. When completing registration material for the Praxis II, students must list NSC (R9020) and the Nevada Department of Education (R8670) as score recipients. Information regarding exam dates, registration and testing sites for the Praxis II can be found online at http://www.ets.org/praxis/register. 7. Clear FBI fingerprinting check. A receipt issued by the Clark County School District is considered acceptable documentation. Fingerprinting may only be done on assigned days. Students must have prints taken at the next available date. Fall Fingerprinting Session Dates: May 1-31 Spring Fingerprinting Session Dates: October 1-31 APPLICATION SUBMISSION The program application can be submitted in-person or by mail to: Physical Address: School of Education 311 S. Water Street Henderson, NV 89015 Mailing Address: Nevada State College School of Education 1125 Nevada State Drive, MS 1006 Henderson, NV 89002
V. GRADUATION AND LICENSING APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION Applications for graduation should be completed and returned to the Registrar s Office two semesters prior to graduating. The intent of this is to assist students with deficiencies early enough to allow for changes in class scheduling. The graduation application can be obtained online at http://nsc.edu/files/registrar/docs/application_for_graduation_form_- single_-_updated_2.22.2012.pdf. APPLICATION FOR TEACHING LICENSE The teaching license is granted by the Nevada Department of Education. To receive the teaching license, you must obtain an application from the Nevada Department of Education either online at http://teachers.nv.gov/ or from the following locations: Department of Education Teacher Licensing Office 9890 S. Maryland Pkwy, Suite 221, Room 234 Las Vegas, Nevada 89183 702-486-6458 (M-F, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm) 702-486-6450 FAX Please note: The student is responsible for arranging and forwarding all required documentation (official transcripts, Praxis Core scores, etc.). For more information contact the Department of Education.
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION PROGRAM ADMISSION SCORING RUBRIC FOR ESSAY Written Communication Appendix A A 6 point essay demonstrates a high degree of competence in response to the assignment but may have a few minor errors. An essay in this category o States or clearly implies the writer s position or thesis o Organizes and develops ideas logically, making insightful connections between them o Clearly explains key ideas, supporting them with well-chosen reasons, examples, or details o Displays effective sentence variety A 5 point essay demonstrates clear competence in response to the assignment but may have minor errors. An essay in this category o States or clearly implies the writer s position or thesis o Organizes and develops ideas clearly, making connections between them o Explains key ideas, supporting them with relevant reasons, examples, or details o Displays some sentence variety and facility in the use of language o Is generally free from errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics A 4 point essay demonstrates competence in response to the assignment. An essay in this category o States or implies the writer s position or thesis o Shows control in the organization and development of ideas o Explains some key ideas, supporting them with adequate reasons examples or details o Displays adequate use of language o Shows control of grammar, usage, and mechanics, but may display errors A 3 point essay demonstrates some competence in response to the assignment but is obviously flawed. An essay in this category reveals one or more of the following weaknesses: o Limited in stating or implying a position or thesis o Limited control in the organization and development of ideas o Inadequate reasons, examples, or details to explain key ideas o An accumulation of errors in the use of language, grammar, usage, and mechanics A 2 point essay is seriously flawed. An essay in this category reveals one or more of the following weaknesses: o No clear position or thesis o Weak organization or very little development o Few or no relevant reasons, examples, or details o Frequent serious errors in the use of language, grammar, usage, and mechanics A 1 point essay demonstrates fundamental deficiencies in writing skills. An essay in this category o Contains serious and persistent writing errors, or is incoherent or undeveloped A 0 point essay is off topic; that is, it is not a response to the specified topic. The essay will be reviewed by 2-3 evaluators. An average score below 4 requires that the students rewrite the essay.
Where Can I Find the Answer to My Question? Appendix B I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT: ***See back for additional helpful information*** My major or degree, and what classes I should take My NSC application or admissions status Difficulty in registering for a class Textbooks and NSC merchandise Research materials and books Degrees and courses that NSC offers Disability support services mynsc or WebCampus account Tuition and fees assistance Paying for classes Help with my classes Contact your Academic Advisor: Pre-majors: Contact AAC, (702) 992-2160 Email: caac@nsc.edu Admitted Majors: Contact assigned SOE faculty advisor Contact the Office of Admissions: Tel: (702) 992-2130; BW2 Building Email: admissions@nsc.edu Website: http://nsc.edu/admissions.asp Contact the Registrar s Office Tel: (702) 992-2110; BW2 Building Email: nsc.registrar@nsc.edu Website: http://nsc.edu/1149.asp Contact the Bookstore: Tel: (702) 992-2340; Dawson Building Website: http://nsc.bncollege.com/ Contact the Library Tel: (702) 992-2800; Dawson & BW2 Buildings Email: library@nsc.edu Website: http://nsc.edu/library.asp Access the NSC Course Catalog: Accessible from www.nsc.edu; *click on Current Students from Quick Links menu at the top of home page Contact the Resource Center for Students with Disabilities (RCSD) Tel: (702) 992-2180 Email: RCSD@nsc.edu Website: http://nsc.edu/2488.asp Contact the Computing Support Center Tel: (702) 992-2400 Email: support@nsc.edu Contact the Financial Aid Office Tel: (702) 992-2150; BW2 Building Email: financialaid@nsc.edu Website: http://nsc.edu/552.asp Contact the Cashier s Office Tel: (702) 992-2120; BW2 Building, room 129 Email: cashier.office@nsc.edu Website: http://nsc.edu/590.asp Contact the Student Academic Center (SAC) Tel: (702) 992-2990 (tutoring); LAS and Dawson Buildings Website: http://nsc.edu/604.asp
Questions about degree / course selection: Scheduling classes; Understanding my degree audit; My transfer credits; Understanding school policies and procedures; My degree requirements; How to declare majors and minors; How to drop or add a class if late. Pre-majors: Contact AAC, (702) 992-2160 Admitted Majors: Contact SOE faculty member Questions about problems with registration: Difficulty registering for a course; Special registration or add/drop; How to get into a full class; Graduation applications; Commencement; Transcript requests; Auditing courses; Placement exams; Change of name. Contact the Registrar s Office Tel: (702) 992-2110; BW2 Building Questions about NSC Application / Admissions status: Residency status; Application status; Sat/ACT score submissions; Orientation; Initial transfer articulation. Contact the Office of Admissions: Tel: (702) 992-2130; BW2 Building Questions about research materials: Research materials; The teaching and learning center; How to obtain my NSC ID; How to check out books. Contact the Library Tel: (702) 992-2800; Dawson & BW2 Building Questions about Textbooks & NSC Merchandise: Purchasing or returning text books; Purchasing NSC items and gifts. Contact the Bookstore: Tel: (702) 992-2340; Dawson Building Questions about mynsc or WebCampus account: mynsc account; WebCampus (online courses). Contact the Computing Support Center Tel: (702) 992-2400 Questions about degrees & courses NSC offers: Course descriptions; Prerequisite and/or co-requisite requirements; Degrees and minors offered at NSC. Access the NSC General Catalogs: Accessible from www.nsc.edu; *click on Current Students from Quick Links menu at the top of home page Questions about help with classes: Getting help with my classes One on one tutoring Online tutoring (Smarthinking) Writing Assistance Praxis Workshops Contact the Student Academic Center (S.A.C.) for tutoring Tel: (702) 992-2990 Tuition and fees assistance Scholarships; FAFSA; VA Benefits; Millennium Scholarship. Contact Financial Aid Tel: (702) 992-2150; BW2 Building Questions about disability support services: Supports for students qualifying as disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Contact the Resource Center for Students with Disabilities (RCSD) Tel: (702) 992-2180