SHS-566-dalgeo-2026-03-12-01-11-52

Off-Campus Practicum Public School Setting

SHS 566

Fall 2025/Spring 2026/Summer 2026

1-4 Credits

 

Course Details

Instructor Contact Information

Dana Algeo (she/her/hers) PhD, CCC-SLP, Clinical Associate Professor, Director of Off-Site Clinical Programs
Office: Health Sciences Building, 125k
Email Address: dalgeo@wsu.edu
Phone: 509-368-6587
Office Hours: by appointment

Course Description/Goals

566 Off-Campus Practicum Public School Setting May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 15 hours. By departmental consent only; minimum grade of S in SHS 564 or a grade of S in SHS 566 or SHS 568 in the prior semester or summer term, and a minimum grade of B in all prior SHS graduate coursework. Advanced clinical practice in a public school setting; evaluation and treatment of speech, language, and hearing disorders. SHS graduate student; all undergraduate prerequisite courses completed. S, F grading. 

The student will apply theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice in assessing clients, writing goals, planning, implementing therapy, and case conferences or IEP meetings. The student will learn site-specific documentation, including daily notes, assessment report writing, progress notes, and discharge/exit paperwork. The student will develop critical thinking, decision making, and problem-solving skills related to the evaluation and intervention with clients. Each clinical experience will assist the student in meeting the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech Language Hearing Association’s (ASHA) standards cited below.  

Course Materials 

Other Materials: Clinic Handbook
Reading as assigned by clinical educators

Fees: $85 per semester

 

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Course Learning Outcomes

(students will be able to:)

 Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes Assessment of the Learning Outcomes
Evaluation: Students will conduct culturally responsive screening and evaluation procedures, collect and synthesize assessment data, and interpret findings to develop appropriate diagnoses, recommendations, documentation, and referrals. • Client screening and assessment sessions
• Case history interviews and record reviews
• Administration and scoring of standardized and informal assessments
• Supervisor-guided diagnostic discussions
• Writing evaluation reports and referral documentation		 • CE evaluation of screening and assessment performance
• Review of assessment protocols and written reports
• Clinical competency ratings related to evaluation skills in midterm and final clinical evaluations
Intervention: Students will develop, implement, and modify evidence-based, client-centered intervention plans using appropriate materials, data collection, and documentation to support functional outcomes. • Development of treatment plans and measurable goals
• Direct therapy sessions with assigned clients
• Selection and use of therapy materials and instrumentation
• Ongoing data collection and analysis
• Clinical supervision meetings and feedback implementation		 • CE observation and evaluation of therapy sessions
• Review of treatment plans, goals, and data collection
• Clinical competency ratings related to intervention skills in midterm and final clinical evaluations
Interaction and Professional Practice: Students will communicate effectively with clients, families, supervisors, and interprofessional team members, demonstrating ethical conduct, cultural responsiveness, and professional behavior consistent with ASHA standards. • Client and family conferences
• Interprofessional communication (as applicable)
• Counseling and education related to communication and swallowing disorders
• Adherence to clinic policies and procedures
• Reflective discussions and self-evaluations		 • CE evaluation of professionalism, communication, and ethical behavior
• Documentation review for timeliness and accuracy
• Midterm and final clinical evaluations

Course Schedule

FALL: 2 days a week with an off site CE
Clinic Begins: Aug 25
Midterm: Week of October 6th
Clinic Ends: December 5th

SPRING 1:  2 days a week with an off site CE
Clinic Begins: January 5th
Midterm: Week of February 9-13
Clinic Ends: March 13th

SPRING 2:  2 days a week with an off site CE
Clinic Begins: March 23rd
Midterm: Week of April 27-May 1
Clinic Ends: June 5th

SUMMER Clinic: Variable options over three weeks from June 8th-June 26th 

Expectations for Student Effort 

You will spend 2 days a week at an off site setting following your CE's schedule. A weekly average of 4-9 hours with clients (this range is dependent on your off site CE's caseload and workload), can be anticipated. You will be responsible for taking the time to plan for sessions and complete the paperwork for sessions as well. The amount of time you spend on these tasks will start out high and decrease as your skills increase throughout the semester.  

Students will meet an average of one-hour per week to facilitate learning in the off-site clinical experience. Topics may include connection to research evidence, site specific paperwork, workload/caseload issues, billing and reimbursement issues, documentation, intervention, and assessment.

As far as Effort goes, we are expecting that you put full effort into each of your clients and their sessions each week. 

Grading 

Class Meeting Participation/Assignments:

  1. Class attendance, participation in class meetings. 30 points
  2. Research article presentation   10 points
  3. Case study presentation as described in hand-out. 10 points                                                                                                                                                          

Off-Site Practicum Participation/Expectations:

  1. Lesson plans as required by the course instructor or the off-site clinical educator.
  2. Two examples of written documentation, specific to the off-site practicum site to be examined by the course instructor or reported by the off-site clinical educator during the site visit.
  3. Evaluation of Student Performance form, based on ASHA/CFCC standards, completed by the off-site clinical educator in consultation with the course instructor. Example is located on Calipso.
  4. Completion of paperwork (hours form, schedule, or site-specific forms) as given by the course instructor or off-site clinical educator.                                                  

                                                                                                                             150 points

                                                                                                             Total:     200 points

 

There are 200 points possible in this course. Completion of in class participation and assignments and off-sight expectations inform the satisfactory/fail grade. Grades for clinical performance will be satisfactory/fail. This provides students with the opportunity to focus on clinical learning without the added pressure of traditional letter grades, fostering a more holistic approach to education skill development and growth are prioritized over performance metrics.

 

Attendance and Make-Up Policy 

The student’s schedule will follow the working schedule of the off-site clinical educators at their site, including the week of Thanksgiving, Spring break, and holidays when your clinical educator might be working. Requesting time off to work on a thesis, research project, classroom assignments, or campus work is not permitted. The student is required to notify the Director of Off-Site Programs in writing of absences and arrangements made with the off-site clinical educator to make up for absences. Prior approval is required for any absence that is not due to illness. Failure to notify in a reasonable time frame or get prior approval from the Director of Off-Site Programs will result in the absence being classified as unexcused. More than one day of an unexcused absence will result in failure of this course.

 

Academic Integrity Statement

As an institution of higher education, WSU is committed to principles of truth and academic honesty. All members of the University community share responsibility for maintaining and supporting these principles. When a student enrolls in WSU, the student assumes an obligation to pursue academic endeavors in a manner consistent with the standards of academic integrity adopted by the University. To maintain the academic integrity of the community, the University cannot tolerate acts of academic dishonesty including any form of cheating, plagiarism, or fabrication. WSU reserves the right and the power to discipline or to exclude students who engage in academic dishonesty.

You are responsible for reading WSU's Academic Integrity Policy, which is based on Washington State law. If you cheat in your work in this class you will:

-Academic dishonesty, including all forms of cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication, is prohibited. Knowingly facilitating dishonesty is also prohibited. One such violation will result in a grade of “Fail” for this class.

-Be reported to the Center for Community Standards

-Have the right to appeal my decision

-Not be able to drop the course of withdraw from the course until the appeals process is finished

If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask me.

If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the form at the Center for Community Standards website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.