Faulkner University provides a variety of clinical experiences to help students become highly-skilled and well-rounded clinicians.
On-Ground Clinical Experience
Semesters 1, 2, & 3
During the first three semesters in the program, students will complete a clinical practicum on campus in Faulkner’s brand new, state-of-the-art Clinical Center. Here, students receive one-on-one clinical supervision, training, and mentoring from our experienced clinical faculty members. Students have the opportunity to evaluate and treat a wide variety of patients, from babies to the elderly, with a range of communication and swallowing disorders.
Semesters 4 and 5
During the final two semesters in the program, students will complete 2 internships- one in an adult setting and one in a pediatric setting. Students are given the opportunity to request internship sites that match their personal career goals. For example, a student who wishes to work on a craniofacial team can request an internship in a children’s hospital, or a student who wishes to work with adults in post-acute rehabilitation can request an internship in a rehabilitation hospital. Since students do not have to take any academic courses on campus during these semesters, they are free to pursue internships anywhere in the country. These personalized internships are a key feature of our MS/MA SLP program because they allow students to build professional networks and gain the specialized experience needed to shape their career path.
Online Clinical Experience
Semester 1
Students will gain clinical experience through the completion of 30-40 Simucase hours under the direct supervision of Faulkner faculty. Students will be assigned a variety of clinic populations across the lifespan, including culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Every week, students will have a supervisory conference with their clinical supervisor to debrief, review, and discuss the assigned Simucases. Students will also gain experience in clinic writing by completing assessment reports, plans of care, and SOAP notes for every Simucase assigned.
Semesters 2 and 3
Students during semesters 2 and 3 will be placed in external sites such as schools, medical centers, nursing homes, private clinics, etc. Each student will be responsible for helping the Assistant Clinic Director identify potential sites in their geographic area. External sites should be selected with consideration of availability of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Students are required to complete about 4 clinical clock hours each week, as this is the amount of time on- ground students spend in the Clinical Center during these two courses. Every week, students will have a supervisory conference with their clinical supervisor to debrief, review, and discuss their progress.
Semesters 4 and 5
Students will complete two internships, one with adults and one with pediatrics. Each student will be responsible for identifying potential sites in their geographic area. Students must submit 5 potential adult sites and 5 potential pediatric sites to the Assistant Clinical Director by the end of September during their first year. This is to ensure the Assistant Clinical Director has ample time to reach out and initiate contracts with each site prior to the following Fall when full-time internships begin. Students are directly supervised by their on-site supervisor during both of these semesters, with additional check-ins with the Assistant Clinical Director.