PLEASE SEE UPDATED GUIDANCE BELOW ON HOW TO SUBMIT HOURS DURING THE CLOSURE FOR COVID-19.
Guided Observation Hours
Guided observation hours, while not required for graduation as an SLHS major at the University of Connecticut, are an opportunity for students interested in the professions of Audiology and/or Speech Language Pathology to witness the interaction between professional and patient firsthand. For students intending to obtain a master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology, 25 hours of guided observations are required prior to beginning a graduate program.
Guided observation hours are offered and approved for enrolled UConn students only. Any hours submitted or obtained post-graduation will not be approved by UConn.
How to Earn Guided Observation Hours
Guided Observation hours are available through three different processes.
- On-Site Guided Observation Hours at The UConn Speech and Hearing Clinic, Storrs Campus.
Note: Hours at the clinic are currently unavailable due to COVID protocols. Please obtain hours by way of Master Clinician Network or at an Off-Campus site if available. Information on those are noted below.
Each semester, the UConn Speech and Hearing Clinic (UCSHC) will offer a finite number of on-site guided observation hours. All studentsneed to attend a one-hour Guided Observation Hours Orientation to be eligible to register for guided observation hours. In addition, prior to attending the orientation, the completion of a HIPAA Privacy and Security Module through Husky CT is mandatory.
The Guided Observation Hours Orientation will cover the process for signing up for hours, guidelines for observing, and how to submit your observation hours. Hours will be available for pickup within five days of submission and must be picked up no later than the end of each semester.
Guided Observation Hours Orientation Dates:
Fall 2022– TBD
2. Hours earned outside of the UConn Speech and Hearing Clinic
Students may earn hours at either an off-site facility or through UConn Speech Language labs if under the direction of an ASHA Certified Professional. If observing in one of these settings, students must have the following forms completed before submitting their hours for approval:
Please follow the directions noted on the forms!!!
Once your hours are complete, please review the section below titled “Submitting and Sending Guided Observaton Hours to Your Graduate Program”.
3. Guided Observation Hours through Master Clinician
Students can use Master Clinician to earn guided observation hours through an online portal. If utilizing Master Clinician Network, please select Dr. Nancy McMahon as the approver. Once all observation hours you intend to complete through Master Clinician Network have been completed, please send an email to nancy.mcmahon@uconn.edu for approval of hours. Follow the guidelines below on how to submit signed off hours for final submission.
Submitting and Sending Guided Observation Hours to Your Graduate Program
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the process for submitting hours has been replaced with the following electronic process:
Observation hours should be submitted for approval only once all of your hours you plan to seek approval for have been completed.
- Make a single PDF of all observation hours and supporting documentation.
- Complete all sections of the following form entitled Observation Hours Final Submission Form.
- Please send an email to nancy.mcmahon@uconn.edu with two attachments: 1) the Observation Hours Final Submission form in Word Format and 2) the single PDF document of all hours and supporting documentation.
- These will then be reviewed by the Clinic Director for approval. We will alert you within a week if your hours are approved and email back to the signed Observation Hours Final Submission form.
As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We appreciate your flexibility during these trying times.