Clinical Education Opportunities
At Fort Hays State University, students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of clinical experiences across the lifespan. Graduate students will experience evaluations and intervention for clients at the Herndon Clinic. Clients with language, speech, voice, and swallowing disorders who utilize verbal and nonverbal modes of communication participate in services.
In addition to on-campus clinical experiences, students have the opportunity to experience a large variety of clinical training experiences at area schools and healthcare facilities in the western Kansas region. Graduate students have the ability to practice at these sites prior to externship. Examples of these opportunities are below.
- Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
- Holy Family Elementary School
- Good Samaritan Society of Hays
- Early Childhood Connections
- Southwest Kansas Area Cooperative (USD613)**
- Tiger Tots Nursery Center
- Scared Heart Elementary School*
- Rooks County Health Center*
- Hays West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative (USD489)
Externship Experience
Prior to graduation with a Master of Science (M.S.) education program in Speech-Language Pathology from Fort Hays State University, graduate students will complete 12 credit hours of externship at a medical and educational facility in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, or Oklahoma. The externships are typically completed during the spring semester of the second year of graduate school. However, course schedules can be modified.
Faculty from FHSU will visit students and their supervisors during the externship at the facility. In addition, students will return to campus during their externship experience to share information with the faculty as well as other students. Students have been placed in a variety of public schools in Kansas and surrounding states.