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Professional Development - Frequently Asked Questions

All registrations for DuBard School's professional development program are managed through GCEIC. You can visit their website here to register online for all of our professional development opportunities.

The DuBard Association Method® is a phonetic, systematic, structured, incremental and cumulative multisensory approach for teaching language and speech to children with multiple difficulties in language learning. It was devised originally by the late Mildred McGinnis, a teacher at Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis. The DuBard Association Method®, which is Orton-Gillingham based in content and principles of instruction, has been modified and expanded by the late Dr. Etoile DuBard and the staff of the DuBard School for Language Disorders at The University of Southern Mississippi since the school was founded in 1962.

Maximum success in using the DuBard Association Method® comes from intensive professional preparation. The DuBard Association Method® basic course is a 45-hour offering. Following successful completion of the basic course, one can participate in the DuBard Association Method® seminar (another 45-hour offering) and professional practicum.

The basic course is offered each summer in a 5-day/45-hour format during the first week of June. In addition, the basic course is offered every fall in a 6-day/40-hour format. Please check this link periodically for information on course sites and dates. The basic course also is offered through the regular University curriculum in the School of Speech & Hearing Sciences every fall semester. It is offered for undergraduate credit from The University of Southern Mississippi.

The DuBard Association Method® seminar is offered each summer in a 5-day/45-hour format during the third week of June. Please check this link for exact dates.

Professional practicum is offered during the DuBard School summer program in June. Please check this link for exact dates. Professional practicum may be scheduled for other times by arrangement.

The 5-day format is scheduled from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm for five consecutive days. The 6-day format is scheduled for three days from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm. Approximately four weeks later, an additional three days is scheduled. This format is less intensive than the 5-day format, but the same information is included in both. Each format includes 45 hours of instruction.

Both the basic course and the seminar can be taken for academic credit or as a noncredit activity.
Academic credit: Southern Miss tuition for a three-semester-hour graduate course plus $600 is assessed. Contact Southern Miss for current graduate tuition rates.
Noncredit: Contact the Professional%20Development%20Coordinator of the DuBard School or GCEIC for current fees.
Each course also may be taken for continuing education credit (CEUs).
Southern Miss CEUs: A fee of $80 is assessed for 4.5 CEUs.
ASHA CEUs: The DuBard School for Language Disorders is approved by the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to offer continuing education activities in speech-language pathology and audiology. The course and seminar are offered for 4.5 CEUs (intermediate level; professional area).
ASHA CE Provider approval does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.

ALTA credits are also available.
No fee is charged by Southern Miss or DuBard School for ASHA CEUs. However, ASHA members must pay fees to ASHA to access these CEUs.

The DuBard Association Method® courses, seminars, and practicum are appropriate for professionals interested in helping individuals with language learning problems, including problems with reading. This includes speech-language pathologists, teachers of children who have dyslexia or learning disabilities, special education teachers, general education elementary teachers, teachers of students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and school administrators.

Several hotels are located near the Southern Miss campus. Participants are responsible for accommodation fees and arrangements. COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT: 800-627-7468 or 601-268-3050; TOWNEPLACE SUITES: 800-627-7468 or 601-582-2030; Residence Inn: 800-627-7468 or 208-867-1722.

If a participant has a disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act and requires accommodations, he or she should contact GCEIC two weeks prior to the program by mail, at GCEIC 413 Border Ave., Wiggins, MS 39577 or by phone at 601-528-5342.

Registrations are transferable but not refundable. Requests for registration transfer must be made by phone at least 10 days prior to the program's start date to GCEIC at 601-528-5342. DuBard School reserves the right to cancel any program that does not reach the minimum enrollment. If a program is canceled, participants will be notified, and the full registration fee will be refunded. In order to avoid any inconvenience, individuals are encouraged to register early.

Professional Development - Frequently Asked Questions

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