Missions and Goals

The mission of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is for faculty and students to conduct innovative basic and applied research to enhance knowledge of all aspects of human communication and swallowing across the life span; to provide excellence in education to prepare the next generation of scholars, clinicians, and educators with foundational scientific knowledge and skills in communication sciences and disorders; and to prepare the next generation of scholars, clinicians and educators to possess the clinical competence to solve challenges encountered by persons with communication and swallowing disorders.

Goals 

• Discovery: Conduct research advancing knowledge of theory, assessment, and intervention of communication disorders.
• Learning: Increase undergraduate students’ critical thinking and research reading/writing skills in the areas of normal and disordered communication as they relate to a diverse set of career options in health and education. Prepare masters students to provide evidence-based assessment and treatment of communication disorders utilizing state-of-the-art methodology and technology in a variety of job settings through academic coursework and clinical experience. Develop Ph.D. students who collaborate in research, disseminate research findings through publication and presentations, and develop skills to meet the immediate and future needs of the profession.
•  Engagement: Contribute to the solution of social challenges of people with communication disorders through the provision of state-of-the-art, research-based clinical services.