About the Department
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders provides each of our students with an outstanding education that's rich in research and clinical experiences, all occurring alongside a strong and practical general education.
Our focus is personalized professional preparation of students in communication sciences and disorders, preparing our graduates to serve the public. In accomplishing this mission, the department pursues excellence and distinction in all of its programs, and promotes faculty development through research, creative activities, and continuing scholarship.
By the Numbers- SLP Graduate Program
94
Enrollment in Speech Pathology graduate program, Fall 2026
28-32
Typical number of new applicants accepted in the fall semester
15-20
Typical number of new applicants accepted in the spring semester
20
Typical number of applicants placed on a wait list
10
Number of faculty members with Ph.D.s
8
Number of clinical supervision staff
100
Typical number of clients enrolled in the Roy Eblen Speech and Hearing Clinic
39
Typical number of off-campus cooperative venues per academic year
38
Typical number of internship venues averaged per semester
32%
Proportion of graduate students receiving Graduate Assistantships or Graduate Tuition scholarships
98%+
Proportion of graduate students who complete the program in 5 semesters
100%
Proportion of faculty members teaching graduate-level coursework
100%
Proportion of faculty members who supervise clinical practice
100%
Proportion of graduate students who are enrolled full-time
95%
Pass rate for Praxis exam for 2022-2025
98%
Job placement rate for new M.A. students
Strategic Plan
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders inspires and supports excellence through personalized academic and clinical learning, research, scholarship, and community service.
The main focus is personalized professional preparation of students in communication sciences and disorders to serve the public. In accomplishing this mission, the Department pursues excellence and distinction in all its programs; promotes faculty development through research, creative activities, progressive teaching and continuing scholarship.
Vision and Goals:
We strive to be a national model of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, empowering all students through innovative academic and clinical instruction, research, scholarship, and community engagement.
To achieve this vision, the Department will:
- Enhance access and support services for all learners through an innovative and relevant academic curriculum and out-of-class experiences
- Create a living, learning, and working environment with access for all
- Empower and engage learners and communities to confront challenges and seize opportunities that advance the public good
- Align and effectively utilize University resources to improve access, affordability, and quality
Areas of Focus
- Goal 1: Innovate for Learner Success
Outcome: Enhance access and support services for all learners through an innovative and relevant academic curriculum and out-of-class experiences
Strategy 1: Modify our curriculum and course content to provide intentional and meaningful learning opportunities to increase students’ knowledge and skills for serving clients who represent a broad range of abilities
Strategy 2: Identify and implement innovative approaches for supplemental instruction to support students in achieving all of the learning outcomes associated with courses
Strategy 3: Develop a recruitment and retention plan with activities to increase students’ sense of belonging and well-being
Strategy 4: Develop a plan to recruit and retain high-quality academic and clinical department personnel
- Goal 2: Access for All
Outcome: Create a living, learning, and working environment with access for all
Strategy 1: Provide a regular opportunity for an international professional experience for students
Strategy 2: Identify and implement approaches that will improve access to the undergraduate communication disorders major and graduate speech-language pathology program
Strategy 3: Identify and develop well-designed simulation experiences that allow students to gain required knowledge and skills in areas that are less available through our regular clinical practicum and internship courses
Strategy 4: Implement a model of clinical instruction in the area of interprofessional education (IPE) and practice (IPP) that ensures all students have documented IPE/IPP experience
- Goal 3: Empower Communities to Shape Their Future
Outcome: Empower and engage learners and communities to confront challenges and seize opportunities that advance the public good
Strategy 1: Increase clinical opportunities by identifying underserved clinical populations in the Cedar Valley area, building collaborations with those underrepresented populations, and developing clinical programs to provide services that address their needs
- Goal 4: Steward Resources Effectively
Outcome: Align and effectively utilize University resources to improve access, affordability, and quality
Strategy 1: The department will gain or redesign clinical, instructional, and research space to accommodate all instructional, clinical, and research needs.
* Identify the most important space needs to address accessibility for our clients, faculty, and students and to support the research activities of all faculty and students.
* Identify a community partner that could provide a shared space to provide off- campus experiences for students and improve access to our clinical services for more community members.
* Identify equipment that is or soon will be outdated and develop a plan for its replacement (e.g., augmentative and alternative communication devices, scoping).