Facts

About the Program

The Communicative Disorders Department in the UW-Whitewater College of Education teaches students about all aspects of communicative disorders, including the psychology and physiology of speech, language and hearing, the interaction between communication and learning, and the assessment and management of individuals with communicative disorders from infancy through adulthood.

The Communicative Disorders Department offers a comprehensive array of courses and broad-based observational experiences in a variety of educational and medical settings throughout the community. Students may earn a bachelor's of science in education or a bachelor's of arts or science. All three options require students to complete a general studies core curriculum and coursework in Communicative Disorders. In the B.S.E. degree program, students also complete coursework leading to education licensure. Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, Communicative Disorders majors are prepared for graduate study in a variety of fields including speech and language pathology, audiology and special education.

Career Opportunities

To practice as a speech-language pathologist, students must complete a graduate degree from a program accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation (CAA). UW-Whitewater's graduate program offers a two-year master's of science degree program that meets all professional standards for CAA and state licensure.

After completion of the graduate degree in Communicative Disorders, students can work as speech-language pathologists in a variety of settings, including neonatal centers, preschools and schools, universities, hospitals and medical facilities, rehabilitation centers, private practices and geriatric centers.

Placement

State departments of education report continuingshortages of qualified speech-language pathologists. The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) research division also reports personnel shortages. Over the last five years,100 percent of our graduates who sought employment in the field found jobs within the first three months following graduation.

Accreditation

The Communicative Disorders Department is accredited by the Council of Acadmic Accreditation. The College of Education is fully accredited by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. 

Skills Aquired During Study

Upon graduation students will be able to:

• Explain the normal process of human communication across the life span including anatomy and physiology of speech, swallowing, language, and hearing mechanisms.
• Explain a general theoretical framework governing disorders of speech (articulation, voice, fluency), language and hearing.
• Explain the principles and procedures for treatment of disorders of speech and language.
• Distinguish between normal and abnormal communicative behavior.
• Analyze and interpret behavior associated with varied communicative disorders.
• Translate their knowledge of disordered communication into an elementary treatment plan for articulation and language disorders in children.
• Accurately record behavior of individuals with both normal and abnormal communicative behavior.
• Describe abnormal communicative disorder and communicate that information in both written and oral modes.
• Demonstrate proficiency at writing and implementing goals for children with articulation and language disorders.

Faculty

All Communicative Disorders faculty are teacher-scholars and clinicians who collectively have a broad range of teaching, clinical and research experience. They are committed to studentsí academic, clinical and professional development, and all faculty participate in the advising process and mentor students.  The faculty-student ratio provides opportunities for personalized attention and for student involvement in a wide range of clinical, research and community experiences.

Updated Facilities

The Center for Communicative Disorders (CCD) is located in the Roseman building. This facility houses faculty offices, treatment/observation rooms used for on-campus clinical work and two research/teaching laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art computing technology. In addition, there is a high-technology classroom.  These facilities are used to enhance individual and collaborative learning and to facilitate the hands-on clinical work that all students receive through their undergraduate and graduate preparation.

Student Organizations

The National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) has an active chapter at UW-Whitewater. Many students are involved in this organization, which provides opportunities for professional development and leadership outside of the classroom setting.

Internship Opportunities

There are numerous opportunities for meeting career interests and certification requirements in rural and urban off-campus practicum sites.  These include different hospital, rehabilitation, acute care and nursing home environments, as well as numerous PreK-12 placements.

High School Preparation

High school students must integrate coursework from the physiological, biological and behavioral sciences.