The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders   

The department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Florida Atlantic University was established and approved by the Florida Board of Regents in July 1985. The student body has grown from its original class of nine to a current census of over 85 students. The department has been accredited since July 1994, in the area of Speech-Language Pathology by the Committee on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

ABOUT CSD DEPARTMENT

The 2008 Standards for Accreditation of Graduate Education Programs-Speech/Language Pathology was approved by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in July 2006 for implementation on January 1, 2008. 

Standard 1.7 requires programs to provide information about the program that is current, accurate, and readily available.  One aspect of that information is program data on student outcome measures.  The data that must be available to the public are: program completion rates, Praxis* examination pass rates, and employment rates.  The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is very proud of its students performance on these benchmarks.

*Praxis is the National Examination in Speech Pathology and Audiology (NESPA). All students must obtain a passing score (currently 600) to receive the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

C  PROGRAM COMPLETION RATES 

Program completion rates are inclusive of full- and part-time students 

From the fall 2000 to the present, the program has admitted 138 students to the graduate program in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Full-time students are able to complete the graduate program in two years (6 semesters-continuous attendance through summers). The program awarded 81 masters degrees in academic years 2002-2003 through 2006-2007.  During the same period of time, seven students (.05%) did not complete the program; two were counseled out of the program; two moved out-of-state; and three self-selected to discontinue the program.

C  PRAXIS EXAMINATION PASS RATES

*Praxis is the National Examination in Speech Pathology and Audiology (NESPA). All students must obtain a passing score (currently 600) to receive the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

From 2003 – present – 100% of our students have passed the NESPA (National Examination in Speech Pathology and Audiology) on the first administration.

 C  EMPLOYMENT RATES

 All program graduates, 100%, who have sought employment in the field have been employed and have remained employed, for at least year after their graduation.

 ACCREDITATION STATUS  

The department's mission is fourfold:

	To prepare highly qualified, capable, ethical professionals who will engage in reflective decision-making and promote and sustain authentic change, excellence, and equity, as well as exceeding the Department's and ASHA's guidelines for clinical and academic preparation in speech-language pathology;
	to engage in research of the normal and abnormal processes of speech, hearing, and language towards the furthering of both clinical and academic knowledge reflecting the diversity and needs of a global society while considering current methodologies and incorporating current technology;
	to provide quality speech, language, and hearing diagnostic and habilitation/ rehabilitation services to all FAU students, staff, and faculty and to any individual outside of the FAU community requiring such services;
	to act as a resource for the University, as well as for local, state, national, and international communities, by serving as consultants, liaisons, lecturers, facilitators, master clinicians, and authorities in the various areas of communication disorders.