Speech-Language Pathology

The Master of arts in communication disorders for speech language pathologists offered by CMU's Department of Communication Disorders leads to clinical certification and is accredited by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association's (ASHA) Council on Academic Accreditation. The program focuses on preparing professionals to assess, diagnose and clinically treat people with a variety of communication disorders.

The Department of Communication Disorders offers students a multitude of opportunities to gain clinical experience both on- and off-campus. The research facilities within the department include specialized speech, voice, language and acoustic laboratories, computers and software programs.

Several clinical programs offered through the department give students the opportunity to conduct research projects and work with a patient population ranging from infants to the elderly. Through the department's Speech-Language and Hearing Clinics, students may provide clinical services to people throughout central and northern Michigan. The services offered by the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinics include a voice and swallowing clinic, aphasia clinic, speech-language pathology and audiology clinics, augmentative and alternative communication services and pre-school programs. In addition, students may gain clinical experience through the Summer Speech-Language Specialty Clinics.

The Summer Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic is a specialized five-week treatment program for children and adolescents with all types of communication disorders. The Augmentative and Alternative Communication Lab provides students with evaluation, research, and clinical experience with those in need of augmentative and alternative communication services, particularly literacy and device selection issues. In addition, there are numerous off-campus sites available for students to gain hands-on training including schools, rehabilitation centers and hospitals.