Undergraduate Program

Undergraduate Program

Teacher and Student

Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology

Waldron Hall

On-Campus Clinic

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Hands-On Experiences. Expert Faculty. Clinical Opportunities.

In support of Radford University’s commitment to providing students a transformative educational experience within a community of inclusivity and empowerment, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is committed to cultivating excellence in student-centered learning and engagement! We foster innovative faculty-student collaborations and a supportive environment to inspire student success through a shared vision of inclusiveness and service within the campus community and beyond. Learn more about the Department of Communication and Sciences and Disorders.

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Preparing Students for Academic and Career Success

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100% Exam Pass Rate

The 3 year average for the pass rate of the Praxis Examination is 100%.

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Program Completion

The 3 year average graduate program completion rate is 93%.

Top 10 Reasons

Why Radford University?

Check out the top 10 reasons why studying in the COSD program is a great choice for your future!

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Employment

The 3 year average for employment rate for graduates is 100%.

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COSD News and Announcements

  1. Winter Commencement 2023: Grace Burke, Waldron College of Health and Human Services »

    12/1/2023

    Communication Sciences and Disorders student Grace Burke spent many hours immersed in theatre and the arts, which she said taught her how to better communicate her thoughts and feelings — a distinct advantage over many of her peers that endured the COVID pandemic. Those hours, Burke said, paid off by giving her insight into what she wanted to do with her professional life as a speech therapist.

  2. 2023 Women of Radford Luncheon »

    11/2/2023

    On Saturday, October 20, 2023 alumni joined COSD faculty members, Corey Cassidy and Terri Shelor (BS ‘93; MS ’95), to celebrate Homecoming Weekend and the 50th Anniversary of the inaugural SLP graduating class!

  3. Speech-language-hearing clinic day camp helps kids, grad students reach goals »

    7/10/2023

    About 40 local children participated across five clinical on-campus programs, working with graduate students to develop and enhance their communication and literacy skills. The day camp was held over four weeks in June. 

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Student Spotlight

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Rachel Millirons '25

Rachel Millirons is a 1st year graduate student who plans to graduate in May 2025. Rachel was a student athlete for Radford University through undergrad until recently as a graduate student. Rachel has been running since 6th grade, and she says that being a student athlete has allowed her to continue doing something that she loves. Her favorite part about being a student athlete are the skills that she learned to successfully balance academics and athletics, as this has served her well when the rigor increased in graduate school.

Rachel says that she choose a career in Speech-Language Pathology for two reasons. One, she saw the impact that the profession had on her childhood best friend. “Since I was just in elementary school, all I knew at the time was that she would leave class with someone, and at the end of the school year, she no longer had any issue pronouncing her r’s.” It was only when she got older that she says she understood that a Speech-Language Pathologist was the person who got her friend from class and helped her overcome that issue” Rachel says. Second, Rachel’s decision to pursue a career in this field was cemented when she shadowed her aunt (who is an SLP - Radford graduate) when she conducted summer school preschool and elementary sessions. Rachel thoroughly enjoyed this experience.

Rachel expresses that she wants to work in a school system environment as this will allow her to pursue both her passions, running and Speech-Language Pathology. She states that she not only loves working with the school-age population, but that the setting of a school will also allow her the schedule to coach track and cross country, as running is her second passion.

For Rachel, the difference that is made when you help someone is the most fulfilling part of this field. She states that this goes back to her childhood friend - she didn’t have to go through life with a speech sound disorder because of the intervention that she received. “No matter the population, an SLP can assist in bettering difficulties their clients experience. That is very rewarding” Rachel says.

In the next 5-10 years, Rachel wants to be a Speech-Language Pathologist that continues to grow and learn skills to better help her clients. She also wants to hone her coaching skills and help students who love running as much as she does – and maybe even develop a few state champions! 

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Faculty Spotlight

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Dr. Peter Meulenbroek

Dr. Vrushali Angadi has been a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) since 2004, following the completion of her bachelor's and master's degrees in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology from the National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities in Mumbai, India. Subsequently, she undertook a research fellowship at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai while concurrently practicing privately. After six years of professional practice in India, she pursued doctoral studies under the guidance of Dr. Joseph Stemple in the United States, earning her PhD in 2016 from the University of Kentucky (UK). Her primary focus at UK when at the UK Voice and Swallow Clinic, was in clinical practice, research and education. Additionally, she served as the clinical education coordinator at UK, contributing to the supervision and development of clinical education programs within the clinic.

Throughout her clinical practice, Dr. Angadi has specialized in assessing and treating patients with a diverse range of disorders affecting voice, resonance, upper airway, and swallowing. She has experience in addressing general voice concerns, professional voice issues, neurogenic voice disorders, as well as those arising following treatment for head and neck cancers, including alaryngeal communication rehabilitation. She has also managed aging voice, pediatric voice, and resonance disorders resulting from craniofacial anomalies. Dr. Angadi has worked extensively with patients with upper airway disorders including but not limited to, Induced Laryngeal Obstruction/Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion and chronic cough.

Dr. Angadi’s research has predominantly centered around patients with head and neck cancers (HNC), with a particular interest in voice rehabilitation post-radiation therapy. Throughout her investigations, particularly within the Appalachian Kentucky population, the challenge of accessibility to essential services such as voice therapy has emerged as a significant barrier. Consequently, she has developed a keen interest in leveraging technology to overcome these obstacles and enhance patient outcomes.  

Having exclusively worked in tertiary care centers, Dr. Angadi has keenly observed the pressing need for specialized services in rural areas. She says that joining RU offers her the opportunity to delve into addressing this need while actively participating in the training of the next generation of SLPs. Dr. Angadi states that during her and her husband’s interview, it was evident that RU was the right place for them. “Now, having been here for over a month, I can confidently say that we are very happy. Our colleagues in the department have been incredibly kind, generous, and knowledgeable. Teaching and getting to know the students has been delightful; I am certain we made the right choice” Dr. Angadi says.

Dr. Angadi says she firmly believes that being an SLP is the best job in the world, which you will often hear her express to her students. “In essence, being in this profession is a privilege—a daily opportunity to care for others during their most challenging moments, celebrate their triumphs, and continuously learn from their experiences” she says.

Before joining RU, Dr. Angadi says that she found great enjoyment in playing badminton at her university club at UK. Beyond badminton, Dr. Angadi finds joy in cooking and entertaining friends and family. Her and her husband Peter also love discovering new restaurants and cuisines, adding to their list of culinary adventures.

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Student Funding Opportunities

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Faculty and Student Research Opportunities

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Frequently Asked Questions