About COSD

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Our Vision
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (COSD) is dedicated to creating a culture of student empowerment and success through implementation of innovative teaching and faculty-student collaborations in the classroom, clinical practice, and the community! 

Our Mission
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.

Undergraduate Program
The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders offer students a foundational understanding of typical speech, language, and hearing development. Through courses that address anatomy and physiology, neuroanatomy, speech sound development, the development of language, and clinical practices for assessment and intervention, students learn about the complex process of communication and the range of differences and disorders that may affect communication. Congenital and acquired disorders that students will explore include: developmental language disorders, speech sound disorders, aphasia, autism spectrum disorder, and hearing loss. To enhance their learning and hands-on experiences, students will be invited to observe sessions in the on-campus clinic and collaborate with faculty on clinical research projects.

The required coursework in Communication Sciences and Disorders can be completed in 4 semesters, and students have the option to take one of the courses (COSD 225) earlier in their programs as freshmen or sophomores.

The professional practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology requires a graduate degree from an accredited program. Individuals applying for national certification and state licensure must hold a master’s (or doctoral) degree in the appropriate area of study, meet specific requirements in coursework, practicum, and professional experience, and pass a national examination. 

Graduate Program
The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a Master of Science (M.S.) or Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a concentration in Speech-Language Pathology.

Graduate academic coursework and clinical education provide students the opportunity to achieve the knowledge and skills outcomes required for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). This nationally recognized professional credential is issued to individuals who present evidence of their ability to provide independent clinical services to persons who have disorders of communication. Applicants for the CCC-SLP must also submit a passing score on the ASHA-approved national examination in speech-language pathology (Praxis II) and complete a Clinical Fellowship (CF) for 9 months (if full-time) following graduation.

The program’s curriculum provides students the opportunity to meet the requirements of the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology for licensure in speech-language pathology. It is the responsibility of the graduate students interested in obtaining licensure in states outside of Virginia to identify the requirements for licensure. Students may find information for all states on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website: http://www.asha.org/Advocacy/state/