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Communication Sciences and Disorders
Fairchild Hall building entrance.

About

About Us

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers one of the most comprehensive undergraduate programs in the state and fully-accredited SLP and AuD graduate programs.

We embrace collaborating with other departments within CAS and other colleges, participating in service-learning activities, strengthening our students’ civic engagement, and supporting faculty and student research. We take pride in our excellence in teaching and seek to maintain our emphasis on ensuring that each student in our department receives a quality education.

Our clinic mirrors our academic programs in terms of excellence and strength and is a vital and critical component of our programs; this is the training ground for our student clinicians. We offer a wide range of speech-language pathology and audiology services to clients of every age and provide our students with an excellent foundation of clinical knowledge and skills.

Contact Information

Heidi Verticchio
Director of Advisement
Rachel Cooper 207
(309) 438-3266
hrfritz@IllinoisState.edu

Strategic Plan 2026-2031

Executive Summary

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is committed to preparing highly competent, ethical, evidence-based, and culturally responsive professionals in speech-language pathology and audiology. Through innovative teaching, research, clinical practice, and community engagement, the department develops future professionals who are prepared to serve individuals and communities with communication needs across the lifespan.

Our undergraduate and graduate programs are designed to meet and exceed national accreditation and professional standards while fostering leadership, lifelong learning, scholarship, and service. Through a combination of rigorous academic preparation, high-quality clinical education, and meaningful community engagement, we prepare graduates to contribute to the advancement of communication health in a rapidly evolving society.

The department's mission aligns with Illinois State University's commitment to student success, academic excellence, innovation, inclusion, and community engagement. Our programs emphasize evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, individualized student support, ethical decision-making, and a commitment to equity, diversity, access, and belonging.

The department's strategic priorities reflect our commitment to excellence and include:

  •   Supporting student success through innovative teaching, strong advising, mentoring, leadership development, and diverse clinical learning opportunities.
  • Fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment that promotes access, belonging, and culturally responsive practices for all students, faculty, staff, and community members.
  • Advancing research, scholarship, and innovation through faculty and student engagement in research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and dissemination of scholarly work.
  • Strengthening partnerships with healthcare providers, educational institutions, community organizations, alumni, and donors to enhance educational opportunities, service delivery, and community impact.
  • Enhancing operational excellence through continuous assessment, accreditation compliance, strategic resource management, technological advancement, and sustainable clinical operations.
  • Supporting the success and well-being of academic and clinical faculty through mentorship, professional development, scholarship, instructional innovation, and recognition of excellence.

Ongoing assessment and continuous improvement remain central to departmental operations. Faculty and clinical educators systematically evaluate student learning outcomes, clinical competencies, program effectiveness, and stakeholder feedback to ensure compliance with accreditation standards and to respond proactively to the evolving needs of the professions.

Through strong academic preparation, meaningful clinical experiences, scholarship, community engagement, and a commitment to inclusive excellence, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will continue to prepare professionals who positively impact communication health and quality of life across local, national, and global communities.

Accreditation and Licensure

The Master of Science (M.S.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) education program in speech-language pathology residential and the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) education program in audiology residential at Illinois State University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700. This accreditation is for a period of 8 years beginning October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2029.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850, 800-498-2071 or (301) 296-5700.

The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation requires speech-language pathologists and audiologists to obtain a state license to practice in Illinois.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issues the Professional Educator License (PEL). All graduate students in the Speech-Language Pathology program will complete the steps to be eligible for the PEL.

Department Manual

The Department Manual is a compilation of all department and clinic policies with which CSD students should be familiar. This manual is updated at least annually or more often if policies or procedures change.

*Last updated August 2025

Make a Contribution

The Communication Sciences and Disorders General Fund provides support for the activities, programs, and operations, including named commemorative scholarships and awards, of the department.

View Giving Opportunities