Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences

Communication Disorders and Sciences: Philosophy

The underlying basis for the graduate degree programs in audiology and speech-language pathology is the practitioner-teacher model, whereby students learn from faculty who take on dual roles as academicians and practitioners. This approach to professional education helps to bridge the gap that can exist between classroom teaching and clinical service delivery. Students learn in an environment where teaching, research and patient care are wholly integrated. The faculty at Rush participate fully in the clinical process in addition to teaching and research. Students receive outstanding clinical education experiences with diverse patients who present a full range of communicative disorders. The audiology and speech-language pathology programs are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

The programs in audiology and speech-language pathology are based on the philosophy that professional education is optimized by drawing upon the patients, staff and other resources of an academic medical center. The resources at Rush University enrich and enhance faculty and student research and scholarship, and they provide unique opportunities for interprofessional education and collaborations. The clinical skills of Rush students are fostered and developed through didactic courses, clinical observation and instruction, and supervision by practitioner-teachers. The department faculty is supplemented by the expertise of physicians, scientists and other health care practitioners within the medical center.

The goals of the academic programs in audiology and speechlanguage pathology are to generate and disseminate new knowledge in the communication disorders and sciences and to prepare graduates who:

Synthesize contemporary knowledge of speech and hearing science and apply it in the assessment and management of a broad spectrum of communication disorders
Implement evidence-based protocols for the evaluation and treatment of individuals with communication disorders
Utilize and contribute to new knowledge in the professions and discipline
Function as professional-level speech-language pathologists or audiologists in health care and other settings
Are eligible for clinical certification from the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Are eligible for state licensure within the profession

Mission Statement of the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences

The Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences at Rush University Medical Center integrates outstanding graduate education, superior patient care, excellence in research and scholarship, and service to diverse communities.

Vision Statement

The clinical and graduate education programs of the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences will be recognized as among the best In the United States.

Professional Credentialing

Rush programs in communication disorders and sciences offer the academic and clinical education background necessary to begin the ASHA clinical fellowship year (speech-language pathology) and to meet requirements for certification in audiology and speech-language pathology. Upon graduation students are eligible to:

Obtain Illinois licensure
Meet requirements for professional certification in speechlanguage pathology or audiology
Meet the requirements for the Illinois Educator License as a (non-teaching speech-language pathology. This Is under the School Services Personnel category. Eligibility for the Illinois Educator License may require adjustment to a student’s didactic or clinical experiences