Communication Sciences and Disorders Track
Faculty are listed on the web at http://www.musc.edu/chp/about/faculty_staff.htm.

Speech-language pathology has long been a profession dedicated to serving children and adults who are unable to communicate effectively because of behavioral dysfunction, disease, or trauma. Speech-language pathologists assess, diagnose, and treat disorders of speech articulation, fluency (stuttering), voice, language and swallowing. They also remediate cognitive disorders that affect the ability to communicate, and select and develop augmentative and alternative communication systems for persons who cannot communicate verbally. Speech-language pathologists may also provide aural rehabilitation for those who are hearing-impaired. The speech-language pathologist can instruct individuals with communication differences who wish to reduce their foreign accents or social dialects. Speech-language pathologists work in several different work settings: hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, home health settings, and schools (special, preschool, elementary, and secondary). They are also in private practice and some work in colleges and universities in undergraduate and graduate speech-language pathology training programs. A small number are employed in industry and some are researchers. Speech-language pathologists can work in teams with other health care professionals or educators, or as sole practitioners. There are also speech-language pathologists who move into administrative positions.

There is a critical nationwide shortage of speech-language pathologists who are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders. The need for more highly qualified professionals is increasing rapidly and will continue to grow significantly in the coming years due to the aging of the population, the focus on chronic versus acute illness and the emphasis on wellness, health promotion and illness prevention. With these changes will come the need for more comprehensively educated speech-language pathologists who can work effectively in a hospital or rehabilitation setting with other health professionals to successfully assess, diagnose, and manage communication disorders. Upon completion of this program the student is awarded a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science.