Department of Communicative Disorders
College of Health Sciences

About Us

The Department of Communicative Disorders at Jackson State University offers two degrees: Master of Science and Bachelor of Science.  Additionally, a Post-Baccalaureate Program is offered for individuals who do not have an undergraduate degree in Communicative Disorders.  The program operates the Central Mississippi Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic to facilitate the clinical education of students in speech-language pathology and to provide services to persons across the life span with speech, language, cognitive, swallowing and/or hearing disorders in Jackson and the surrounding cities.  The department is also home to an undergraduate and graduate chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA)

University

Jackson State University is a Historically Black Carnegie Doctoral/Research Intensive public institution of higher learning located in the metropolitan area of Jackson, Mississippi.  The University educates a diverse student population from Mississippi, most other states and many foreign countries by providing a broad range of baccalaureate programs and a variety of masters and doctoral programs in its five colleges.

Accreditation

Jackson State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology residential program at Jackson 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.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Communicative Disorders is to provide quality education to diverse pre-professional and graduate students, who are majoring in Communicative Disorders.  The program will:  (a) prepare pre-professional students for entry into graduate programs; and, (b) guide graduate students to (i) acquire the knowledge and develop the skills, competencies and attitudes that are essential for the prevention of communicative disorders, and the safe, effective and efficient practice of entry-level speech-language pathology, (ii) develop the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate data, and to conduct research, (iii) provide professional and public services to local, state, national, and world communities, (iv) continue their professional growth by exploring developments in the profession and learning new models of management, and (v) develop an understanding and appreciation of ethnic and cultural diversity on normal and disordered communication.

Objectives

The Department of Communicative Disorders provides academic and clinical education to its students, who prepare to work in a health service profession or prepare for post-graduate studies leading to the doctorate.   The objectives of the Department are listed below:

• Educate students to independently, effectively and safely: (a) differentiate between normal and abnormal communication, as well as normal and abnormal swallowing patterns; (b) diagnose and treat persons of all ages who have speech, voice, cognitive, language, communication and swallowing disorders; and, (c) habilitate/rehabilitate infants, children and adults with hearing loss
• Equip students to ask relevant questions and provide appropriate information to patients, their families, caregivers and other service providers regarding the prevention, diagnosis and management of human communication and swallowing disorders
• Facilitate clinical experiences that will train students to provide clinical services in a variety of settings including community clinics, hospitals, private practices, schools and university settings
• Prepare students to meet the academic and clinical requirements for licensure granted by the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology awarded by ASHA
• Guide students to evaluate developments in the professions, and conduct research in (a) the normal processes of language, speech, hearing and swallowing; and, (b) the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of human communication and swallowing
• Assist students to develop sensitivity to and an appreciation of diversity in society, so that they (a) take into consideration individual differences in the provision of clinical services,  (b) do not discriminate in the delivery of services on the basis of race or ethnicity, age, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability; and, (c) work effectively with other professionals who may be different from them in respect to race or ethnicity, age, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability
• Encourage students to develop high standards of integrity, responsibility and ethics, so that they (a) hold paramount the welfare of patients they serve; (b) provide services only in areas in which they are competent; and, (c) adhere to the fundamentals of ethical conduct
• Prepare students for advanced programs of study in communicative disorders
• Advocate the pursuit of continued professional growth through continuing education
• Offer educational programs that will (a) promote the maintenance of current knowledge and skills of speech-language pathologists in the Jackson area, state, national and world communities; and (b) provide the general public with information regarding the prevention, nature, diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders and swallowing disorders
• Provide professional and public services to local, state, national and world communities

Strategic Plan

The Department of Communicative Disorders at Jackson State University has developed a strategic plan to guide it through the 2024 – 2028 years.  The plan is in alignment with the teaching, research, and service missions of the College of Health Sciences and with Jackson State University.  The plan can be accessed here: Strategic Plan