Accredidation
The Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences (CDS) offers students a rich academic curriculum, comprehensive clinical training, and ongoing research opportunities in human communication disorders and sciences. The department upholds the missions of SJSU and the Lurie College of Education.
- Our Vision
- Our Mission
- BS and MS Program Learning Outcomes
- Student Outcome Data
- Grant Support
- Our Strategic Plan
- Equal Opportunity Policy
CDS Department Vision Statement
The Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences prepares innovative scholars via transformative education and high-impact, equity-minded research.
CDS Department Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences is to prepare creative, evidence-informed, critical thinkers and change agents for a profession in speech-language pathology and related fields. This work prioritizes clinical education and research that reflect, elevate, and advocate for the interests and needs of our diverse communities. We do this with a culturally responsive and student-centered focus.
BS and MS Program Learning Outcomes
BS Program Learning Outcomes
- Explain basic human mechanisms and processes including anatomy, physiology, and neurobiology of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing.
- Distinguish between characteristics of human communication differences and disorders across the lifespan.
- Describe common clinical approaches, evidence-based practices and interprofessional collaboration in speech-language pathology and audiology.
- Articulate essential elements of equitable and inclusive educational and healthcare services.
- Apply knowledge, skills, and dispositions to ethical and culturally responsive practice with diverse populations.
MS Program Learning Outcomes
- PLO 1 Apply foundational knowledge of speech-language, hearing, and swallowing disorder in a professional setting.
- PLO 2 Identify types of least-biased assessment, differential diagnoses, and culturally responsive interventions when working with persons and families from diverse backgrounds.
- PLO 3 Provide collaborative, inter-professional, person-centered, and family-centered services to clients.
- PLO 4 Integrate evidence-based practice to guide and inform clinical decisions and service delivery.
- PLO 5 Model professionalism, ethical actions, and advocacy for persons with speech, language, hearing, and swallowing disorders.
- PLO 6 Use spoken and written communication skills appropriate for clinical practice in speech-language pathology.
Student Outcome Data
Students in the MS degree program are expected to demonstrate competence in the Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology set forth by the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. In addition, graduate students in the CD&S Department are also expected to demonstrate competence in our Program Learning Objectives.
On-Campus Program Totals & Averages
3-Year Program Averages
- Total Completed on Time: 132
- Total Completing Late: 3
- Total Not Completing: 0
- 3-Year Average Completion Rate: 97.78%
| Completion Year | Number Completing on Time | Number Completing Late | Number Not Completing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
43 |
1 |
0 |
| 2024 | 44 |
0 |
0 |
| 2023 | 45 |
2 |
0 |
Online SPEAKS Program Totals & Averages
3-Year Program Averages
- Total Completed on Time: 0
- Total Completing Late: 0
- Total Not Completing: 0
- 3-Year Average Completion Rate: 0%*
| Completion Year | Number Completing on Time* | Number Completing Late | Number Not Completing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
0 |
|
0 |
| 2024 |
0 |
|
0 |
| 2023 |
0 |
|
0 |
*The distance education program did not run from 2022-2025. The next distance education cohort to graduate will be in 2026.
On-Campus PRAXIS Exam 3-Year Totals & Averages
- Total Attempted: 74
- Total passed: 68
- 3-Year Average Pass Rate: 91.89%
| Year | Attempted | Passed | Percent Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
21 |
19 |
90.48% |
| 2024 | 27 | 26 | 96.30% |
| 2023 | 26 | 23 | 88.46% |
Online SPEAKS Program PRAXIS Exam 3-Year Totals & Averages
- Total Attempted: 0
- Total Passed: 0
- 3-Year Average Pass Rate: 0%*
| Year | Attempted | Passed | Percent Completed* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
0 |
0 |
0% |
| 2024 |
0 |
0 |
0% |
| 2023 |
0 |
0 |
0% |
*The distance education program did not run from 2022-2025. The next distance education cohort taking the exam will be in 2026.
Grant Support
Our department is currently supported by multiple federal personnel preparation and research grants that provide CDS students with small group specialized instruction and clinical experiences, tuition remission, conference travel, and book allowances.
- One of these grants focus on training SJSU students to provide services in special populations, persons who use augmentative and alternative communication.
- A second grant aims to develop SJSU students in culturally competent assessment and intervention activities to meet the needs of multicultural populations.
CDS Strategic Plan 2023-2026
The department identified four priorities and goals, within a transformative framework that aligns with the college and university strategic plans:
1. Develop innovative programs to provide more access pathways for diverse students
to enter speech-language pathology and audiology.
2. Update undergraduate and graduate curriculum to include Interprofessional Education
(IPE), Interprofessional Practice (IPP) and Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-Social Justice
(DEIJ) as focus areas for excellence across academic and clinical education.
3. Increase the number and diversity of tenured/tenure-track faculty to support new
program/curriculum development and the anticipated increase in student enrollment.
4. Upgrade department facilities and infrastructure (i.e., technology, equipment)
in the on-campus clinic, the Kay Armstead Center for Communicative Disorders, to support
transformative education in CDS.
The implementation of the strategic plan will be guided by the Department Chair, Program Director/Coordinator, Director of Clinical Education and department committees. Annual evaluation of objectives and progress will be reviewed in faculty retreats. Evaluation results and updates will be shared with college leadership, faculty, students, staff, alumni, and other interested parties accordingly.
Equal Opportunity Policy
The Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences is committed to the principle of equal opportunity. The University, College, and Department do not discriminate in the delivery of professional services or the conduct of research and scholarly activity based on age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender-identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, physical characteristics, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran status.
