A Brief History of the Communication Disorders Program

The Master of Communication Disorders Degree Program was established in 1974 and graduated its first class in August 1975. Since that time there have been approximately 500 graduates with Masters of Communication Disorders degrees in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. 

A Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology and a Doctor of Audiology degree are offered on the New Orleans campus.

Historically, graduates are employed in diverse settings such as: public schools, hospitals, rehabilitation agencies, nursing homes, private practices, and university training programs. A significant number of our graduates have gone on to complete Ph.D. degrees . 

This professional program provides students with opportunities to participate in practicum in a variety of clinical settings. We provide for the integration of communication disorders with the interdisciplinary concept involving other professional personnel. Because we are housed in a Health Sciences Center, we have the opportunities to treat patients who have varied disorders. Our patients span the gap from infancy to geriatrics.

The faculty has diverse interests and expertise in most areas of Communication Disorders in both Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Special expertise is found in the areas of voice, dysphagia, augmentative-alternative communication, fluency disorders, developmental and geriatric language disorders, and speech science as well as evoked auditory potentials, digital hearing aids, auditory processing, oto-acoustic emissions, cochlear implants,  and auditory rehabilitation. Faculty research and publication occur in almost all of these areas. 

Our students are trained to work in multiple settings because of the breadth of clinical placement opportunities and broad coverage in academic coursework. They are well aware of the usefulness of further education at the doctoral level. The New Orleans metropolitan area offers many cultural and historical events throughout the year. Our educational program coupled with our geographical location makes this training program unique. At a personal level, students experience the ambiance of the Creole/French culture of New Orleans which prizes food, entertainment, friendship, music and the arts, as well as conversation and other pleasantries of life in the "City that Care Forgot." 

Student Performance 

96% of our students pass the Praxis for professional certification on their first examination. 

In May of 2004, the first class of students were admitted to the Doctor of Audiology Training Program. This first class of students received their Doctor of Audiology degrees in May of 2008.