The Division of Communicative Disorders is comprised of two sections, Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Both sections have experienced significant growth in recent years.

Audiology Section
In the past five years, the Audiology section has seen the most significant growth and achievements in its 25-year history. The Audiology section developed and implemented one of the first Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree programs in the country. This four-year post baccalaureate degree program graduated its first class in 2002 with a total of 25 AuD degrees awarded to date. Thirty-five additional students are enrolled in the program.

The development and implementation of the Doctor of Audiology degree program at U of L has been the most significant accomplishment for the Audiology Section. The program has received national attention, both because of its early inception, as well as the medical and business model used as the basis for instruction. The program was highlighted in the December 2004 issue of the American Journal of Audiology.

Clinically, the program continues to set the community standard in the provision of hearing and balance care services, particularly in the areas of new technologies and pediatric services. The inclusion of the doctoral students in the clinical environment continues to be a significant factor in recruiting students.

The faculty continues to be leaders on a national level in the development of the effective classroom and clinical teaching models through involvement in national committees and programs.

The V. A. Medical Center and the Heuser Hearing Institute also play important roles in the area of clinical instruction because of their ongoing commitment to include students in their facilities.

Under the direction of Dr. Jill Preminger, the research program of the Audiology Section has grown substantially.

The clinical services of the Audiology Section include the practice locations in the downtown Medical Center, an East end hearing aid dispensing location, and a satellite facility in Georgetown, Indiana.

The program contracts with Kosair Children's Hospital for the provision of the professional staff within the audiology clinics and also staffs the U of L audiology clinic at the Ambulatory Care Building.

Speech Language Pathology Section
The Speech Pathology section also has been active in recent years. Our enrollment has continued to increase since we re-instituted our preparatory phase of the program. We now admit 10 new students each year who have not received an undergraduate degree in the field. Therefore, students who wish to enter the field may do so by completing a full-time, one-year course of study, after which they automatically matriculate into the core phase of the program. The core phase consistently enrolls 20 students in the first year and 20 students in the second year. The students graduate with a Master of Science in Speech Pathology. At any one time, there are 50 speech pathology students wandering the floors of Myers Hall.

In 2000 and 2001, the section joined a university consortium from University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, and Murray State University, to help educate students in rural areas in Kentucky. This was an extremely challenging undertaking since it involved teaching classes through the Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual University. Needless to say it was quite an experience to totally revamp courses to fit the requirements of teaching online. We had to learn about things such as blackboard, streaming video, chat rooms, and computer exams.

In 2004 we created an Alumni Board to help us with activities such as library acquisitions, student mentoring, creating a newsletter, fundraising, special interest groups, and the best of all, social activities. The members have already started the mentoring process, which is quite exciting for our students.

The American Speech Language Hearing Association required each graduate program to create a competency based knowledge and skills (KASA) document to measure student learning and success.