Dean Maurice Mendel explained the rationale behind the name change. “The new name is a much more accurate indicator of our academic tradition,” he said. “The discipline of communication sciences and disorders provides graduate education leading to the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology. The science bases of all three of the degrees that we award – the AuD, the MA and the PhD – are more accurately reflected in the new name.”

Regardless of its name, the research and services offered by the School have earned it a stellar reputation nationally. Year after year, the audiology program and the speech-language pathology program have been ranked high by U.S. News and World Report. Faculty members conducting research into important speech and hearing-related topics bring in millions of dollars each year, including $3.5 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health this year alone.