The department offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. in communication sciences and disorders. An additional program in the department leads to the Au.D. in audiology. The graduate program provides the opportunity for study in the areas of audiology, speech?language pathology, hearing science, language science, and speech science. The purpose of the graduate program is to prepare clinicians, researchers, and teachers who possess a solid foundation in both the theoretical and applied aspects of the discipline of communication sciences and disorders. The M.S. program has two tracks. The Speech-Language Pathology track1 is a two-year professional program designed to prepare students for clinical work. It is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech?Language?Hearing Association. At the master's level, supervised diagnostic and therapy experiences with children and adults are provided in a variety of on- and off-campus clinical settings. This program meets the academic and clinical-practicum requirements for clinical certification set by the American Speech?Language?Hearing Association (ASHA). Opportunities are also available for pursing a nonclinical program at the master's level. The Normal Aspects of Speech, Language, and Hearing track1 is a non-clinical degree. Most students complete this degree as a first step toward a Ph.D.