Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Meagan A. Spencer, Associate Professor, Chair and Director of Undergraduate Communication Sciences and Disorders
TBD, Assistant Professor and Clinical Director

Mission

The mission of Lipscomb University’s Communication Sciences and Disorders program is to prepare future clinicians, scholars, and leaders in healthcare, with a Christ-centered mindset, holistically connected in the liberal arts, understanding intersectionality and the call to service to be providers of dignity to those we serve in all walks of life.

Vision

Rigor and Transformation in a Journey to know Truth and Flourish in vocational ministry.

About the Program

The Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) program at Lipscomb University prepares students for meaningful careers serving individuals with communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology. Grounded in a Christ-centered approach to healthcare and human service, the program integrates rigorous academic preparation with early clinical experiences and a commitment to cultural responsiveness and dignity for all persons served.

Students in the CSD program develop foundational knowledge in speech, language, hearing, and swallowing sciences while cultivating the professional skills and ethical framework necessary for graduate study or immediate entry into the workforce as Speech-Language Pathology Assistants.

Distinctive Program Features

Communication Sciences and Disorders Undergraduate Degree

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders provide students with foundational knowledge in the normal and disordered processes of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing across the lifespan. These undergraduate programs serve as essential preparation for graduate study in speech-language pathology or audiology, which are required for professional licensure and independent clinical practice.

The curriculum encompasses the scientific study of communication development, the anatomical and physiological bases of speech and hearing, phonetic transcription, assessment and intervention principles, and the characteristics of communication disorders in diverse populations. Students develop critical thinking skills, cultural competence, and an understanding of evidence-based practice that form the foundation for advanced clinical training at the graduate level or application for speech-language pathology assisting registration.

Leveling Program for Career Transition

The department offers two leveling programs for individuals who hold bachelor’s degrees in other disciplines and seek to complete CSD prerequisite coursework required for graduate program admission or in preparation for applying for speech-pathology assisting registration. This pathway provides an efficient route for career changers to enter the field without pursuing a second undergraduate degree.

Career Opportunities

Speech-Language Pathology Assisting
Speech-Language Pathology (* requires graduate education)
Audiology (* requires graduate education)
Behavioral Therapist (* additional training required)
Case Manager
Patient Advocate
Healthcare Coordinator

Program of Study Requirements

Major

Communication Sciences and Disorders, B.S.
Communication Sciences and Disorders, B.A.

Leveling

Speech-Language Pathology Assisting
Graduate Application Bridge

The Lipscomb Communication Sciences and Disorders program aims to prepare future clinicians, scholars and leaders in health care, with a Christ-centered mindset to provide dignity to those they serve in all walks of life. The program offers a range of unique courses designed to promote community, dignity and excellence in all we do by integrating faith perspectives with professional practice.

ASHA Standards Alignment: The curriculum is carefully designed to work toward ASHA certification standards and Tennessee licensure requirements.