What is Communicative Disorders and Sciences?
Communicative Disorders and Sciences (CDS) has two complementary areas of focus - practice and science. CDS focuses on typical and disordered speech, language, and hearing, as well as related aspects of swallowing, voice, and vestibular systems. We seek to support the communication needs of people through research and clinical practice.
Professionals in our field include speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Learn more about these career options.
Learn More about Communicative Disorders and Sciences
Our Mission
The mission of the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences is to
- engage in basic and translational research in the areas of human communication processes and its disorders
- train doctoral (PhD) students to conduct basic and clinical research on speech, language, and hearing sciences and disorders, and
- leverage our programs to educate our undergraduate (BA) and graduate students (MA, AUD) to become a new generation of clinician-scientists.
We are also dedicated to providing high quality clinical services to individuals in need and to providing educational outreach through clinics, workshops and screenings.
Our Strengths
Our programs provide the training and experiences needed for students to become clinicians and researchers in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Students receive training in a variety of speech, language, and hearing disorders that occur across the lifespan.
- Our UB Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Clinic provides services targeting early childhood through older adulthood in speech, language, hearing, vestibular, voice, and swallowing disorders. Learn more about the variety of specialty clinics and programs we offer.
- Our approach to teaching emphasizes the role of research and evidence-based practice. Research in our department spans bench-to-bedside, and from early childhood to older adulthood. Implications of our research impact the diagnosis, identification, intervention, and rehabilitation of communication disorders. Learn more about our research laboratories.
Our programs are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
The Master of Arts (MA) education program in Speech-Language Pathology (residential) and the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) education program in Audiology (residential) at the University at Buffalo are both accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
Why UB?
UB is a place where you can challenge yourself, find your community and build a future. As New York’s flagship public research university, UB gives you the power of an R1 institution and the support of a campus that feels welcoming from day one.
What you’ll experience at UB
- Affordable excellence: Earn a top-tier education at a cost that supports your goals.
- Collaborative community: Learn from faculty and peers who care about your growth.
- Built-in opportunity: Get experience through research, internships and student clubs.
- A vibrant place to live: Buffalo offers friendly neighborhoods, a lively arts and food scene and easy access to Toronto and New York.
The UB difference
UB students get big-university advantages without losing the personal connections that make college meaningful. You’ll join a campus that encourages curiosity, celebrates different perspectives and gives you room to explore your path.
We offer several degree options for undergraduate and graduate students to support a variety of career tracks!