Communication Sciences and Disorders

Dr. Kathryn Bayles, Department Chair

Welcome to the website of the University of Central Arkansas Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders. The Department offers Bachelor’s (BS), Master’s (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy degrees that are accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Our fourteen faculty are clinically certified and licensed in the State of Arkansas. So also are six adjunct clinical supervisors. Nine faculty hold the PhD, and their expertise encompasses the breadth of speech-language pathology specialties. The Department is located in the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences on the UCA campus in Conway, Arkansas, a dynamic college town of approximately 60,000 that is home to three institutions of higher learning.

Whether you are seeking an undergraduate program, an accredited master’s program, or a doctoral degree, you will find UCA a learner-centered program. Our faculty want to know you – your interests, needs and goals. They are passionately committed to providing every student with quality advising, strong mentoring, cutting-edge information and diverse clinical experience. It is this commitment that has earned UCA a reputation for excellence in preparing clinicians, educators and researchers.

The Bachelor of Science program prepares students for graduate study in speech-language pathology and related disciplines such as neuroscience, cognitive science, special education, and linguistics.

The Master of Science academic curriculum is based on current best practices in the identification, treatment and prevention of communication disorders. Clinical placements include schools, hospitals and rehabilitation facilities that provide students the opportunity to work with children and adults. UCA graduates have abundant employment opportunities with a median salary of $57,000 per year.

The doctoral program is a consortium with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the University of Arkansas Little Rock, our partners in an innovative doctoral consortium that involves 30 faculty. This unique collaborative arrangement provides truly incredible resources to students by virtue of breadth of faculty, interdisciplinary research experiences, specialization opportunities and networking.

In closing, this is an exciting era for speech-language pathology. Advances in cognitive and neuroscience, together with new medical technologies, have created new therapies for clinicians and increased demand for our services. Greater demand coupled with a national shortage of clinicians and doctoral-trained educators and scientists makes employment a virtual certainty. At UCA you will find a supportive team of professionals who will work with you to achieve the skills for helping individuals communicate, the most precious of human skills.

Dr. Kathryn A. Bayles

Department Chair