MISSION STATEMENTS

 

DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH

 

The Department of Speech, one of nine academic units within the College of Liberal Arts at Louisiana Tech University, has as its primary mission the responsibility to provide educational, cultural, and training experiences that enable students to fulfill their potential to become educated and refined individuals. Secondly, the department seeks to promote the acquisition of new knowledge through scholarly activity and scientific research. Thirdly, the department is concerned with dissemination and use of knowledge. The primary roles of the Department of Speech are teaching, research, and service. The teaching role is fulfilled by promoting scholarship and creative works through its undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Departmental faculty is committed to preparing students to be knowledgeable citizens in the 21^st century and to integrate life-long learning into their professional experiences. Research is an integral part of the instructional programs allowing opportunities for faculty and students to discover and disseminate critical knowledge relative to their fields of study and fostering critical thinking in student-centered programs of study. Service to the university and the community is woven into the student’s academic experience to ensure practical training experiences as well as instill a sense of civic responsibility and satisfaction in enhancing the quality of life in the community and state. The Department of Speech offers education, co concentration, and training experiences in speech communication, speech-language pathology, and audiology. Undergraduate and graduate programs are offered in each area of concentration.

 

Speech Communication

 

In addition to providing support for the university, college, and department’s mission, the Speech Communication division of the Department of Speech has as its primary mission the responsibility to provide a high quality education for students to prepare them for employment in fields in which communication competency is valued. To fulfill this mission, the curriculum is designed to give students the academic knowledge and practical experience that will prepare them to function as communication specialists in a variety of organizational and interpersonal contexts. A second mission of the division is to contribute to the successful implementation of the core curriculum by preparing non-majors to use public speaking skills in the community and the workplace. To fulfill this mission, the department offers two presentation courses available to all university students: Speech 110 (Principles of Speech) and Speech 377 (Professional Speaking).

 

 

Pre-Professional Speech-Language Pathology

 

In addition to providing support for the university, college, and department’s mission, the Pre-Professional Speech-Language Pathology division of the Department of Speech has as its primary mission the responsibility to provide a high quality education for students to prepare them for entry into graduate programs in speech-language pathology or audiology. To fulfill this mission, the pre-professional curriculum is designed to permit students to (a) obtain knowledge in the basic sciences; (b) obtain knowledge in the basic communication sciences and disorders; and (c) participate in learning experiences that are fundamental to the continuation of their professional education through graduate study in speech-language pathology or audiology.

 

 

Master of Arts

Speech-Language Pathology

 

In addition to providing support for the university, college, and department’s mission, the primary mission of the master’s program in speech-language pathology is to prepare students to enter professional practice. To fulfill this mission, the academic and clinical curricula are designed to permit students to (a) satisfy the university and departmental requirements for a master’s degree in speech-language pathology; (b) meet the recognized standards of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for national certification as a speech-language pathologist; (c) satisfy the academic and clinical practicum requirements of the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology (LBESPA) for a provisional license in speech-language pathology; (d) meet the academic and clinical practicum requirements of the Louisiana Department of Education for a Type C or Ancillary Certificate in Speech Therapy (for speech-language pathology graduates only); (e) demonstrate the knowledge and skills for entry into professional practice that are consistent with the scope of practice and the standards of ethical conduct for speech-language pathologists; and (f) demonstrate knowledge of basic research principles and develop skills to conduct research that will contribute to the body of knowledge in speech-language pathology.

 

 

Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.)

 

In addition to providing support for the university, college, and department’s mission, the primary mission of the doctoral program in audiology (Au.D.) is to prepare students to enter the professional practice of audiology. To fulfill this mission, the academic and clinical curricula are designed to prepare students to (a) satisfy the university and departmental requirements for a doctorate in audiology; (b) meet the nationally recognized standards of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for certification as an audiologist; (c) satisfy the academic and clinical practicum requirements of the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology (LBESPA) for licensure for entry-level practice; (d) demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary for entry into professional practice that are consistent with the scope of practice and the standards of ethical conduct for audiologists; and (e) demonstrate knowledge of basic research principles and conduct research that will contribute to the body of knowledge in audiology.

 

Louisiana Tech University Speech and Hearing Center

 

The Louisiana Tech University Speech and Hearing Center, administered by the Department of Speech, is housed in Robinson Hall. Clinical services are provided during each quarter of the nine-month academic year; referrals for services are accepted from all sources. Graduate students-in-training, under the direct supervision of program faculty who have the appropriate professional state license and national certification, provide the clinical services. In addition to providing support for the university, college, and department’s mission, the primary mission of the Speech and Hearing Center is to serve as the principal clinical training site for the program’s graduate students in speech-language pathology and audiology. To fulfill this mission, the Speech and Hearing Center (a) provides appropriate and directly supervised clinical practicum experiences for students entering the discipline of human communication sciences and disorders; (b) provides comprehensive and direct diagnostic, habilitative, and rehabilitative services to individuals across the life span from diverse language, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds who have disorders of speech, language, swallowing, hearing, and cognitive aspects of communication;  (c) promotes practices for the prevention of communication, swallowing, and hearing disorders; (d) serves a consultative and collaborative role for exchange of information among persons and organizations concerned with human communication, with special reference to speech, language, and hearing; and (e) provides opportunities for research activities that enhance knowledge about human communication processes and disorders.