A nationwide shortage of individuals with Ph.D.'s in the communication sciences and disorders means that graduates are in high demand for employment in leadership positions in health facilities, universities and research centers. In addition to advanced course work related to communication disorders, students complete requirements in statistics, research design, hearing or speech sciences, a teaching/supervising internship, and dissertation.

The James Madison University's Ph.D. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders is individualized to the specific interests of the student while assuring a rigorous educational experience appropriate to the research-training and advanced knowledge characteristics of the degree. Students may be admitted to the Ph.D. program at various stages, including post-master's, post-baccalaureate and post-Au.D., depending upon the individual's career goals.

Some students may wish to pursue clinical qualifications in either audiology or speech-language pathology while concurrently undertaking their Ph.D. studies. All admitted students will undertake an individually-designed program emphasizing research tools, research activities and in-depth exposure to a major area of interest supported by study in a minor area.