Communication is a uniquely human characteristic, which has a profound effect on what we do as human beings and our quality of life. The Department of Communication Disorders at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is committed to the study of both normal and disordered communication. It has a rich history of preparing researchers to advance the knowledge base in the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders and clinicians to work with individuals with communications disorders from linguistically and culturally diverse populations across the age span.