In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master’s degree as described in the Graduate Bulletin, the student must complete a graduate program of at least 36 units (44 units for the Concentration in Speech-language Pathology). A student must complete Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 799A, Thesis for Plan A. The thesis option requires approval by the school and may not be appropriate for every student. If Plan B is elected, the student must pass a written comprehensive examination (which may be repeated only twice). No more than six units of coursework outside the school acceptable on graduate level may be applied to the master’s degree.
The school offers one concentration leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree as described below. Our program is full-time only, 2 years stretching over 5 semesters – Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring. Students advance through the program with their cohort. Students obtain 375 clinical hours as part of the program and are eligible to apply for ASHA certification, state licensure, and the CA teaching credential upon completion of the program
Concentration in Speech-Language Pathology
This concentration has a clinical focus and may be used to satisfy the academic and clinical preparation for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); for the Speech-Language Pathology Credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing; and for licensure from the State of California. Students are required to complete coursework in all of the following areas: articulation, fluency, voice and resonance, receptive and expressive language, hearing, swallowing, cognitive and social aspects of communication, and augmentative and alternative communication modalities. Graduate Program. Students must complete a minimum of 45 academic units and a minimum of 19 clinical practicum units. The following courses are required: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 570, 600A, 600B, 606, 607, 608, 609A, 609B, 613, 614, 617, 675, and either 672 or 673. In addition, students must complete nine units from Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 750, 790, 793, 794, 795, 797, 798, 799A. At least three of the nine units must be selected from Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 750, 790, 793, 794. A minimum of 19 units in the following clinical practicum courses are required: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 525 (4 units); 521 and/or 618A and/or 619 (1-3 units); 618B (1-2 units); 626A, 626B, and/or 626C (3-5 units); 627 (3 units); 629 (1 unit); 630 (1) unit; and 933 (4 units). For students lacking transcript credit in aural rehabilitation, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 511 (3 units) is also required. It is school policy that all students maintain a 3.0 grade point average in their program coursework.
Concentration in Speech-Language Pathology: Bilingual Specialization
Students who have an interest in working with bilingual clients are encouraged to apply to the concentration in speech-language pathology with a specialization in bilingualism. Students are required to pass a language proficiency test in a language other than English. To be a candidate for the specialization, a student must be admitted to the master’s degree program in speech-language pathology since the specialization is coordinated with these endeavors. This concentration has a clinical focus and may be used to satisfy the academic and clinical preparation for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); for the Speech-Language Pathology Credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing; and for licensure from the State of California. Students are required to complete coursework in all of the following areas: articulation, fluency, voice and resonance, receptive and expressive language, hearing, swallowing, cognitive and social aspects of communication, and augmentative and alternative communication modalities. Graduate Program. Students must complete a minimum of 51 academic units and a minimum of 19 clinical practicum units. The following courses are required: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 570, 600A, 600B, 606, 607, 608, 609A, 609B, 613, 614, 617, 672, 673, 675, 794. Students must also complete three units of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 750, 790, or 793. An additional six units must be selected from Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 750, 790, 793, 795, 797, 798, or 799A with approval of adviser. A minimum of 19 units in the following clinical practicum courses are required: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 525 (4 units); 521 and/or 618A and/or 619 (1-3 units); 618B (1-2 units); 626A, 626B, and/or 626C (3-5 units); 627 (3 units), 629 (1 unit); 630 (1 unit); and 933 (4 units). For students lacking transcript credit in aural rehabilitation, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 511 (3 units) is also required. It is school policy that all students maintain a 3.0 grade point average in their program coursework.
Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology Certificate
The Certificate in Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology is designed for students who plan to work with bilingual Spanish-English speakers with communicative disorders. Students are required to pass a language proficiency test in a language other than English. To be a candidate for the certificate, a student must be admitted to the master’s degree program in speech-language pathology since the certificate is coordinated with these endeavors. The certificate program requires completion of 13 units to include nine units of substantive coursework and four units of graduate clinical practicum with bilingual speakers with communicative disorders. Based on research and clinical expertise of the faculty, as well as the availability of a clinical population, the certificate is currently focused on Spanish-English communicative disorders.
The following core courses are required: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences 570, 600A, 600B, 606, 607, 608, 609A, 609B, 613, 614, 617, 672, 673, 675, 794. Students must also complete 9 units of 700 level electives and 100 hours of graduate clinical practicum with Spanish speakers.
