Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
Admission to the Graduate Program
Enrollment in 500/600 level courses in speech-language pathology is restricted to students who have been accepted to one of the graduate programs (traditional or cohort) of the department as unconditionally classified students. Students wishing to be admitted must complete the following procedures:
1. Students must meet the criteria for acceptance by the University as a graduate student;
2. Every student (new or continuing) must apply directly to the university through CSU Mentor. CSU Mentor applications are processed by the university online at http://www.csumentor.edu/. Original transcripts and GRE scores must be sent directly to the university. The department will access these transcripts electronically for department evaluation. All materials to the university must be received no later than January 15th;
3. Students applying to the traditional M.A. program, then must apply to the Department of Speech-Language Pathology for admission to the graduate program using the department application form. This form must be filed with the graduate advisor by January 15th for admission in the subsequent fall semester. The following supportive materials must be filed with the department admission application:
- A. Change of objective form available at department office (continuing CSULB students only);
- B. One-page summary of relevant work, volunteer or research experience, with name and contact information for corroborating professional.
NOTE: Minimum Criteria 1) a GPA of 3.5 or better in the last 60 units of coursework, including Speech-Language Pathology coursework; and 2) confirmation of acceptable GPA obtained during the final senior semester.
Any course deficiencies will be determined by the department graduate committee after consultation with the student and the student's faculty advisor. Students applying to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology will have completed one of the two prerequisites listed in the next section prior to enrollment in graduate classes.
Prerequisites
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a major in communicative disorders, speech-language pathology, speech and hearing sciences, etc.; or
2. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a discipline other than Speech-Language Pathology. The applicant must have at least 30 units of course work in speech-language pathology/communicative disorders as a matriculated student in an undergraduate program or master’s preparatory program from a university with accreditation from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) before enrollment in the graduate program.
Advancement to Candidacy
In order to be advanced to candidacy for a Master's degree, a student must meet the following criteria:
1. enrollment in the semester or summer session in which advancement takes place;
2. satisfactory completion of C D 696 Research Methods: Applied and Basic (3) and three additional units;
3. satisfactory fulfillment of the CSULB Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). The GWAR must be fulfilled before the student is advanced to candidacy;
4. maintenance of a GPA of at least 3.0 in (a) all graduate work completed in Speech-Language Pathology, (b) all graduate work completed at CSULB, and (c) all graduate work transferred to meet graduation requirements with no grade below "C";
5. filing of the student Program for the Master of Arts Degree in Speech-Language Pathology after completion of items 2-5;
6. the Department's standard written program of graduate courses approved by the student's department advisor, the department graduate advisor, the department chairperson, and the College of Health and Human Services Associate Dean. (This form is known as the Advancement to Candidacy form.)
Requirements
Forty-one to Forty-Five (41-45) units of course work are required:
Take all of the following courses (31 units):
- C D 661 Traumatic Brain Injury Across the Lifespan (3)
Prerequisites: CD 696.
- C D 662 Seminar in School-Age Language Disorders: Grade 1 through High School (3)
Prerequisites: CD 456, CD 481A and CD 696.
- C D 663 Seminar in Preschool Language Disorders: 0-5 Years (3)
Prerequisites: CD 456 and CD 481A. Corequisite: CD 696.
- C D 665 Seminar in Language Disorders in Adults (3)
Prerequisites: CD 481B, CD 696.
- C D 666 Seminar in Motor Speech Disorders and Fluency Disorders (3)
Prerequisites: CD 466, CD 696.
- C D 667 Seminar in Autism Spectrum Disorders (3)
Prerequisite: CD 696.
- C D 668 Seminar in Dysphagia (2)
Prerequisite: CD 477, CD 696
- C D 669A Clinical Practice – Child-Adolescent Speech and Language Clinic (2)
Prerequisites: CD 489; Prerequisite/Corequisites: CD 663 and consent of instructor.
- C D 669B Clinical Practice: Autism Spectrum Disorders (2)
Prerequisites: CD 667.
- C D 669J Clinical Practice - Adult Speech and Language Clinic (2)
Prerequisites: CD 489; Prerequisite/Corequisites: CD 665 and consent of instructor.
- C D 669L Clinical Practice with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Clients (2)
Prerequisites: 1) Completion of all disorder-specific graduate seminars; 2) completion of a minimum of 3 core clinics (CD 669 A-J); 3) CD 483 and CD 489, or equivalent as approved by the instructor) and consent of instructor.
- C D 696 Research Methods: Applied and Basic (3)
Prerequisites: PSY 110 or equivalent or consent of instructor.
Take one of the following options:
Option 1 (10 units):
- C D 670 Medical Internship in Speech and Language Pathology (5)
Prerequisites: Complete with a grade of B or higher all graduate seminars for the Master's degree in CD and all graduate clinics applicable to specific field placement (as determiined by Instructor), and Department consent.)
- and
- C D 686A Public School Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology (5)
Prerequisites: Pass the CBEST, complete with a grade of "B" or higher all graduate seminars and all but one graduate clinic required for the Master's degree in CD, and department consent.
Option 2 (7 units):
- CD 669H Clinical Practice-Special Programs (2)
Prerequisites: At least one of the C D 669A through J courses. Specialized practice placement to obtain experience with speech, language, and hearing disorders. May be repeated to a maximum of 4 units. Letter grade only (A-F).
- and
- C D 670 Medical Internship in Speech and Language Pathology (5)
Prerequisites: Complete with a grade of B or higher all graduate seminars for the Master's degree in CD and all graduate clinics applicable to specific field placement (as determined by Instructor and Department consent.)
- or
- CD 686A Public School Practicum in Speech-Language Pathology (5)
Prerequisites: Pass the CBEST, complete with a grade of "B" or higher all graduate seminars and all but one graduate clinic required for the Master's degree in CD, and department consent.
Choose one of the following options:
1) Option 1 Comprehensive Examination (3 Units):
C D 695 Directed Readings and a 2-unit elective
(C D 575 recommended)
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor.
or
2) Option 2 Thesis (4 Units):
C D 698 Thesis
Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy for master's degree.
Regulations governing the preparation and eligibility for the administration of comprehensive examination options are available in the Department Office. Departmental regulations concerning preparation of theses are also available in the office.
Within the context of the C D 669L clinical course,
(1) The student will complete a minimum of 25 hours of clinical experience under appropriate supervision with a client determined to be of a language or dialect different from that of the student clinician.
(2) Students who are bilingual and biliterate in English and another language may be eligible for clinical practice using their non-English language, within the C D 669L practicum.
