Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential
Program Overview
Program: Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential
The Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential (Language, Speech and Hearing Services and Audiology) is designed for persons who want certification to serve exceptional individuals as language, speech and hearing specialists, and/or as audiologists.
Program Description
Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the university, and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements.
Program Requirements
A. Admission
Admission to the credential program requires admission to the master's program in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences. Applicants for graduate status must possess either a baccalaureate degree in Communicative Disorders or complete 30 semester units of prerequisite courses, the Graduate Record Examination or Miller's Analogy, and submit recommendations, transcripts, and the departmental application.
B. Pre-Clinical Phase
For students who want to obtain the credential but lack the required baccalaureate degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences for admission to graduate studies, the first step in qualifying for admission is to complete the Pre-Clinical Phase courses. All entering undergraduate and postbaccalaureate undeclared majors are regarded as Pre-Clinical Phase students. All majors, including credential candidates, are required to have academic advisement by the Department during pre-registration activities each semester.
In order for a student to qualify for admission to Clinical Privileges (Clinical Phase), the Pre-Clinical Phases courses must be completed with a grade of "B" or better in each course. The student then submits a formal application for Clinical Privileges to the department. Evaluation for Clinical Privileges includes an assessment of academic and clinical potential, supported by letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, and satisfactory completion of the Pre-Clinical Phase courses.
As soon as the candidate is accepted for Clinical Privileges (Clinical Phase), the student is eligible to enroll in the following courses:
- EPC 314 Psychological Foundations, K-12 (3)
- FCS 330 Child Growth and Development I (3)
C. Requirements for Good Standing
Once admitted to Clinical Privileges (Clinical Phase), undergraduate and graduate majors in Communicative Disorders must continue to meet the standards for Clinical Privileges as described by the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences. Additionally, once admitted, all candidates must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA in the major. Failure to maintain good standing may result in dismissal from the credential program.
D. Graduate Requirements for the Credential
The Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential (Language, Speech and Hearing Services and Audiology) requires completion of the Master of Science degree in Communicative Disorders, with the appropriate emphasis in either Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology. In order to take the advanced (500- and 600-level) courses for the master's degree, a student must be admitted to conditionally classified or classified graduate status by the department.
E. Additional Requirements
In addition to prerequisite courses and the master's degree, the following courses are required for the credential:
1. Core Curriculum
- CD 485 Augmentative and Alternative Communication (3)
- EPC 314 Psychological Foundations, K-12 (3)
- FCS 330 Child Growth and Development I (3)
- SPED 438CDA Student Teaching in Severe Language Handicapped Aphasia (4)
For Speech-Language Pathology only:
- CD 480 Early Speech-Language Intervention (3)
- CD 672A Advanced Clinical Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology I (3)
- CD 672B Advanced Clinical Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology II (3)
2. Other Requirements
All credential candidates must satisfactorily complete the CBEST.
3. Special Class Authorization (Aphasic)
A program by which a candidate for the Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential may add the Special Class Authorization (Aphasia) has been developed. The following courses are required:
- CD 478 Severe Language Handicapped and/or Aphasic Pupils in the Classroom (3)
- EED 520 Reading Instruction for Diverse Learners (3)
- EED 640 Elementary School Mathematics Education (2)
- MATH 210 Basic Number Concepts (3)
- SPED 544CD Student Teaching in Language, Speech and Hearing and Audiology (6)