The Department of Communication Disorders offers the Master of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders with options in Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology; the Clinical- Rehabilitative Services Credential in Audiology; the Clinical-Rehabilitative Services Credential in Language, Speech, and Hearing; the Clinical-Rehabilitative Services Credential in Language, Speech, and Hearing with Special Class Authorization; and the Certificate in School Audiometry.

The Audiology option prepares students to serve in various professional settings following completion of a professional doctorate degree. These settings include:

• Clinical settings such as hospitals, medical offices, private practice, rehabilitation clinics and other facilities that require a Professional Doctorate degree in Audiology, licensure in Audiology by the state Board of Medical Quality Assurance, and/or the certificate of clinical competence (CCC) in audiology issued by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).
• Public School settings as a rehabilitative/school audiologist that require a clinical rehabilitative services credential for school audiology.

The Speech-Language Pathology option prepares students to work in various professional settings including:

• Clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, private practice and other facilities that require a Master’s degree with emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology, and licensure in Speech-Language Pathology by the State Board of Medical Quality Assurance, and the certificate of clinical competence (CCC) in Speech-Language Pathology issued by ASHA.
• Public and private schools as a Language-Speech and Hearing Specialist that require a Clinical Rehabilitative Services credential in Language, Speech and Hearing.
• Public school programs for severely language handicapped children that require the Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential in Language, Speech and Hearing with Special Class Authorization.

Admission to the Program

In addition to University and College requirements for admission to graduate study, applicants must satisfy specific department requirements before being considered for admission to either the Audiology or Speech-Language Pathology option:

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree in communicative disorders or equivalent;
• A minimum GPA of 3.00 in the last 90 quarter units and in all prerequisite Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology courses;
• A recent GRE with a minimum cumulative score of 900 on the verbal and quantitative sections, and a 450 or 4.5 on the analytical section;
• Departmental application form;
• Letter of professional goals and intent, and
• Three letters of recommendation.

Additionally, the following seminal courses are considered prerequisites for the M.A. degree program, even for students who have a baccalaureate degree in Communicative Disorders: COMD 420 and 458 (both Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology options) and COMD 476 (Speech-Language Pathology option only). These courses, or their equivalents, if not already taken prior to entering the M.A. program, will be required in addition to requirements for the M.A. degree.

Students are required to meet personal and professional standards established by the department which include (but not limited to): acceptable communication skills; the capacity to accept instruction; willingness and ability to assume professional responsibility for the welfare of clients; and the ability to relate well to clients, peers, and faculty. Students also must possess qualities of personal integrity, maturity, and sound professional judgment.