Communicative Disorders, M.A.

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The Department of Communication Disorders offers the Master of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology. The requirements of the MA degree were designed to also meet the requirements of the Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential issued by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), licensure in Speech-Language Pathology issued by the State of California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Licensing Board, and the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

The Master of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology prepares students to work in various professional settings including clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, private practice, and public and private schools.

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 the MA in Communicative Disorders with an emphasis in Speech-Language Pathology Program:

Completion of a baccalaureate degree in communicative disorders or equivalent;
A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester units and in all courses in Communicative Disorders;
Recent GRE General Test scores in all three subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing) ;
Completion of the departmental application form;
Letter of professional goals and intent, and
Three letters of recommendation.
An interview may also be required.
Additionally, the following courses (or their equivalents) are considered prerequisites for the M.A. program, even for students who have a baccalaureate degree in Communicative Disorders.

Notice to Students Regarding Professional Licensure and Certification

Prerequisites to the Program:

COMD 4000 - Hearing Science [3]
COMD 4020 - Audiology and Audiometry [3]
COMD 4200 - Rehabilitative Audiology [3]
COMD 4510 - Psychosocial Considerations in Communication Disorders [3]
COMD 4560 - Language Development (also listed as CHDV 4920) [3]
COMD 4600 - Introduction to Language Science [3]
COMD 4610 - Descriptive Phonetics [3]
COMD 4620 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism [3]
COMD 4630 - Neuroscience of Communication [3]
COMD 4710 - Primary and Secondary Language Disorders in Children and Adolescents [3]
COMD 4720 - Fluency and Speech Sound Disorders [3]
COMD 4730 - Communication Disorders in Voice, Cleft Palate, and Cerebral Palsy [3]
COMD 4740 - Acquired Speech, Language, Cognitive, and Swallowing Disorders [3]
COMD 4750 - Cultural/Linguistic Diversity in Communication Disorders [3]
COMD 4800 - Research Methods in Communication Disorders [3]
Note: Students are required to meet personal and professional standards established by the department which include (but are 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.

Requirements for the Degree (59 - 65 units)

ASHA accreditation mandates completion of one course each in the following areas: biological sciences, physical sciences, statistics, and social/behavioral sciences. If these courses have not been completed prior to admission, they will be required as part of the MA degree.

Required Courses (43 units)

COMD 5500 - Fluency Disorders [3]
COMD 5510 - Language Disorders in Children [3]
COMD 5520 - Voice Disorders [3]
COMD 5530 - Speech Sound Disorders [3]
COMD 5540 - Neurolinguistic Disorders in Adults [3]
COMD 5550 - Motor Speech Disorders [3]
COMD 5560 - Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology [3]
COMD 5570 - Dysphagia [3]
COMD 5580 - Colloquium in Evidence-Based Practice [1]
COMD 5581 - Colloquium in Audiology [1]
COMD 5582 - Colloquium in Educational Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology [1]
COMD 5583 - Colloquium in Professional Issues [1]
COMD 5630 - Professional and Business Issues in Speech-Language Pathology [2] *
COMD 5660 - Alternative Communication Modalities [2]
COMD 5750 - Educational Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology [3]
COMD 5760 - Diagnostic Considerations in Communication Disorders [3] *
COMD 5785 - Clinical Practicum Lab [1] (4 units total)
COMD 5835 - Directed Teaching Lab [1]
Note: * These courses are waived if COMD 5990 (the thesis option) is undertaken.

Required Practicum (16 units)

In order to graduate, students are required to have completed 400 hours of supervised clinical practicum. If these hours have not been successfully completed after meeting the requirements below, additional registration for clinical practicum coursework may be necessary.

Comprehensive Examination or Thesis (0, 6 units)

In conference with an adviser, students must elect to complete either the comprehensive examination or a thesis. If the thesis option is chosen, the student will not be required to take COMD 5583 or COMD 5630 .

A. COMD 5960 - Comprehensive Examination [0] or
Students should expect to take the comprehensive examination the quarter after they complete all course work in their program and must comply with college and departmental requirements.
B. COMD 5990 - Thesis [1-3]
Students must have adviser approval, be advanced to candidacy, and be enrolled in COMD 5990 during the semesters the thesis is in progress.
COMD 5990 units may be substituted for COMD 5583 and COMD 5630 from the required course list.

* These courses are waived if the thesis option is undertaken.

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