Academic Programs

The Department offers both the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Science degrees; however, the two degrees are integrated into one sequence of training. The Bachelor's degree provides background in theoretical and clinical areas necessary for graduate study. The Master's degree provides professional training for a career in speech-language pathology. Students with Bachelor's degrees in speech-language pathology from other institutions may enter the program as a graduate student, although some adjustments in their programs may be necessary.

The program in Audiology is a Bachelor’s Degree which will prepare students to apply to graduate programs to pursue the Doctorate of Audiology to practice as an Audiologist. Sacramento State no longer offers graduate training in Audiology (see Audiology Announcement below).

Majors in Speech Pathology conduct supervised clinical practice in the Maryjane Rees Language, Speech and Hearing Center. Located in Shasta Hall (formerly Speech/Drama Building) on the CSUS campus, this facility provides assistance to individuals with communicative disorders. Graduate students perform clinical practice. Graduate practicum in speech pathology includes an internship in the public schools and optional internships in local hospitals and other agencies. Graduate practicum in audiology includes internships in local agencies and hospitals. By the end of the Master's degree, students will have acquired a variety of supervised clinical experiences totaling at least 350 clock hours, concentrated in Speech Pathology.

More than 500 clients per year receive speech, language and hearing services. The Center provides services for many disorders such as: stuttering, cleft palate, laryngectomy, voice, pdd/autism, aphasia, accent modification, central auditory processing, language based reading problems, cerebral palsy, hearing impairments, and speech and language disorders. Video taping of therapy is used as an important procedure in developing clinical skills. There is also an in-clinic computer lab. Supervised practicum experiences off campus provide unique clinical opportunities in a variety of professional settings. The Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has accredited the programs in Speech-Language Pathology. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing has accredited the Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential (Language, Speech, and Hearing ) with Special Class Authorization.

For more information on academic requirements and program specifics, please review the Undergraduate and Graduate Advising Manuals (links at right).

Audiology Program Announcement

The new entry level for Audiology (beginning January 1, 2007) is a clinical doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.). A Master’s degree will no longer be accepted for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) beginning in 2007.

Because the state of California does not allow the CSU system to offer a doctorate or clinical doctorate, it will be necessary for all state universities to find a partner with whom they can jointly offer a clinical doctorate degree. CSU, Sacramento is placing only the Audiology program (not Speech-Language Pathology) on hold until such time that a partner can be found.

The last Master’s Audiology students were accepted Spring 2004.

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Graduate Program Notes

Conditional Grad Students

Graduate Admissions deadlines do not apply to conditional graduate students. Please contact the department chair or department graduate coordinator for deadlines and other infornation. (916) 278-6601

Graduate Application Deadlines

Graduate Application materials must be received by the department on the folowing dates:

February 10th for Fall applicants

September 10th for Spring Applicants

International Students:

1. Must have a score of 560 on the regular test or 220 if computer scored on the TOEFL.

or

2. Must have 3 or more years as a full time student in an American Institution of Higher Education.

or

3. Must be from an exempt country (Nigeria, Great Britain, Australia), where courses are taught in English.

Students who wish to enter with a bachelor’s from another area:

1. May enter as a second bachelor’s (must meet G.E. requirements)

or

2. Student may enter as a conditional graduate (may have difficulty getting financial aid for two whole years required to complete undergraduate coursework).

Students who wish to enter with bachelors in communication disorders:

1. Must come in as a conditional graduate.

2. If no previous clinic except observation must take Introduction to Clinic.

3. If students are missing courses in the undergraduate curriculum (including those from outside the department), they must take them. The most common missed courses are: voice, research, central auditory processing, multilingual language disorders, and counseling. Students do not have to take linguistics if they have one or more courses covering language structure and development.

Advancement to Candidacy Papers

1. Students must take all courses in the graduate curriculum or have had an equivalent course at the undergraduate level. (A third internship is not required, but is an option).

2. The student must have at least 53 units. Upper division units taken at the undergraduate level may be counted as long as they were not used to meet minimum criteria for the bachelor’s degree.

3. Changes may be made in the Advancement to Candidacy document if the student still meets all the Department and University criteria. The graduate coordinator must make the changes, initial them, then re-sign and date the document.

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