California State University, Los Angeles
Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology
Fact Sheet
GRADUATE PROGRAM OFFERED
The Department of Communication Disorders offers a program leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Communicative Disorders, Speech-Language Pathology option. Additionally, coursework is offered that leads to the Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential in Language, Speech, and Hearing (needed to be employed as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the public school setting) and the Special Class Authorization for the Severe Language Handicapped (needed to teach a self-contained classroom of severely language handicapped children).
The program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and thus prepares students for certification as a Speech-Language Pathologist by ASHA, as well as for state licensure by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance.
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAM
The graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology requires the completion of a minimum of 58 quarter units of graduate coursework and clinical practicum. Additionally, most students choose to simultaneously pursue the credential, which adds 18-21 additional quarter units (14 of which are involved with student teaching) to the program. Full-time students can complete the graduate program (including credential requirements) in two years. Part-time students will take three years or longer, depending on their study load. The Special Class Authorization is pursued by a minority of students and takes 1-2 additional quarters of coursework and practicum.
ADMISSION PROCESS
There is a two-step process required for admission as a graduate student in the Department of Communication Disorders. Step 1: Application to the University to pursue graduate study. This process is totally separate from the departmental admissions process. The University application is only available on-line – go to www.CSUMentor.com. This University admission process admits you to the University only, not to a specific degree program. Step 2: Application to the Department of Communication Disorders to pursue a graduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology. This can take place before or after the completion of Step 1 since the University application deadline is sometimes later than the Department application deadline, which is February 15th. Check www.CSUMentor for University application deadlines. The Departmental application consists of the departmental application form, three letters of recommendation, a letter of intent, transcripts, and forwarded results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Contact the Department office for a Departmental application instruction sheet and forms. These are also available on the Department web site – go to www.calstatela.edu/academic/hhs/comd and click on “Admissions Information.”
Admission to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology is a competitive process whereby all full-time faculty are part of a committee that evaluates the credentials of all applicants. Prospective students are admitted, placed on a waiting list, or denied admission on the basis of an evaluation of their grade point average in COMD coursework, grade point average in the last 90 quarter units, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and letter of intent.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Requirements for admission to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology include the following:
1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree in communicative disorders or its equivalent
2. A minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) in the last 90 quarter units of coursework taken.
3. A minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate or prerequisite speech-language pathology and audiology courses.
4. A recent GRE with minimum scores of 450 in verbal, 450 in quantitative, and 4.5 in analytic writing.
5. Department application form.
6. Letter of professional goals and intent.
7. Three letters of recommendation.
Note that the above requirements specify minimum criteria only. Achievement of the minimum scores/GPAs does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.
PREPARATION FOR ADMISSION
1. Prospective students should pay attention to the designated window periods established by the University for submitting the University application along with the application fee. All students must apply to the University for admission to graduate study, including students who have completed their undergraduate studies at CSULA.
2. The University admits prospective graduate students year-round. The Department of Communication Disorders, on the other hand, admits students only once a year.
3. All students must pass a Writing Proficiency Examination before the end of their second quarter of graduate study. Passing the CBEST (California Basic Skills Test) with a score of 41 or better on the writing section will satisfy this requirement.
4. We would be happy to answer any additional questions you have about the admissions process. Please call (323) 343-4754 and ask the secretary to direct your call to an appropriate advisor.
WHY CAL STATE LOS ANGELES FOR GRADUATE STUDY?
We realize that there are many master's degree programs in Speech-Language Pathology throughout the country and even in the local Southern California community. So, then, why consider Cal State LA for your master's degree? We believe there are several reasons:
1. Over the past three years, 100% of our graduate students have passed the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology, part of our current comprehensive examination for students about to complete the graduate program. Employment rates for students graduating over the past three years is also 100%. On-time completion rates (two years for full-time students and three years for part-time students) over the past three years (most recent year first) were 88%, 84%, and 78%, respectively. Some students require additional time to complete the MA program. Completion rates, including students who required an additional one to two quarters, over the past three years (most recent year first) were 88%, 95%, and 87%, respectively.
2. Within the first week of your graduate studies, an advisor will sit down with you to individually plan your program of study. Once this plan is completed and signed, you are guaranteed that you will be provided courses and experiences at the times indicated on your plan. If any change has to be made to your program, your forward progress will not suffer. If you have to make any change as time goes by, we will sit down with you again to re-plan the remainder of your program. In short, we will work hard not to create artificial roadblocks during the difficult-enough task of completing a master's degree. We are a mid-sized graduate program, accepting approximately 18 new master's degree students in Speech-Language Pathology yearly. Thus, we are large enough to provide a sufficient cohort for learning, yet small enough that we can give personal attention to every graduate student.
3. Our students have access to a tremendous array of opportunities for clinical externship experience. Over the past few years, CSULA students have completed externships at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, White Memorial Medical Center, Children's Hospital (L.A.), the Long Beach, Sepulveda, Wadsworth, and Los Angeles Veteran's Administration Medical Centers, Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center, Glendale Adventist Hospital, Casa Colina Hospital, Kaiser Permanente (various facilities), St. Francis Medical Center, Daniel Freeman Hospital, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Long Beach Memorial Hospital, La Palma Hospital, and several other medical facilities. School externships have been completed in at least 10 local school districts, and a few that are not so local.
4. In its close to 50-year history, California State University, Los Angeles, has graduated some of the most respected and best-known Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists in the state. In addition to hundreds of clinicians working in diverse settings throughout the country, our alumni include many program directors, university instructors, faculty members and department chairs, at least one University Dean, and several American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA) national and state office holders.
More Questions?
If you continue to have questions about the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology, feel free to call the department at (323) 343-4754. Our department secretary will be happy to try to answer your questions or refer you to someone who can. Best Wishes.