Speech-Language Pathology, M.A.

The Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Program at California State University, Long Beach is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

The primary purpose of CSULB’s Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Program is to prepare students as professional speech-language pathologists. The program’s objectives are to provide our students with: 

• Advanced knowledge in congenital, developmental, acquired, and neurogenic speech, language and communication disorders across the lifespan 
• Competence in implementing evidence-based practice in making ethical clinical decisions    
• Knowledge of procedures and methods for differential diagnosis in speech-language pathology 
• 400 clinical contact hours working with individuals with various communication and swallowing disorders 
• Competence in working with individuals with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds
• On-campus clinical practicum and off-campus internships to develop and refine clinical skills consistent with the defined scope of practice
• Internship experience in both school and medical/private practice settings 
• Development of cultural competence through seminars, clinical courses, internships, and student exchange program 
• Coursework and clinical contact hours for certification as a speech-language pathologist by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association 
• Opportunities to participate in faculty-led or student-led research projects

CSULB SLP M.A. program is a cohort program to be completed in 5 semesters which include a semester of school-based internship and a semester of medical/private practice internship. Students who successfully complete the SLP M.A. program at CSULB are eligible for Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), California State License in Speech-Language Pathology, and California Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential (SLPSC). 

Admission to the Graduate Program

Enrollment in 500/600 level courses in Speech-Language Pathology is restricted to students who have been accepted to the graduate program of the department as unconditionally classified students. Students wishing to be admitted must complete the following procedures:

1. Students must meet the criteria for acceptance by the University as a graduate student;
2.  Every student must apply directly to the university through Cal State Apply. Cal State Apply applications are processed by the university online at https://www2.calstate.edu/apply. The department will access the transcripts electronically for department evaluation. 
3. Students applying to the SLP M.A. program must apply to the Department of Speech-Language Pathology for admission using the Department Application Form. The appropriate Department Application Form which is available on the SLP Department website: https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-health-human-services/speech-language-pathology. The Department of Speech-Language Pathology admits students to the M.A program once per year for fall start dates.  

 

Prerequisites

Students applying to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology must have completed one of these two prerequisites:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a major in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; or
2. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a discipline other than Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). The applicant must have at least 30 semester units (or 45 quarter units) of coursework in speech-language pathology/communication sciences and disorders before enrollment in the graduate program.

Note 1: A minimum of 30 semester units (45 quarter units) in SLP coursework must be completed before enrollment in the graduate program.

Note 2: Any course deficiencies will be determined by the department graduate advisor and the department chairperson after consultation with the student and the student’s faculty advisor. Students applying to the graduate program in Speech-Language Pathology will have completed the identified coursework prior to enrollment in graduate classes.

 

Advancement to Candidacy

In order to be advanced to candidacy for a master’s degree, a student must meet the following criteria:

1. enrollment in the semester in which advancement takes place;
2. must complete all undergraduate requirements if any course deficiencies are identified by the department graduate advisor and the department chairperson;
3. satisfactory completion of SLP 696 - Research Methods: Applied and Basic  (3) and three additional units;
4. maintenance of a GPA of at least 3.0 in (a) all graduate work completed in Speech-Language Pathology, (b) all graduate work completed at CSULB, and (c) all graduate work transferred to meet graduation requirements with no grade below “C”;
5. submission of the Department’s Advancement to Candidacy Form which will be reviewed and approved by the department graduate advisor and the department chairperson. 

Note: Once a student advances to candidacy, he/she must continue to maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA; otherwise, candidacy may be revoked.