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Master's Degree Program

Two Female Graduates Laughing at Graduate Day

Degree Awarded:Master of Education - Concentration in Speech-Language Pathology

This program offers an in-depth study of communicative disorders. It covers the topics of human voice, speech fluency, swallowing, speech development, language development and cognition. There is an emphasis on communication in culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Other areas of study include neuroanatomy and neuropathologies in speech, language and hearing, audiological testing and aural rehabilitation, and research and assessment methods.

Clinical practica include experiences with children, adolescents, adults and group therapy. There are practica in aural rehabilitation, student teaching (in a school setting) and an externship (hospital or rehabilitative center).

Completion of the Master's Degree Program requires completion of a research project or a passing grade on the department's comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam may be taken a total of three (3) times to achieve a passing grade.

 

COURSE SEQUENCE

ASHA BASIC SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS

All students regardless of your status in the program (Undergraduate, Extended Masters or Masters) must fulfill the American Speech-Language Hearing Association basic science coursework before graduating from the program. The Clinical Certification Board established this requirement many years ago to ensure that SLP professionals have a strong scientific foundation to support their work. As defined by the standards, everyone must complete the following:

ASHA REQUIREMENTS

CATEGORY 1. A course in the Biological Sciences (e.g. Intro to Biology, Intro to Zoology ) or equivalent.

CATEGORY 2. A course in the Behavioral Sciences (e.g. Intro to Psychology, Intro to Sociology or any equivalent course in these disciplines.

CATEGORY 3. A course in the Physical Sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry, astronomy) or equivalent

CATEGORY 4. A course in Mathematical Sciences (this is fulfilled through our program requirement to take Math 95 (Statistics) or its equivalent)

CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING (CCTC) REQUIREMENT

CATEGORY 5. A class in child and adolescent development (satisfied by SJSU CHAD 60, or Psych 102, or Health Sciences 115) or its equivalent

This is required to obtain a credential to become a Speech-Language Pathologist in the schools.

Many of you will find that you may already have taken classes in these categories as part of your general education requirements. If you have, that's great and you do not have to take them again. However, if you have deficiencies in any of these requirements you must complete them before you leave the program.

If you are SJSU student in the CDS undergraduate program and you are missing any of these classes you should plan on taking them at SJSU during your Senior year.

If you are an extended master's student or regular master's student from another university, you may take these classes anytime and anyplace (e.g community college, during summer, during winter break etc). However, it is our strong advice to everyone that you complete these classes before you enter the graduate program in order to ease your course load during the time you are here.