I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Pathology or Communicative Disorders

I.  OVERVIEW

The Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology provides professional training for a career in speech-language pathology. Students with Bachelor's degrees in Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Disorders from other institutions may enter the program as a graduate student, although some adjustments in their programs may be necessary.

Graduate students in Speech-Language Pathology conduct supervised clinical practice in the Maryjane Rees Language, Speech and Hearing Center located on the Sac State campus.  This facility provides assistance to individuals with communicative disorders. Supervised practicum experiences off campus provide unique clinical opportunities in a variety of professional settings. Graduate practicum in speech-language pathology includes an internship in the public schools and local hospitals or other agencies. By the end of the Master's degree, students will have acquired a variety of supervised clinical experiences totaling at least 400 clock hours concentrated in Speech-Language Pathology.

The Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has accredited the department’s program in Speech-Language Pathology. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing has accredited the department’s program of preparation for the Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential with or without the Special Class Authorization.

II. REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE STANDING

A. Admission to Classified Graduate Status (Fall Admissions)

Admission to classified graduate status is on a competitive basis.  The minimum requirements for admission are as  follows: an undergraduate degree (or its equivalent)  in Speech Pathology and Audiology or Communicative Disorders,a GPA of no less than 2.75 overall, a GPA of  3.00 in the major (SPHP prefix courses), and test scores (see GRE information below).  Our departmental deadlines correspond with University deadlines and can be found on the Graduate Studies website at:  http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/ 

Students that meet the minimum qualifications for the program are ranked for graduate admission based on:

  • GPA in Speech Pathology or Communicative Disorders coursework and GRE scores (see below)
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Amount of related work, volunteer, and  multicultural experience
  • Scholarships, Awards, and Other Commendations
  • Quality of essay response
  • Amount of coursework completed in Speech Pathology or Communicative Disorders consistent with coursework completed by students with a BS in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Sacramento State

Students are admitted into the program in two groups of approximately 15 students each. The first 15 begin clinic in the fall and can expect to graduate in a total of 4 semesters. The second 15 in the ranking begin coursework in the fall semester and begin clinic in the spring semester. This group can expect to graduate in a total of 5 semesters.

1.  Admission information for students with Bachelor’s degrees in fields OTHER than Speech Pathology and  Audiology or Communication Disorders will be available by November 1, 2012.

Students with a bachelor's degree in a field other than Speech Pathology and Audiology or Communication Sciences and Disorders are not eligible to apply for the Master’s Degree program until they have completed our undergraduate curriculum or its equivalent and should not submit an application to the Master’s Degree Program until such coursework is completed.  Available options for completing undergraduate equivalency in Speech Pathology and Audiology at Sacramento State will be posted on our website by November 1, 2012.

2.  Admission for students with Bachelor’s degrees in Speech Pathology and Audiology or Communication Disorders is a two-step process.  Students with Bachelor’s Degrees in Speech Pathology and Audiology or Communication Disorders should complete the following steps:

STEP ONE:  The student must apply to the University’s Department of Graduate Studies (Information at: http://www.csus.edu/gradstudies/    Application completed through www.csumentor.edu).

 ** Please note:  Applicants only need to submit ONE set of official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended to Graduate Studies at Sacramento State, even though the Graduate Studies website indicates that two sets should be submitted.  This is because you are submitting the other official set to CSDCAS as part of your department level application.  Applicants do not need to submit official transcripts to Sacramento State Graduate Studies for coursework completed at Sacramento State.  Applicants do not need to resubmit to Sacramento State Graduate Studies any official transcripts that are already on file with Sacramento State unless there is additional work that has been completed.  Applicants must, however, submit ALL transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended to CSDCAS.

STEP TWO:  The student must apply directly to the Speech Pathology and Audiology Department through the CSDCAS web-based application (https://portal.csdcas.org/).  Once the applicant creates an account and profile with CSDCAS, the application can be accessed frequently in order to complete the required portions of the application. 

To ensure the CSDCAS application is completed correctly, the student must first read through four documents 

  • The Graduate Advising Manual, also found under Forms and Manuals
  • The “I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Pathology or Communication Disorders” link found under “New Students on our department website:  http://www.csus.edu/HHS/SPA/
  • The California State University, Sacramento profile found in the Participating Programs section of CSDCAS
  • All links under the HELP section at the  https://portal.csdcas.org/ website, particularly the FAQs, which will guide the student through each  section of the application: Three References, Applicant Information, Additional Information, Academic History, School Designations, the specific Essay question, etc.

After the student has created and completed the CSDCAS application, which is accessed through the CSDCAS homepage, it may be e-submitted to CSDCAS for processing and submission to our department.  Please pay particular attention to the deadline for application e-submission, which is listed on the Sacramento State information page in the CSDCAS SLP program description (February 15, 2013). Your application must be e-submitted by this date.  This is also the date that ALL official transcripts for ALL prior coursework and all letters of recommendation should be received by CSDCAS. CSDCAS will continue to process this type of information after this date, but Sacramento State will not view applications after March 1, 2013. 

CSDCAS Applicants should note the following:

  • Applicants will need to list ALL coursework from ALL transcripts AND any semester/quarter workplanned or “in progress” under Academic History.  Applicants who are actively completing courseworkshould submit transcripts to CSDCAS at the address below with coursework posted  through December 30th and should include this coursework and the grades awarded in this section.

    CSDCAS does provide one “academic update” timeframe in which applicants may update coursework completed since the original application e-Submission (this update must be completed within the timeframe specified by CSDCAS and prior to the application due date/CSUS viewing date). Academic Update is intended for students who have e-submitted their applications prior to receiving grades for listed coursework Summer or Fall Terms).  Only courses that are actually “in progress” orplanned (the current spring semester or semesters to follow) should be left without grades on the CSDCAS application after the application due date.  Please estimate approximate completion date by listing all “planned coursework.”   

               CSDCAS Verification Department

P.O.Box 9113

Watertown, MA 02471

  • Three letters of recommendation are required.Students MUST NOT submit more than three references, all of which must be submitted electronically.Two of these MUST come from Professors in Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Disorders.
  • The Department’s Graduate Record Examination (GRE) requirement may be fulfilled by achieving:

    A minimum combined score of 291 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the test;

    OR

    A minimum score of 4.5 on the analytical writing (AW) portion of the test.

    Note:   Scores must be obtained in the last 5 years. If the applicant has a GPA of 3.50 or higher in the major, the GRE requirement will be waived.  Students will receive higher ranking toward graduate admission if their scores are 5 or more points (or .5 for AW) above the minimum requirements on the GRE.  You MUST indicate your GRE score on your CSDCAS application AND have the score sent by ETS to CSUS CSDCAS for verification (Code 0702).  Do not have the scores sent directly to Sacramento State.
  • Successful completion of a minimum of 25 clock hours of supervised observations is required.  These observations are arranged and coordinated through SPHP 145 if the student has not already completed them.  Admitted students will be asked to submit a record of 25 observation hours to the department.
  • Applicants will be asked to submit evidence of Extracurricular and Volunteer Activities, and Awards via CSDCAS.  Relevant work or volunteer experience you have had, such as teaching, tutoring, health care work, experience with children, and so on, as well as information related to any honors or awards you may have received is required for your application.  Students should also highlight any relevant multicultural experience, multilingual abilities, and experience with ethnic groups and sign language through this process.

  • We no longer require a Personal Statement.  Instead, applicants must respond to the following specific essay question on their CSDCAS application:    

    How would your background, work/volunteer experiences, and experiences with culturally and linguistically diverse populations contribute to your ability to work with each of the following client profiles?
    1.)  A 4-year old bilingual child with unintelligible speech and delayed receptive and expressive Language
    2.)  An adolescent diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
    3.)  An adult who has acquired receptive and expressive communication difficulties following a stroke
  • If the applicant with a degree in Speech Pathology and Audioogy or Communication Disorders is not Sacramento State graduate, he/she should see the Department's Undergraduate Advising Manual for additional requirements. Admission preference is given to students whose undergraduate curriculum is equivalent to Sacramento State’s Speech Pathology and Audiology Undergraduate Curriculum.
  • CSDCAS applications are due at midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the date listed:  A midnight  CSDCAS submission deadline equates to a 9 p.m. submission deadline in California.

B.  Additional Requirements of Admitted Students

  1. Students failing to maintain a GPA of 3.00 are automatically placed on academic probation. The student has one semester to make up the grade-point deficiency.
  2. Only graduate students in good standing may enroll for graduate clinical practice or field placement.
    a. A grade of “C-“, “C” or “C+” is not acceptable in clinic.
    b. Any grade below a “B-“ must be repeated.
    c. Students with two “C” level grades in clinic will not be allowed to continue the graduate program.   
  3. Students must furnish their own transportation to off-campus practicum sites.
  4. Students must meet the clinical practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence and the California State License at the time of graduation in order to receive the Master's Degree.  
  5. Before enrolling in any clinical practicum, students must be immunized for rubella, measles, and TB, or submit proof of up-to-date immunizations.  These immunizations may be obtained through the Student Health Center on campus.
  6. Students must demonstrate equivalency to all of our undergraduate coursework and pre- and co-major requirements.  If courses in the major and related areas have not been completed at the undergraduate level, admitted students may be required to extend the graduate program to include these undergraduate requirements.  These requirements are described fully in the Undergraduate Advising Manual found on our webpage.  They include:
    •  Biological and Physical Sciences coursework
    •  Introduction to statistics
    •  Sign language
    •  Human development across the lifespan
    •  Introduction to psychology
    •  Required undergraduate SPHP prefix courses 
  7. If your Bachelor's degree has been completed at another University, additional time may be needed to complete the undergraduate requirements not already met.  If courses are waived at Sacramento State because they were taken at another University, you must be sure you have adequate graduate units at Sacramento State in the major to meet the  MS degree requirements and ASHA graduate level requirements.
  8. Students must obtain a Certificate of Clearance before they begin working with clients in the schools.
  9. The Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology requires that all students in clinical practicum and internship courses complete a background check prior to beginning any clinical courses in the program.(see section below)
  10. The department of Speech Pathology and Audiology requires that all students in clinical practicum are able to model appropriate speech, voice, and language.  Students must pass a speech, voice, and language screening.  Information regarding this process may be obtained by contacting the Clinic Coordinator.
  11. Students must pay an insurance fee when they enter the program to cover liability during observations and training in various settings.  This fee is paid for when students register for clinical courses through the University fee system

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Mandatory Background Check

The Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology requires all students in clinical and internships practicum courses to complete a background check prior to beginning any clinical courses in the semester. Please see the instructions below and contact the department if you have any questions.  

The completed background check information will only be revealed to the Speech Pathology and Audiology department chair and the Dean of the College Health and Human services. All information will be kept confidential.  

Go to: www.CertifiedBackground.com and click on “Students” then enter package code: CM24. You will then be directed to set up your CertifiedProfile account.

Click here for the instructions: backgroundcheck instructions.pdf

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