Why Sacramento State?

The CSAD MS Program at Scramento State provides:

1. Contemporary curriculum grounded in our department’s mission to provide theory before practice. (See the CSAD catalog for a list of courses and descriptions.)
   Didactic Classes include:
   • Motor Speech Disorders
   • Advanced Seminar in Child Language Disorders
   • Speech Sound Disorders: Concepts and Methods
   • Methods: Language Disorders I & Professional Writing-Field of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
   • AAC and Assistive Technologies
   • Neurogenic Language Disorders
   • Curriculum in Relation to Language -- Learning Disabilities in School-age Children
   • Voice and Fluency: Concepts and Methods
   • Methods: Language Disorders II
   • Counseling Techniques for Speech Pathologists and Audiologists
   • Dysphagia and the Medical Setting
   • Methods: Speech Disorders III
   • Methods: Language Disorders III
   • Methods: Speech -- Language Assessment
   • Speech/Language Internships Seminar
     
     
2. Internship Opportunities:
   Internship placement types including private practices, medical centers including acute, inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, and home health, and school districts including elementary, junior high, high school, and adult transition programs
   • Specialty internship sites including pediatric feeding and swallowing, cleft lip, and palate, AAC, home health, and more
   • Internship courses (2 required):
   • Internship: Speech-Language and Hearing Services in Schools (required)
   • Internship: Speech-Language Pathology in a Medical Setting
   • Internship: Speech-Language Pathology in Private Practice
   • Internship: Special Class Authorization Eligibility
     
     
3. Diverse in-house clinical experiences in the Maryjane Rees Center-Speech & Language Clinic
   Clinical Courses include:
   • Practice: Speech Disorders I- articulation and phonological disorders, and phonological difficulties associated with English as a second language (ESL). Clients may include both children and adults.
   • Practice: Hearing Screenings- clinical practice in the administration of hearing screening tests
   • Practice: Language Disorders I- language disorders emphasizing children and adults with peripheral hearing loss or central auditory processing disorders (CAPD).
   • Practice: Speech Disorders II- Student clinicians support individuals who have pathologies or disorders that interfere with their vocal quality, such as Parkinson's Disease, vocal nodules, or vocal abuse/misuse. We also serve those who are part of the stuttering community, using a supportive approach that counsels individuals to identify and achieve their personal goals. Additionally, the Gender Affirming Voice Clinic supports individuals in developing a healthy voice that affirms their gender identity.
   • Practice: Language Disorders II- children demonstrating language disorders secondary to a myriad of contributing factors including delayed development, neurological problems, and various genetic conditions.
   • Practice: Speech Disorders III- children and adults whose speech is disrupted secondary to developmental disorders and syndromes, degenerative disorders, or complex problems.
   • Practice: Language Disorders III- adult clients whose speech and language are disordered secondary to neurogenically related problems such as cerebrovascular accident, traumatic brain injury, or other neurological disorders.
   • Practice: Speech -- Language Assessment- assessment with a variety of communication disorders in children and adults. Experience with interdisciplinary teams.
     
     
4. State-of-the-art clinic in Folsom Hall (7667 Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95826) that serves our community and provides on-site training for our CSAD MS students. Clinic resources include the following:
   • Student prep room
   • Student workroom with computers
   • Student lockers
   • Clinic Storeroom including assessments, therapy materials, toys, motivators, and more.
   • 24 individual therapy rooms containing adult and pediatric tables, adult and pediatric chairs, large monitor, whiteboard
   • 3 Lab rooms
     • Speech Lab
     • Neuro Lab
     • Language & Literacy Lab
   • The Maryjane Rees Center aligns with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Code of Ethics in providing non-discriminatory services: “Individuals shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional services or in the conduct of research and scholarly activities on the basis of age; citizenship; disability; ethnicity; gender; gender expression; gender identity; genetic information; national origin, including culture, language, dialect, and accent; race; religion; sex; sexual orientation; or veteran status” (ASHA, 2023, p. 3.).
     
     
5. Interprofessional Education learning activities for students from other health-related degree programs.
   • The rich multidisciplinary environment in Folsom Hall includes physical therapy and nursing. In addition, students have participated in interprofessional education with students from physical therapy, recreational therapy, nursing, pharmacy, audiology, and education.
   • Collaborative clinical opportunities in the Maryjane Rees Center-Audiology Clinic
     
6. Culminating Experience Options (one is required):
   • Comprehensive Examination
   • Thesis
   • Project
   • For information on culminating experience, visit the CSAD Master of Science Handbook: CULMINATING EXPERIENCE section of the CSAD Handbooks website.

Admission Requirements-Undergraduate Degree

All individuals applying for admission to the CSAD MS program must have an overall GPA of 2.75 and a 3.00 GPA in the major, and must either:

• have earned (or be "in progress" for final semester) a baccalaureate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university.

OR

• have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in a major other than Communication Sciences and Disorders (or equivalent) and have completed (or be "in progress" for final semester) a post-baccalaureate (i.e., preparatory) equivalent of a Communication Sciences and Disorders degree (i.e., leveling courses) certificate program.

Students must understand that admission priority is given to students whose undergraduate curriculum is the most equivalent to Sacramento State’s Communication Sciences and Disorders Undergraduate Curriculum coursework as delineated in the Undergraduate Program Catalog.

Note: All course work must be successfully completed (be passed with a grade of “C-” or better.)

• CSAD 110 Physics of Sound and Phonetics
• CSAD 111 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
• CSAD 112 Language Science and Development
• CSAD 123 Voice and Fluency
• CSAD 125 Developmental and Acquired Neurogenic Language Disorders Across the Lifespan
• CSAD 126 Speech Sound Development and Disorders in Children: Aspects of Articulation and Phonology
• CSAD 127 Introduction to Medical Speech Pathology
• CSAD 130 Introduction to Audiology
• CSAD 133 Aural Rehabilitation
• CSAD 142 Topics in Autism Spectrum Disorders
• CSAD 143 Communication Disorders in Multicultural Populations
• CSAD 145 Supervised Field Observations
• CSAD 146 Introduction to Clinical Issues and Methods
• CSAD 147 Assessment Procedures
• CSAD 148 Research in Speech - Language Pathology and Audiology

Admission Requirements-Prerequisite Coursework Overview

All individuals applying for admission to the graduate program must have successfully completed (passed with a grade of “C-” or better) the following prerequisites:

• Human Development Through the Lifespan (must cover the full lifespan, birth to death. This may be fulfilled with one comprehensive course or a combination of courses)
• Statistics (one course minimum, Introductory)
• Psychology (one course minimum, Introductory)
• Sign language (one course minimum)
• Physics or Chemistry

Admission Requirements- Human Development

A course or combination of courses on Human Development that cover the full lifespan, birth to death. Coursework must cover the entire lifespan. Child development or adolescent development courses alone will not meet the requirement.

CSUS catalog courses that are accepted for this prerequisite:

• CHAD 30. Human Development.

Admission Requirements- Statistics

A stand-alone course in statistics is required.

Courses not accepted:

• any directly related to Communication Sciences and Disorders
• any research methods coursework taught in lieu of, or in the absence of, basic statistics.

CSUS catalog courses that are accepted for this prerequisite:

• STAT 1. Introduction to Statistics.
• STAT10 sequence (both courses must be completed
  • STAT 10A. Introductory Statistics with Developmental Mathematics.
  • STAT 10B. Introductory Statistics with Developmental Mathematics.
• STAT 50. Introduction to Probability and Statistics.

Admission Requirements- Psychology

A stand-alone introductory course in psychology is required.

CSUS catalog courses that are accepted for this prerequisite:

• PSYC 2. Introductory Psychology.

Admission Requirements- Sign language

One course with basic vocabulary and grammar of American Sign Language.

CSUS catalog courses that are accepted for this prerequisite:

• DEAF 51. American Sign Language 1.
• DEAF 52. American Sign Language 2.
• DEAF 53. American Sign Language 3.

Admission Requirements-Biological Science

Biological Science prerequisites must meet ASHA requirements, posted on ASHA's webpage "Prerequisite Course Content Areas"

The CSUS CSAD MS program reviews transcripts for courses that have titles that may contain “biology” and/or align with these course titles:

• Anatomy
• General biology
• Cellular biology
• Cybernetics biology
• Bioscience
• Life science
• Ecology
• Cytology
• Embryology.
• Genetic science
• Genetics
• Microbiology
• Molecular biology
• Morphology
• Neurobiology
• Physiology
• Radiobiology
• Sociobiology

CSUS General Education Area B Requirements do not all meet the Biological Science prerequisites. Prerequisites must meet ASHA requirements, posted on ASHA's webpage "Prerequisite Course Content Areas"

CSUS catalog General Education Area B2: Life Forms courses that are accepted for this prerequisite

• BIO 1. Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology.
• BIO 2. Cells, Molecules and Genes.
• BIO 7. Introduction to the Science of Biology.
• BIO 10. Basic Biological Concepts.
• BIO 20. Biology: A Human Perspective.
• BIO 39. Microbiology for Allied Health Students.

Additional CSUS catalog courses that are accepted for this prerequisite:

• BIO 22. Introductory Human Anatomy.
• BIO 25/26 Sequence
  • BIO 25. Human Anatomy and Physiology I.
  • BIO 26. Human Anatomy and Physiology II.
• BIO 39. Microbiology for Allied Health Students.
• BIO 106. Genetics: From Mendel to Molecules.

Admission Requirements- Physical Science

Physical science requirement must be met through chemistry or physics only.

Physics or Chemistry coursework must meet ASHA requirements, posted on ASHA's webpage "Prerequisite Course Content Areas."

CSUS General Education Area B Requirements do not all meet the Physical Science (Physics or Chemistry) prerequisites.

CSUS catalog General Education Area B1: Physical Science courses that are accepted for this prerequisite

• CHEM 1A General Chemistry I
• CHEM 6A Introduction to General Chemistry
• PHYS 5A General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound
• PHYS 10 Physics in Our World

Additional CSUS catalog courses that are accepted for this prerequisite:

• PHYS 2. Topics in Elementary Physics.
• PHYS 5 General Physics
  • PHYS 5A. General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound.
  • PHYS 5B. General Physics: Light, Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics.
• PHYS 11 General Physics
  • PHYS 11A. General Physics: Mechanics.
  • PHYS 11B. General Physics: Heat, Light, Sound, Modern Physics.
  • PHYS 11C. General Physics: Electricity and Magnetism.

Admission Requirements: International Students

Domestic applicants with foreign documents must consult the Office of Graduate Studies applicants with foreign documents webpage for specific application instructions. International students (Those on or who intend to apply for F-1 or J-1 visas) must consult the Office of Graduate Studies and International Programs and Global Engagement for specific application instructions. Domestic applicants with foreign documents and international students whose native language is not English must also submit TOEFL scores. Communication Sciences and Disorders department specific required TOEFL scores are as follows: Paper-based 560/ Computer-based 220/ Internet-based 100.

Admission Requirements: Documents

All individuals applying for admission to the CSAD MS program must submit ALL of the following documents.

• Official certificate demonstrating the successful passage of ALL THREE SECTIONS of the CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test);
• The written essay (see below for essay prompt);
• Official cumulative record of 25 hours of observations of speech-language pathology therapy. Applicants who are obtaining observation hours outside of a formal program, may use the CSAD Observation Hours Log Template;
• Three letters of recommendation, all of which must be submitted electronically through CSDCAS;
• Oral Essay (Video)
• Note: A personal interview may also be held (format to be determined).

Note: Please review additional documentation details, provided below.

Application Step Two (2): Essay Prompt

Applicants must submit an original essay using a maximum of 6500 characters (no spaces) to the following specific essay questions on their CSDCAS application. In alignment with best practices in Holistic Admissions, these questions provide applicants with the opportunity to discuss their values as well as share how they might contribute value to Sac State and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders mission and goals.

Be sure to respond directly to each prompt, listed below:

• Define advocacy from your perspective and discuss three (3) ways you would advocate for the wide variety of populations across the lifespan that the field of communication sciences and disorders serves.
• Using your own words, define collaboration and teamwork. Discuss your prior experiences with collaboration and teamwork; how will you apply this knowledge and your experiences with collaboration and teamwork during your graduate program at Sac State?
• Social justice is an important value to Sac State and our department. Using your own words, define social justice and what this means to you. Provide personal examples of how you have demonstrated this value, and how do you anticipate demonstrating this value during graduate school?
• In our clinics, we provide services to individuals across the lifespan, from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, languages, socioeconomic status, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, exceptionalities, and cognitive and physical abilities. Describe your experiences, trainings, and/or preparation(s) related to interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Be sure to indicate if you are bilingual, trilingual, or multilingual and in which languages. Please describe in terms of spoken language, reading, and writing skills.

Application Step Two (2): CSDCAS Additional Information

• CSDCAS Student Customer Service Customer Service is available Monday thru Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time Phone – (617) 612-2030 csdcasinfo@csdcas.org
• CSDCAS provides 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). 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” or planned (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 undergraduate program completion date by listing all “planned coursework.”
• All official transcripts MUST be sent to CSDCAS Verification Department, P.O. Box 9113 Watertown, MA 02471
• CSDCAS applications are due at midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on February 15. A midnight CSDCAS submission deadline equates to a 9:00 p.m. PST submission deadline in California.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

1. Q: What is the cost of program?
   A: Current POST-BACCALAUREATE Tuition & Fees can be found on the CSUS Current Tuition and Fees website.
   
2. Q: Where can I find additional Program information?
   A:
   • Campus catalog
   • Office of Graduate Studies
   • Campus Tours
     
3. Q: Where can I find information on Financial Aid and Scholarships?
   A: Financial Aid and Scholarship Office website
   
4. Q: Where can I find Career Information?
   A:
   
   • Documents posted on our Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders webpage.
   • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Employment Settings for SLPs
   • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Salary and Wage Data
5. Q: Where can I find job placement statistics?
   A: The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders reports employment rates as well as other department tracked assessment data in the CSAD M.S. and Au.D. Student Achievement Data/Student Outcome Data section of our accreditation webpage.
6. Q: What is an SLP?
   A: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Speech-Language Pathologists
7. Q: How do I obtain Letters of Recommendation?
   A: Applicants MUST submit three letters of recommendation, all of which must be submitted through CSDCAS.
   • Start making yourself visible to the faculty now. In the fall of your senior year you will need to request letters of recommendation.
   • Two of these letters MUST come from full- or part-time faculty in Communication Sciences and Disorders (or equivalent).
   • Although the third letter may also come from full- or part-time faculty in Communication Sciences and Disorders (or equivalent), applicants are strongly encouraged to have the third letter come from an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist who works in the field OR an employed professional in one of the following related fields: occupational therapist, physical therapist, applied behavior analysis specialist, audiologist, primary school educator, secondary school educator, or special education educator.
   • Assistance with requesting evaluations (sometimes called Letters of Evaluation, Letters of Reference, or Letters of Recommendation) through CSDCAS can be found at the CSDCAS Evaluations webpage.
   • Note: Three letters of recommendation are required. No exceptions. If more than three letters are submitted, three letters will be selected by the faculty for review. If less than three letters are received, the applicant’s packet may be considered incomplete.
8. Q: How do I register and prepare to take the CBEST.
   A:
   
   • To register: https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/CA_CBEST_TestPage.html
   • Practice Tests and Tutorials: https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/CA_CBEST_PrepMaterials.html
9. Q: How do I obtain assistance in writing the application essay?
   A: Consult with your campus assistance programs, such as Sac State’s:
   • The Reading and Writing Center (aka The Writing Center)
   • Peer & Academic Resource Center (PARC)
10. Q: How do I obtain assistance in completing the video recording?
    A:
    
    • After recording, confirm audio and visual are audible and visible for the entire duration of the recording. If not, please re-record your video before submitting.
    • After recording, if your file does not fit the above specified parameters, then use a video editor of your choice (e.g., Handbrake https://handbrake.fr).
    • If you have technical difficulties:
      • Current Sac State students may contact the university’s IRT
      • Applicants from outside of Sac State are encouraged to use available Internet resources including YouTube training clips.
11. Q: How do I complete the CSU Apply application?
    A:
    
    1. Office of Graduate Studies application information and proceduresfor detailed instructions.
    2. Cal State Apply Applicant Help Center
    3. Cal State Apply Customer Service
12. Q: How do I complete the application through CSDCAS?
    A:CSDCAS Applicant Help Center
13. Q:Where do I find information on Audiology and/or the Doctor of Audiology Program?
    A: CSUS Doctor of Audiology Webpage
14. Q: Where do I find information on becoming a Speech Language-Pathology Assistant (SLPA)?
    A:
    
    • The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders posts information regarding its Speech Language Pathology Assistant Summer Extension Coursework each spring.
    • Contact the Speech Language Pathology Assistant Summer Extension Coursework coordinator, Dr. Tonia Davis, for additional information and resources.
15. Q: How can I make my application stand out?
    A: Be sure to highlight your experiences and strengths. Include details about:
    • SLPA clinical experience and/or work history
    • Experiences with individuals representing a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and abilities
    • Languages spoken including oral and/or written
    • What makes you unique? What is your superpower?
    • Why do you think you will be a good clinician?
    • Submit your resume (example resume format)

Contact

QUESTIONS?

Direct all questions regarding the CSAD M.S. program and the application process to:

Darla K. Hagge Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Graduate Coordinator
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
hagge@csus.edu
To schedule an office appointment please use:

https://calendly.com/hagge/15minuteofficehourappts