Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs), also referred to as speech or language therapists are master-level healthcare professionals who focus on the assessment and diagnosis of communication and swallowing/mealtime difficulties. SLPs work with a person, their family, and/or caregivers to develop tailored advice, activities, exercises, and strategies that can help them achieve their communication and/or swallowing goals. SLPs can treat patients as individuals and/or small group sessions.

SLPs work with people of all ages, from babies to adults, treating many types of communication and swallowing difficulties.

Speech-Language Pathologist Prerequisites

Speech-Language Pathology follows a competency based approach rather than specific coursework. There are accelerated programs that are designed to catch you up to fulfill the competencies so that you can apply to SLP programs.

However, according to ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) certification, the following courses are common prerequisites.

NOTE: Specific prerequisite courses can vary by school--always double-check the website of each program you are applying to for specific requirements. Please review the CSUSB Catalog as a guide to completing the CSUSB prerequisites.

Common Prerequisites Courses
Prerequisites	CSUSB Course
Physical Science: One year or two semesters of General Chemistry with lab. OR One year or two semesters of Physics with lab.	CHEM 2100 & 2100L and CHEM 2200 & 2200L PHYS 2000 & 2000L and PHYS 2010 & 2010L
Biology: One year or two semesters of General Biology with lab.	BIOL 2010 and BIOL 2020
Math: A semester of Statistics that contains descriptive and inferential statistical topics.	MATH 1201, OR MATH 1202 & MATH 1203

Recommended Course Work

According to ASHA's website (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) certification, the following courses are common recommended course work. Please note: Specific prerequisite courses can vary by school--always double-check the website of each program you are applying to for specific requirements.

Please review the CSUSB Course Catalog as a guide to choosing courses.

Social Sciences:

Anthropology
Ethnic and cultural studies
Archaeology
Area studies
Economics
Gender and sexuality studies
Geography organizational studies
Political science

Behavior Sciences:

Psychology
Psychobiology
Criminology and cognitive science

California Speech Pathologist Programs

Below is a list of Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. This list is not an exhaustive one: many more programs can be found from a quick Google search!

Criteria for SLP Programs in California.pdf

CSUSB Certificate in Speech-Language Pathology

Master's Preparatory

The Speech-Language Pathology Master's Preparatory Certificate provides students with the prerequisite coursework needed to apply to most master’s programs in Speech-Language Pathology and Communication Sciences & Disorders. The certificate is designed for college graduates who majored in other areas but are now interested in the fast-growing field of speech-language pathology. The courses in the certificate are taught by faculty from several departments with expertise in communication sciences and disorders and related fields.

Please note that if you are planning to apply for a master’s degree program in speech-language pathology or communication sciences and disorders, you must also have completed General Education (GE) coursework in several areas. Please see the program website for more information.

CSUSB Speech Pathologist Minor

Please note that most jobs will accept a Bachelors or Post-Baccalaureate Certificate for SLP.

The Minor in Speech-Language Pathology provides an introduction to the fast-growing field of communication disorders. Students in the minor can complete the required coursework to be eligible to apply to most Master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology and Communication Sciences & Disorders. The courses in the minor are taught by faculty from several departments with expertise in communication sciences and disorders and related fields.

If you are planning to apply for a master’s degree program in speech-language pathology or communication sciences and disorders, you must also have completed General Education (GE) coursework in several areas. Please see the program website for more information.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Dr. Erin Hall
Office: UH-301.23
Telephone: 909-537-5896
Email: erin.hall@csusb.edu

Additional Information

Common Patient Concerns

Speech Sounds: How we say sounds and put sounds together into words
- Problems include (but are not limited to) articulation, phonological disorders, apraxia of speech, and/or dysarthria
Language: How well we understand what we hear or read. How we use words to tell others what we are thinking
- In adults, this problem may be called aphasia
Literacy: How well we read and write
- People with speech and language disorders may also have trouble reading, spelling, and writing.
Social Communication: How well we follow rules, like taking turns. How to talk to different people. How close to stand to someone when talking
- This is also called pragmatics
Voice: How our voices sound
- We may sound hoarse, lose our voices easily, talk too loudly or through our noses, or be unable to make sounds
Fluency: How well speech flows
- Also called stuttering
- Someone who stutters may repeat sounds, like t-t-t-table, use "um" or "uh," or pause a lot when talking
- Many young children will go through a time when they stutter, but most outgrow it
Cognitive Communication: How well our minds work
- Problems may involve memory, attention, problem-solving, organization, and other thinking skills
Feeding and swallowing: How well we suck, chew, and swallow food and liquid
- This is also called dysphagia
- A swallowing disorder may lead to poor nutrition, weight loss, and other health problems