Undergraduate Program
The Speech-Language Pathology Department provides coursework for students planning to pursue careers in speech‑language pathology or audiology. Students who successfully complete the required coursework may earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
Students pursuing a B.A. degree and completing an elective course may be eligible for State of California Licensure as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant and speech-language pathology assistants (SLPA) certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Program Objectives
The primary goal of the undergraduate program is to provide our students with a broad education in normal and disordered processes of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing. This goal has the following objectives:
- Provide our students with an understanding of normal development in speech, hearing, language, swallowing, and communication
- Provide our students with an understanding of the genetic, cultural, neurological, physiological, psychological, and socioeconomic factors which can disrupt normal development in speech, hearing, language, swallowing, and communication
- Prepare students for professional graduate training as speech-language pathologists
The sequence of undergraduate courses (57 units) is from normal processes to disordered processes, and finally, to assessment/management of children, adolescents, and adults with speech, language, and/or swallowing disorders.
Why Speech-Language Pathology?
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association). These disorders may result from developmental conditions (e.g., speech or language delays/disorders, autism, Down syndrome, stuttering) or acquired brain injuries (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, dementia, Parkinson’s disease). SLPs also provide services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as to individuals with complex communication needs, using various communication modalities, including augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). SLPs work with clients who have communication disorders of varying types and severities, along with their caregivers and family members from diverse backgrounds. They also collaborate with professionals from other disciplines across various settings (e.g., schools, hospitals, private practices, and other medical settings).
Please visit Speech-Language Pathology Career Options
Course Requirements for Undergraduate SLP Major
Take all the following courses: (“C” or better required)
SLP 100 - Introduction to Communication Disorders: Media and Culture (3 units)
SLP 261 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism (3 units)
SLP 271 - Phonetics (3 units)
Take one of the following courses: (“C” or better required)
STAT 108 - Statistics for Everyday Life (3 units)
STAT 118 - Introductory Business Statistics (3 units)
PSY 110 - Introductory Statistics (4 units)
HDEV 190 - Elementary Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences (4 units)
SOC 170 - Elementary Statistics (4 units)
Take all the following courses: (“C” or better required)
SLP 329 - Language Acquisition: From Birth Through Adolescence (3 units)
SLP 330 - Speech and Hearing Science (3 units)
SLP 373 - Introduction to Audiology I (3 units)
SLP 440 - Aural Rehabilitation (3 units)
SLP 456 - Introduction to Speech Sound Disorders (3 units)
SLP 460 - Multicultural and Multilingual Issues in Speech- Language Pathology (3 units)
SLP 464 - Cultural Competence in Behavior Management and Counseling in Speech-Language Pathology (3 units)
SLP 466 - Introduction to Motor Speech Disorders and Fluency Disorders (3 units)
SLP 472 - Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (3 units)
SLP 476 - Introduction to Voice Disorders/Oro‑facial Mechanism (3 units)
SLP 477 - Introduction to Swallowing Disorders (3 units)
SLP 481A - Introduction to Language Disorders in Children (3 units)
SLP 481B - Introduction to Acquired Neurogenic Communication Disorders in Adults (3 units)
SLP 483 - Introduction to Clinical Management (3 units)
SLP 485 - Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders for Speech-Language Pathologists (3 units)
SLP 489 - Clinical Observations and Professional Writing for Prospective Speech-Language Pathologists (3 units)
Please see additional information in the University Catalog.
