Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Communication Sciences and Disorders, Certificate

Mission and Goals Statement

The Certificate program is aligned with the mission of the Human Services Program. This mission is to provide diverse members of the community a university education that focuses on the knowledge and skills required to help those in need. The goals of the program are to provide a broad interdisciplinary background of the knowledge and skills needed to help improve the quality of life of those in need; to provide the opportunity for specialization in either target populations or methods of intervention; through supervised fieldwork, to provide experience applying academic knowledge and skills in human services organizations.

Program Description

The Certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders is a pre-professional program offering students the prerequisite knowledge that is required for education leading to a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Topics include speech and language development and disorders, relevant anatomy and physiology, audiology and audiometry, phonetic transcription of typical and disordered speech, and other topics as required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing in California. Students will be prepared to enter MA/MS programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders or to partially meet state licensure requirements to become a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant.

Pre-Admission Disclosure for Academic Programs Leading to Licensure or Credentialing

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or tax payer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements are available from the College of Continuing and Professional Education (310) 243-3741.

Features

The Certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders offers classes that meet only in the evening and on Saturdays, which allows students to work full or part time and complete the prerequisite courses required for admission into a graduate program. The program affords students the opportunity to observe certificated, licensed, and credentialed speech and language pathologists in clinical and school settings in the geographic area surrounding the university. The times that courses are offered accommodate students who live outside the immediate geographic area of CSUDH. Students are trained within a cohort model and are mentored throughout the certificate program.

Academic Advisement

Students may call the Coordinator directly at (310) 243-2046.

The website for the Human Services Program is http://www.csudh.edu/human-development/csd.

Preparation

Students must hold a BA/BS in a subject area not related to Communication Sciences and Disorders from an accredited institution and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Career Possibilities

Speech-Language Pathologists and Speech-Language Pathology Assistants work in a variety of settings that offer year round, 10 month, full time, part time, and/or per diem employment. Therapists work in public and nonpublic schools, preschools, community colleges, colleges and universities. They also work in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health care, rehabilitation hospitals, individual and family services, out-patient care centers, and child care centers. Others choose to work for corporations, in the offices of physicians or other allied health practitioners, or own a private practice. Many speech and language pathology practitioners opt to work in more than one setting. These sites employ both Speech-Language Pathologists and Speech-Language Pathology Assistants.