You are in the official 2001-2002 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Don B. Freed, Chair
Ron M. Parker, Graduate Coordinator
Ron M. Parker, Audiology Adviser
Deaf Studies/Deaf Education Advisers: Paul W. Ogden, Deborah S.
Stryker
Speech-Language Pathology Advisers: Don B. Freed, M. N. Hegde,
Stuart I. Ritterman, Steven L. Skelton, Steven D. Wadsworth
Rita H. Humphreys, Clinic Director
Don B. Freed, M. N. Hegde, Paul W. Ogden, Ron M. Parker, Stuart I. Ritterman, Kenneth G. Shipley, Steven L. Skelton, Deborah S. Stryker, Steven D. Wadsworth
Audiology, speech-language pathology, deaf education and interpreting are concerned with the development, problems, and disorders found with people's speech, hearing, and language. Professionals in these fields are devoted to providing diagnostic, rehabilitative, and educational services to children and adults with communicative problems.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders provides the students with a liberal arts foundation integrated with courses designed to provide a basic understanding of speech, language, and hearing development and communicative problems. Students pursuing deaf studies have two options: deaf education and interpreting. Students majoring in deaf education and speech-language pathology can continue their options in our graduate program.
Education beyond the bachelor's degree is necessary for completion of the academic, credential, and licensure requirements leading to professional employment. Two professional option areas are available to the student:
Deaf Education. Our deaf education program gives you
a broad background in bilingual-bicultural education, total communication,
and cued speech philosophies along with speech, language, auditory
training, deaf culture, and American Sign Language. This program
includes all of the essential elements of a good education for
deaf and hard-of-hearing children. The program is nationally accredited
by the Council of Education of the Deaf (CED).
Speech-Language Pathology. Our speech and language pathology
program provides you with a broad professional background in normal
speech and language development, language disorders, voice disorders,
articulation disorders, and fluency disorders. The program is
nationally accredited by the Educational Standards Board (ESB)
of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
The undergraduate curriculum plus a master's degree in communicative disorders prepares you for one or more of the following: state licensure as a speech- language pathologist, national certification in speech-language pathology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, provisional certification in deaf education by the Council on Education of the Deaf, public school special education specialist or clinical rehabilitation credentials, and/or school multiple subject credentials.
A program of study leading to a Certificate in Conversational American Sign Language has become popular to many students pursuing professional fields and other majors on campus. The demand for health and human services professionals who can communicate effectively with deaf and hard-of-hearing children, youth, and adults has made sign language skills necessary.
A Minor in Communicative Disorders is also available for students
in various education and health professions (nursing, health science,
physical therapy, counseling, elementary and secondary education,
special education, child development, linguistics, criminology,
etc.) who are interested in expanding their understanding of children
and adults with communicative disorders.
As a student, you are given the opportunity to work in a well-equipped
speech and hearing clinic. You can also gain practical experience
in a variety of school, private practice, and hospital situations.
Library facilities contain specialized collections including student
access to local medical libraries. In the Anna Michelson Memorial
Instructional Media Center, you have access to a wide range of
therapy production materials such as films, video, clinical equipment,
and professional journals.
University Speech and Hearing Clinic. The department operates
an ongoing clinic that provides diagnostic, therapeutic, and counseling
services to clients of all ages with a variety of different communication
problems or disorders.
The clinic provides supervised clinical practice for students who are preparing to be professional speech-language pathologists and educators of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. As a valuable community resource, the clinic serves thousands of clients each year from the Fresno metropolitan area. The clinic is accredited by the Professional Services Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
The department prepares you to work in various diagnostic and
rehabilitation settings in preschool programs, elementary and
secondary schools, colleges, hospitals, rehabilitation centers,
private or community clinics, or private practice. Employment
opportunities have been and are expected to remain very good.
Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies Courses