You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
You are in the official 2008-2009 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
B.A. in Communicative Disorders
Emphases
M.A. in Communicative Disorders
Options
Minor in Communicative Disorders
Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential
Certificate in
Conversational American Sign Language
Don B. Freed, Chair
Steven L. Skelton, Graduate Coordinator
Ron M. Parker, Audiology Adviser
Deaf Studies/Deaf Education Advisers: Paul W. Ogden, David H. Smith
Interpreting Adviser: Bryan D. Berrett
Speech-Language Pathology Advisers: Don B. Freed, M. N. Hegde, Steven L.
Skelton
Michael I. Burns, Clinic Director
Bryan D. Berrett
Don B. Freed
M. N. Hegde
Paul W. Ogden
Audiology, speech-language pathology, deaf education and interpreting are concerned with many issues related to speech, hearing, and language. Professionals in these fields are devoted to pro--viding diagnostic, rehabilitative, and educational services to children and adults with communicative challenges.
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
develop-ment, language disorders, swallowing disorders, voice disorders,
articulation disorders, and fluency disorders. The program is nationally
accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language
Pathology (CAA).
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, Levels I and II Education Specialist Credential: Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential.
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 settings. 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 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