THE MASTER OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS
Note: The MA pattern is used to complete requirements for the Clinical Rehabilitative Language, Speech, and Hearing Services Credential. CBEST must be passed prior to completion of the master's program.
New American Speech Language Hearing Association accreditation standards were implemented in fall 2003. Please see your adviser regarding curricular changes.
Course Requirements for the Master's Degree: 52-60 units
Continuous enrollment is required. A maximum of 9 semester units of transfer credit may be applied toward the degree. Graduate Time Limit: All requirements for the degree are to be completed within five years of the end of the semester of enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See "Graduate Education" in The University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.
Prerequisites for Admission to Conditionally Classified Status:
1. Satisfactory grade point average as specified in "Admission to Master's Degree Programs" in The University Catalog.
2. Approval by the department and the Office of Graduate Programs.
3. An acceptable baccalaureate from an accredited institution, or an equivalent approved by the Office of Graduate Studies.
4. Three letters of recommendation (submitted to the Graduate Coordinator) for any applicant whose baccalaureate was not completed under the CSU, Chico Communication Sciences and Disorders Program.
Prerequisites for Admission to Classified Status:
In addition to any requirements listed above:
Completion of the Graduate Record Examination.
Advancement to Candidacy:
In addition to any requirements listed above:
1. Formation of the graduate advisory committee in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator. Normally the committee will be formed during the student's first semester and will consist of at least three members; the chair of the committee must be a member of the Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty.
2. Development of an approved program in consultation with the graduate advisory committee.
3. Classified graduate standing and completion of 9 units of the proposed program at the university with at least a 3.0 grade point average.
Requirements for the MA Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders:
Completion of all requirements as established by the program, graduate advisory committee, the Graduate Coordinator, and the Office of Graduate Studies, to include:
1. Completion of an approved program consisting of 52-60 units of 400/500/600-level courses as follows: (a) 52-60 units in the discipline of Communication Sciences and Disorders. (b) At least three-quarters of the units required for the degree in 600-level courses. (c) Not more than 9 semester units of transfer and/or extension credit (correspondence courses and U.C. extension course work are not acceptable). (d) Not more than 15 units taken before admission to classified status. (e) Not more than a total of 10 units of Independent Study (697) and Master's Thesis (699T) or Master's Project (699P); not more than 6 units of Master's Thesis (699T) or Master's Project (699P). (f) Completion of 375 practicum hours in accordance with ASHA requirements. (g) Course work must be selected each semester according to the following sequence of offerings:
First Fall Semester Courses
| CMSD | 610 | Res Meth in Com Sci & Disord | 3.0 | FA |
| CMSD | 620 | Neuroanat Spch/Swallow/Lang | 3.0 | FA |
| CMSD | 631 | Disorders of Fluency | 3.0 | FA |
| CMSD | 632 | Sem in Comm Sciences & Disord | 2.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 640 | Assess & Mgmt of Auditory Diso | 3.0 | FA |
| CMSD | 680 | Practicum in Audiology | 1.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 684 | Clinical Practicum | 2.0 | FS |
First Spring Semester
| CMSD | 632 | Sem in Comm Sciences & Disord | 2.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 636 | Neuropath Lang and Cognition | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: CMSD 620.
| CMSD | 642 | Neuropath of Swallow & Speech | 3.0 | SP |
Prerequisites: CMSD 620.
| CMSD | 645 | Augment & Alternative Comm | 3.0 | SP |
| CMSD | 680 | Practicum in Audiology | 1.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 682 | Practicum Spch-Lang Path Diag | 1.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 684 | Clinical Practicum | 2.0 | FS |
Second Fall Semester
| CMSD | 630 | Disorders of Artic & Phonology | 3.0 | FA |
| CMSD | 635 | Voice and Resonance Disorders | 3.0 | FA |
| CMSD | 675 | Method in Speech-Lang Path | 1.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 682 | Practicum Spch-Lang Path Diag | 1.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 689 | Clin Intern Com Sci & Disord2.0 | 8.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 699P | Master's Project1.0 | 6.0 | FS |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| CMSD | 699T | Master's Thesis1.0 | 6.0 | FS |
Second Spring Semester
| CMSD | 633 | Prof Aspects Com Sci & Disord | 3.0 | SP |
| CMSD | 652 | Seminar in Language Disorders | 3.0 | SP |
| CMSD | 675 | Method in Speech-Lang Path | 1.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 682 | Practicum Spch-Lang Path Diag | 1.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 689 | Clin Intern Com Sci & Disord2.0 | 8.0 | FS |
| CMSD | 696 | Comprehensive Examinations | 1.0 | FS |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| CMSD | 699P | Master's Project1.0 | 6.0 | FS |
OR (the following course may be substituted for the above)
| CMSD | 699T | Master's Thesis1.0 | 6.0 | FS |
Professional liability insurance is required for participation in clinical practica. Hepatitis B inoculations and tuberculosis tests are required prior to working in off-campus settings. CPR certification is required prior to internships.
2. Completion of one of the following plans: (a) Thesis Plan: This plan requires a thesis (including appropriate enrollment in CMSD 699T) plus at least 34 units of letter-graded graduate-level course work (375+ clinical practice hours). A public presentation of the thesis will be conducted. Students who are planning to continue their educations to the doctoral level or who are interested in a career in speech and hearing sciences or research are encouraged to choose the thesis plan. (b) Comprehensive Plan: This plan requires at least 39 units of letter-graded graduate-level course work, and from 12-24 units of CR/NC practicum course work (375+ clinical practice hours) and enrollment in CMSD 696 during the last semester of graduate study. CMSD 696 includes a proctored 9-hour written comprehensive examination over 3 days. An oral examination will follow if the written examination does not meet faculty expectations.
3. Demonstration of research and writing competence.
4. Demonstration of clinical competence in speech-language pathology, and in audiology screening, including completion of a minimum of 375 clock hours that require enrollmentin 12-24 CR/NC units.
5. Deviation from the curriculum outlined above will only be considered upon advice and consent of the student's graduate advisory committee and the Graduate Coordinator.
6. Substitutions may be selected from outside the program by the student with the advice and consent of his/her graduate committee and the Graduate Coordinator.
7. Approval by the graduate advisory committee, the Graduate Coordinator, and the Graduate Coordinators Committee on behalf of the faculty of the university.
8. In most cases, the MA pattern is used to complete requirements for the Clinical Rehabilitative Language, Speech, and Hearing Services Credential. CBEST must be passed prior to completion of the master's degree.
Graduate Literacy Requirement:
Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement.
Communication Sciences and Disorders students will demonstrate their writing competence through successful completion of CMSD 610, Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Graduate Grading Requirements:
All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Independent Study - 597/697, Comprehensive Examination - 696, Master's Project - 699P, and Master's Thesis - 699T) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (400/500-level courses), AB/No Credit (600-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 597/697, 696, 699P, 699T and courses outside the major). While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the university that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing graduate study.
Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in each of the following three categories: all course work taken at any accredited institution subsequent to admission to the master's program; all course work taken at CSU, Chico subsequent to admission to the program; and all courses on the approved master's degree program.
Graduate Advising Requirement:
Advising is mandatory each semester for Communication Sciences and Disorders majors. Consult the Graduate Coordinator for specifics.
NOTE: All CMSD graduate courses require admission to the CMSD Master's program.