The Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences  (CD&S) Master’s degree program in Speech Language Pathology (Speech Pathology concentration elevation from Education MA effective Spring 2022; MA to MS degree type change is pending final approval from the CSU Office of the Chancellor) offers an in-depth study of communication disorders with an emphasis on articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders (stuttering), augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), voice disorders, dysphagia (swallowing disorders), neurogenic disorders, hearing disorders, language disorders, social aspects of communication, and cognitive-communication disorders. Courses and clinical training opportunities place a high priority on assessment and intervention within an evidence-based, ethical, inclusive, and multicultural framework. Clinical practica are completed in varied settings, including the Kay Armstead Center for Communication Disorders housed in the department. Signature clinics include an AAC clinic, a voice clinic, a clinic for adults with intellectual disability, a clinic for children with language disorders, the Spartan Aphasia Research Clinic, and a summer camp for children with stuttering. Students have clinical opportunities for working with infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults in multiple settings, including public, private and charter schools (preschool, elementary, middle, high schools), rehabilitation agencies, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, and hospitals.

Detailed information about the program can be found on the department website.

Admissions Requirements

University Requirements 

Applicants must meet all university admission requirements . The university-level graduate application is separate from the application you send to the department. You will need to apply separately to the university to obtain approval for university-level admission and to the department to obtain admission into the Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Speech Pathology. Depending on their level of preparation, students can be admitted in either classified or conditionally classified standing. Minimum requirements for admission in classified standing are a completed Bachelor’s degree or post-baccalaureate program in communication disorders. An applicant holding a Bachelor’s degree in another field of study may be admitted with conditionally classified estanding. The admissions letter will detail the preparatory coursework required for advancing to classified standing in the program. Additional requirements for international students are listed below.

Department Requirements 

Applicants who meet the following criteria beyond university requirements will be considered for classified admission into the Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences. The department admission process requires three (3) application processes and nine (9) tasks:

1. Via Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS)
   1. Official Transcripts (3.0 minimum GPA)
   2. Essay (reasons for pursuing Speech-Language Pathology as a career choice; detailing multicultural experience/study and relationship to future educational/health career as an SLP, ability to connect experiences to Lurie College of Education strategic plan focus areas)
   3. Three Letters of Recommendation
   4. Transcript Evaluation Report (for International Students)
2. Via the San Jose State University Office of Applications and Program Evaluation (GAPE)
   6. Official Transcripts
   7. English-Language Skills Verification
3. Via the Departmental Office
   8. CBEST Scores (not required at the time of admission)

A minimum scaled score of 41 in each of the three sections (reading, writing, mathematics). A section score as low as 37 is acceptable if the total scaled score is at least 123.

We generally refer students to take the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) yet you do not have to if you meet one of the other options outlined in the CTC leaflet cl-667. To submit test scores from one of the CTC leaflet alternatives, you must contact the SJSU Credentials Office (credentials@sjsu.edu) to verify the validity of your scores before submitting them to CSDCAS. The deadline for submission of completed applications is February 1.

Applicants from countries in which the official native language is not English must achieve a minimum English-language proficiency test score as indicated on the Graduate Program Test Requirements webpage at GAPE.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students must meet the university requirements for candidacy. General university requirements for advancement to candidacy  for the MA degree are detailed in the Graduate Policies and Procedures  section. Candidacy includes the successful completion of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) . The department’s GWAR is met by completing the EDSP 221  course with a grade of B or better.

Graduation Requirements

University Graduation Requirements

Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements  section of the Graduate Policies and Procedures . Completion of the degree also requires a minimum grade of “B” in all courses taken and a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.

Degree Requirements

Students are expected to complete all required courses, the culminating experience, clinical practica, and observations. In order to meet degree requirements, candidates for the MA in Education with a concentration in Speech Pathology must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all courses with no single course grade below a B-. Students who earn less than a B- in any required course must retake the course and earn a grade of B- or better.

1. Complete 24 practicum/fieldwork units including EDSP 277  (3 times in 3 different types of clinics), EDSP 276 , EDSP 269  (School-based SLP externship), and EDSP 278  (medical/other externship). Candidates for the Master’s degree must accumulate a minimum of 375 clock hours in a supervised clinical practicum in three distinctly different settings, and a minimum of 25 hours of observation;
2. Complete 39 units of required academic courses, corresponding to national and state accreditation standards in Speech-Language Pathology;
3. Apply for graduation via MySJSU; and, 
4. Culminating Experience: Successfully pass the MS Comprehensive exam or complete a Master’s Thesis as a required culminating experience in the graduate program.

In addition to the  curriculum, students must demonstrate knowledge of five additional content areas as required by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).

1. Biological Sciences, ASHA Requirement;
2. Social/Behavioral Sciences, ASHA Requirement;
3. Physical Sciences, ASHA Requirement;
4. Statistics; and,
5. CCTC Requirement Child and/or Adolescent Development.

Prior to providing any speech, language or communication assessment or intervention services during clinical practica, students must show evidence of all of the following:

1. Certificate of Clearance;
2. Negative TB (tuberculosis) test;
3. Negative Hepatitis test;
4. Physical Clearance to provide speech-language pathology services;
5. Successful completion of online training related to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act); and,
6. CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) Certification.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) . Program GWAR fulfilled by EDSP 221 .

Culminating Experience

Plan A (Comprehensive Exam)

All students in the MA in Speech Language Pathology program must successfully complete the Comprehensive Examination during their last semester (Spring semester of the second year). The examination assesses broad knowledge and competency across topics in speech, language, hearing, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders. Upon completion of the program, students receive a Master of Arts degree and are eligible to work as speech-language pathologists.

Plan B (Thesis)

Students who have a strong interest in research may be approved to complete the Thesis (Plan A). It requires students to secure a thesis advisor and a thesis committee and enroll in EDSP 299  during the Fall semester of the second year. (Enrolling in the EDSP 299  adds 3 units to the program for a total of 66 units.) Students electing to take this option are not required to complete the comprehensive examination. Theses must be defended and approved by the thesis committee and follow the College of Graduate Studies Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines.