Speech Language Pathology Master's Programs in California

<p>San Diego State offers a five-semester (2 academic years plus one summer) M.A. in speech-language pathology. Their program is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and prepares students to be licensed speech pathologists in the state of California. According to U.S. News and World Report, it is one of the top #25 speech-language pathology master's degrees in the nation. </p> <h2 id="section---SanFranciscoStateUniversity">San Francisco State University</h2> <p>San Francisco State has a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology accredited by both ASHA as well as the California state licensure in speech-language pathology. What makes their program unique is that they have a speech-language clinic on campus that offers affordable care for the San Francisco Bay Area. Students gain valuable on-the-job experience by interning at the on-campus clinic as well as other education and training facilities around the region. </p> <h2 id="section---LomaLindaUniversity">Loma Linda University</h2> <p>Loma Linda offers a nationally recognized M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders. They connect their students to varied internship opportunities to ensure that graduates have experience in multiple speech pathology applications (from research to schools to clinics etc.). </p> <h2 id="section---CaliforniaStateUniversityLosAngeles">California State University - Los Angeles</h2> <p>Cal State Los Angeles offers a Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders with an emphasis in speech-language pathology. If you did not study speech pathology for your bachelor's but would like to break into the field, they also offer a Speech-Language Pathology Master's preparatory certificate program wherein students take the prerequisite classes for a California master's degree. </p> <h2 id="section---CaliforniaStateUniversityLongBeach">California State University - Long Beach</h2> <p>Cal State Long Beach's graduate speech-language pathology program exposes students to the latest academic research in the field. In addition, students spend over 400 hours working with individuals who have communication disorders. Since 2013 the program boasts a 100% employment rate in the profession upon program completion. </p> <h2 id="section---CaliforniaStateUniversitySanMarcos">California State University - San Marcos</h2> <p>This five-semester program has three stated goals (1) train students in prevention, assessment and intervention practice, (2) prepare ethically responsible clinicians and (3) promote wellness in culturally and linguistically diverse populations in the community. Graduates are eligible for the national ASHA certification as well as state licensure and a CTC California Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential). </p> <h2 id="section---ChapmanUniversity">Chapman University</h2> <p>Chapman's Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders prepares students to be fully licensed and credentialed speech pathologists in California. The program is completed in trimesters (with students studying for 2 years including summers). Classes and clinical hours are divided equally into two emphases, the school-based setting, and medically related conditions. </p> <h2 id="section---UniversityOfThePacific">University of the Pacific</h2> <p>The University of the Pacific offers two ASHA accredited accelerated M.S. degrees in speech-language pathology accredited. There is a 15-month (4 semesters) program for students who already have a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology and a 24-month (6 semesters) program for students with no previous experience in the field. The intensive program finishes with a 4-month practicum at a student's chosen location. </p> <h2 id="section---SanJoseStateUniversity">San Jose State University</h2> <p>San Jose State's speech-pathology program sets itself apart by providing a variety of specialization options including articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders (stuttering), augmentative and alternative communication, voice disorders, dysphagia (swallowing disorders), neurogenic disorders, hearing disorders, language disorders, social aspects of communication, and cognitive aspects of communication. The program emphasizes ethical assessment and intervention in clinical practice, but if students prefer research to clinical practice they can submit a master's thesis in lieu of the final comprehensive examination. </p> <h2 id="section---UniversityOfRedlands">University of Redlands</h2> <p>The University of Redlands has housed a speech-language pathology program for over 50 years. They offer students small class sizes and individualized attention from licensed professionals. The department also has its own on-campus clinic where students can complete their clinical work. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> University </th><th> Programs Offered </th><th> Time to Complete</th><th> Tuition &amp; Fees per a year (2018-2019)</th></tr> <tr><td> San Diego State University </td><td>M.A. Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP)<br /> </td><td>2 years</td><td> $8,922 in-state<br />$18,426 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td> San Francisco State University </td><td> M.S. Speech-Language Pathology</td><td> 2-3 years</td><td> $8,694 in-state<br />$18,198 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td> Loma Linda University </td><td> M.S. Communication Sciences and Disorders</td><td> 2 years</td><td> $29,372</td></tr> <tr><td> California State University - Los Angeles </td><td> M.A. Communicative Disorders//*Speech-Language Pathology Master's Preparatory Certificate</td><td> 2 years</td><td> $8,183 in-state<br />$17,687 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>California State University - Long Beach </td><td> M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology</td><td> 2 years</td><td> $8,232 in-state<br />$17,736 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>California State University - San Marcos</td><td> M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology</td><td> 2 years</td><td> $9,147 in-state<br />$18,651 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>Chapman University</td><td> M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders</td><td> 2 years (including summers)</td><td> $31,412</td></tr> <tr><td>University of the Pacific</td><td> M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology</td><td> 1 year</td><td> $47,952</td></tr> <tr><td>San Jose State University</td><td> Master's Degree program with Speech-Language Pathology Credential</td><td> 2 years</td><td> $9,230 in-state<br />$18,734 out-of-state</td></tr> <tr><td>University of Redlands</td><td> M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders</td><td>2 years</td><td> $21,552</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: NCES</i> </p> <h2 id="section---HowToGetAMasterSDegreeInSpeechLanguagePathology">How to Get a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology</h2> <p>Most programs require a bachelor's degree in communication disorders or pre-speech pathology. However, some universities allow students to add a certificate program or an extra semester of studies to make up the prerequisite classes. Student's apply with an official undergraduate transcript, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, official GRE test scores (not older than 5 years), 1-3 letters of recommendation, and a personal essay stating their reasons for applying to the program. </p> <p>California's universities offer a great variety of speech pathology master's degrees. This is just a sampling of the many more programs you can choose from based on time, location, cost, and concentrations offered.</p>