California State University, Fresno
General Catalog
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CDDS - Degrees



You are in the official 2006-2007 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.


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Department of
Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies

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Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Communicative Disorders Major


Major requirements (41-47 units)
Emphases
Select one:
Audiology (41 units)
CDDS 80, 91, 95, 101, 102, 103, 105, 107, 109, 110, 116, 128, 131, 141, 172

Deaf Education (47 units)
CDDS 80, 93, 94S, 95, 102, 106, 114, 128, 131, 135, 136, 139, 141, 162, 163, 164

Interpreting (47 units)
CDDS 80, 91, 92, 93, 94S, 95, 106, 135, 136, 139, 141, 166, 168, 169, 170, 175 (3 units)

Speech-Language Pathology (47 units)
CDDS 80, 91, 95, 101, 102, 103, 105, 107, 109, 110, 114, 115, 116, 128, 131, 171, 172


General Education requirements (51 units)

Electives and remaining degree requirements (22-28 units)*

Courses may be used to satisfy credential requirements or a minor in another field. See advising notes 4 and 5 for recommended electives.

Total (120 units)

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* CDDS 92 in G.E. Breadth C2 also may be applied to the communicative disorders major for students in the deaf education and interpreting emphases.

 


Advising Notes

  1. CR/NC grading is not permitted for CDDS majors for any coursework required in the major, with the exception of clinical courses. (See course descriptions.)
  2. General Education and elective units may be used toward a double major or minor (see Double Major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
  3. Students in CDDS 110, 162, 163, 164, and other clinical, internship, and student teaching courses are required to show health certification that they are free from tuberculosis and rubella, and to purchase student clinic malpractice insurance for the clinical courses (see the University Speech and Hearing Clinic director for details).
  4. PSYCH 101 is a required credential course than can also be used as an undergraduate elective.
  5. A statistics course is a prerequisite to CDDS 200, which is typically taken the first semester of graduate work. It is recommended that students take statistics as an undergraduate elective prior to applying to graduate school.
  6. No General Education Multicultural/International course offered by the Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies Department may be used to satisfy the General Education requirements for majors in the department.

 

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Certificate in Conversational American Sign Language

The Certificate in Conversational American Sign Language will be awarded to students who first complete the 9-unit program of study consisting of three advanced sign language classes and then pass the departmental proficiency interview in American Sign Language. The recipients of the certificate are considered fluent and possess the expressive and receptive communication skills needed to successfully communicate with deaf and hard-of-hearing children, youth, and adults.

The following list includes the required courses. Students must complete all the coursework with a C grade or better.

Required (12 units)
CDDS 94S, 106, 136, 139

Note: No course substitutions may be made without the department's approval. CDDS 91, 92, 93, and 94S are prerequisites for CDDS 136.

 

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Communicative Disorders Minor

A Minor in Communicative Disorders is designed to provide students in psychology, education, and the health professions with an appreciation and understanding of the problems and procedures related to people who have speech, language, and hearing disorders.

Select one of the following:

Speech Pathology/Audiology
CDDS 80, 91, 95, 101, 102, 109
(18 units)

Deaf Studies
CDDS 80, 91, 92, 93, 139, 141
(18 units)

Note:
With permission of the department chair, substitutions can be made. The Communicative Disorders Minor also requires a 2.0 GPA and 6 upper-division units in residence.

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Graduate Program

The master's degree is considered essential for the professional training needed for effective practice in deaf education or speech-language pathology. The master's degree generally involves about two years of full-time study.

Admission Requirements. The graduate program is open to students with communicative disorders or related bachelor's degrees who have demonstrated the ability to excel at an advanced level as well as indicated great potential for success in academic work and clinical work. In order to be considered for admission to the graduate program, the applicant needs to submit the following: (1) a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 units of any coursework and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in CDDS coursework; (2) three letters of recommendation; (3) a letter of intent; and (4) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.

Consideration for admission may include but will not be limited to the following: (1) students with outstanding clinical potential, (2) deaf and hard of hearing students, (3) students with disabilities, and (4) students with multicultural or bilingual experience.

Applicants who have specific deficiencies or need coursework may be accepted with conditionally classified status. Students must apply to the department for fully classified graduate standing as soon as any conditions of acceptance have been met. No more than 10 units of graduate work taken under conditional classification can be used to meet the requirements of the master's degree.

Admission Procedures. Applications for the graduate program in communicative disorders are accepted until October 1 for the spring semester and February 1 for the fall semester. Applications received after these dates are considered the following semester. Application is a two-step process that involves submitting the following:

1. To the University

  • An Application of Admission and the Supplemental Application for Graduate Admission (forms A and B in the CSU application booklet)
  • Official transcripts from all universities and colleges other than California State University, Fresno
  • Official GRE scores

2. To the Department

  • Departmental application
  • Official transcripts from all universities attended (California State University, Fresno students may supply the unofficial transcripts issued by Admissions and Records.)
  • Official GRE scores.
  • Three letters of recommendation (These letters should be written by instructors or other persons familiar with communicative disorders.)
  • Letter of Intent

The departmental application and letter of recommendation forms are available from the department. Please be aware that students cannot be accepted into the graduate program until all materials are received by the university and the department. Students are encouraged to take their GRE early during their senior year to avoid delays in acceptance for graduate work.

Advancement to Candidacy. Each student in a master's degree program must file for advancement to candidacy. See Admissions and Master's Degree Programs, Division of Graduate Studies.

Graduate-Level Writing Competence. California State University, Fresno requires that students have graduate-level writing abilities before being advanced to candidacy for the master's degree. Students can demonstrate these abilities by passing the writing component of CDDS 200 and obtaining written clearance from the instructor. If GWR clearance is denied, students may appeal to the course instructor. Please see the CDDS Graduate Handbook for more information.

Statistics. Any 3-unit, one semester statistics course (lower division, upper division, or graduate level) is required to complete the Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders. Students are encouraged to take the course during their senior year. Exceptions may be made with the consent of their faculty adviser.

Grade Requirements. To be eligible to receive the master's degree, a student must have maintained a B average with no more than two C grades on the approved Program of Study. Once a student has received three Cs at any point in the graduate program, he or she will automatically be disqualified from the graduate program.

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Master of Arts Degree Requirements
Communicative Disorders Major

Deaf Education Option
CDDS 200, 201, 202, 255, 262, 263, 264, either 3 units in electives* and CDDS 268 or 9 units in electives* (30 units)

Culminating Experience (6 units)
Thesis or project (6 units)

Comprehensive Examination (6 units)
CI 225 and LEE 173 or LEE 177

Total (36 units)

 

Speech-Language Pathology Option
CDDS 200, 202, 204, 207, 210, 213, 214, 215, 216, 220 (30 units)

Culminating Experience (6 units)
Thesis or project (6 units)

Comprehensive Examination (6 units)
CDDS 201, 292

Total (36 units)


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* Approved electives are as follows: CDDS 290; CI 230; LEE 172, 214; LING 244; SPED 179, 219, 233, 235.

Other coursework is developed with the adviser to reflect such factors as students' desires regarding thesis or project, individual needs and desires for training, meeting certain state or national requirements, etc.

Student Teaching and Internship. Students are required to take their final student teaching and internship (e.g. CDDS 257, 258, 267, 268) during the last two semesters of their approved Program of Study and within the last 12 units of graduate coursework. Earlier final student teaching and internships are not permitted in the Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies Department.

Clinical Training. All students are involved in supervised clinical practicum experience during their graduate training. At least 400 clinical hours are required prior to receiving the M.A.. A minimum of 300 of these hours must be at the graduate level. These hours are gained at the University Speech and Hearing Clinic and in at least two other settings (internship, student teaching, residency program, etc.)

Culminating Experience. A culminating experience is required of all California State University, Fresno students earning master's degrees. This requirement is accomplished by completing a thesis, project, or comprehensive written exam. Only a limited number of students may be permitted to undertake a thesis or project, depending on the availability of faculty or committee members. Selection of students for a thesis or project is determined by their consistent demonstration of academic superiority in coursework and evidence of outstanding writing skills and research papers. Up to 6 units of credit can be earned for a thesis or project. These units may be applied toward the unit requirements of the degree. (See Criteria for Thesis and Project.) Students considering a thesis or project need to consult the faculty very early in their graduate program, so as to assure completion of the assignment prior to graduation. Selecting a thesis or project option is recommended for students who may at some point consider working toward a doctoral degree. Students who do not participate in a thesis or project must complete a comprehensive written examination. For this examination, students write detailed responses to questions about specific topics within the field. Further information about these options is available from an adviser.

Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. Completion of the master's degree fulfills all the academic and clinical practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Speech Pathology. A Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) of paid, professional supervised experience is required along with passing the National Examination in Speech Pathology (NESPA) before the certificate is granted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. A Certificate of Clinical Competence is required for employment in nearly all work settings except the public schools. All students are encouraged to acquire national certification regardless of the work setting they may choose.

California License as a Speech Pathologist. The master's degree fulfills all academic and clinical practicum requirements for the State License. A year of paid Required Professional Experience (RPE) is necessary along with passing the NESPA before the license is issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs. The license is required for employment in almost all settings except the public schools.

The CFY and RPE can be completed concurrently when graduates accept their first professional position.

Certification by Council on Education of the Deaf. For students specializing in deaf education, completion of the master's degree fulfills all the academic and clinical practicum requirements for Provisional Certification by the Council on Education of the Deaf, the national organization responsible for certifying teachers of the deaf. Professional level certification is available following three years of successful teaching under the supervision of a professionally certified educator of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. All students are encouraged to acquire national certification.

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Credentials

Two major school credentials for employment are available through the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies. Students majoring in speech-language pathology have a choice of completing their Clinical Rehabilitation Services Credential with an option in either language, speech, and hearing services or language, speech, and hearing services with severe oral language handicapped authorization. Students who choose the first option are prepared to work as speech-language pathologists with individuals and/or small groups in one or several schools. However, students selecting the second option work as classroom teachers with severe language handicapped children or as speech pathologists in the school system. Speech-language pathology students accepted into the graduate program in the fall of 1994 or thereafter must complete their master's degree before they are issued the Clinical Rehabilitation Services Credential.

Students in speech-language pathology must be approved for admission into the graduate program before the Clinical Rehabilitative Services (CRS) credential is issued. Deaf education students may pursue the Preliminary Level I and Professional Level II Education Specialist Credential: Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing with or without pursuing the M.A.. They are trained to teach deaf and hard-of-hearing classes in early childhood, elementary, and secondary settings, as certified by CED. Students pursuing these credentials must meet all admission requirements for the graduate program.

Individuals interested in teaching children and youth who are deaf or hard of hearing must obtain the Preliminary Level I Special Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Credential and within five years receive the Professional Level II Special Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Credential. For more detailed information, contact the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies office.

Students are not eligible to take any Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies (CDDS) 200-level coursework without departmental acceptance into the M.A. or credential program. CDDS 200-level coursework taken by deaf education students for a credential will not be included on a master's degree program of study unless the student has been admitted into the M.A. program. Students cleared as credential candidates by the department and the Kremen School of Education and Human Development are not automatically accepted into the department's graduate program.

Information regarding the two credentials is available from departmental credential advisers and the Kremen School of Education and Human Development. Students must see their advisers in regard to the upcoming changes in the credential programs.

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Preliminary Level I Special Education Specialist Credential: Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Core: CDDS 80, 95 (or LING 150); CDDS 102, 106, 114, 128 and 131 (concurrently) (19 units)
Deaf Education core: CDDS 93, 94S, 135, 139, 141, 162, 163, 164, 202, 255, 262, 263, 264 (39 units)
Clinical core: CDDS 260 (2 units); CDDS 258 (6 units) or CDDS 268 (6 units) or CDDS 258 (12 units) (14 units)
Total (72 units)


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Professional Level II Special Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Credential

After candidates complete their Preliminary Level I Credential program, they can be employed in a special education position requiring the Level I Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Credential authorization. Additional coursework and a minimum of two years of employment are required for the Professional Level II Credential.

The Level II Credential is required as a condition for continuous employment in special education in the state of California and must be obtained no later than five years after obtaining the Preliminary Level I Credential.

Information regarding admission to the Professional Level II Special Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Credential can be obtained from the Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies office, 278.2423, or by visiting the department's Web site at www.csufresno.edu/csd.

Level II Program

Prerequisite: Preliminary Level I Special Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Credential

Core: CDDS 278 and 279 (6 units)

Generic Core CI 100; HS 120 (6 units)

Total (12 units)

 

Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credentials

Language, Speech, and Hearing Services

Generic courses: CDDS 80, 91, 95, 101, 102, 103, 105; 107 and 110 (concurrently), 109, 114, 115, 116; 128 and 131 (concurrently), 171, 172; PSYCH 101 (50 units)

Advanced Specialization in Language, Speech, and Hearing: CDDS 200, 202, 204, 207, 210, 213, 214, 216, 220 (30 units)

Clinical core: CDDS 257 (4-9 units), 209 (1 unit), 130 or 230 (10-15 units), 150 or 250 (5 units) (20-30 units)

Total (100-110 units)

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