Communication Disorders & Sciences

The Department of Communication Disorders & Sciences

"Educating tomorrow's speech, language and hearing professionals."

Our Mission:

The Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences has a three-dimensional mission of teaching, research and service for the advancement of human potential in speech, language and hearing. As part of a comprehensive university system dedicated to undergraduate and graduate instruction, teaching is always regarded as the first priority.

The Major:

The Communication Disorders and Sciences major involves studies in the disciplines of speech and hearing sciences, audiology, and speech-language pathology. Undergraduate program offers an emphasis in either audiology or speech-language pathology. Graduate degree in Speech-Language pathology.

The Degree Programs:

The Master's Degree is the professional entry-level requirement for employment as an audiologist or speech language pathologist. Completion of the baccalaureate and master's degree programs enable the students to satisfy the academic requirements for:

• license in all US states to practice in medical, rehabilitative, or private practice settings
• education credentials in all states for employment in public schools and
• professional certification by the American Speech Language-Hearing Association.

The department's curriculum is conducted through classroom instruction and experiential learning , including intensive student participation in the clinical programs of the CSUN Language, Speech and Hearing Center. Advanced graduate students obtain additional clinical experience through placement in the department's affiliated medical centers, professional practices, and public schools.

Graduate Program Outcomes

Each year, the Department keeps track of certain outcomes by the graduates of its Master of Science degree program in Communication Disorders and Sciences, Speech-Language Pathology.  Separate outcome data is monitored for the residential and distance learning degree programs.  Data for the past three years is shown below.

Graduate Residential Program

The residential program is comprised of students attending classes on the campus of California State University Northridge.  The first table consists of the percent of program graduates who are employed in the profession within the first year after graduation, beginning with the most recently completed full year.

Residential Program

The second table shows the pass rate for the past three academic years on the Praxis Examination.  This national examination is used by students to qualify for professional certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and to qualify for licensure to practice in each state.

The residential program completion rate is seen on the third table. The expected time for completion is four semesters for a student who has Classified Graduate status.

Distance Learning Program

The distance learning program enrolls students in three-year-long programs of study in cohorts.  The students do not attend classes on campus.  All courses are taken on-line and all supervised clinical education is completed in settings in the students’ areas of residence.  The first table presents of the percent of distance learning program graduates who are employed in the profession within the first year after graduation, beginning with the most recently completed full year.