Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Advisors: Epstein, Gray, Raggio, Robinson, Soto, Sundarrajan, Yu
Program courses constitute the specific requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences leading to the baccalaureate degree at this University. The undergraduate sequence or a program equivalence is a prerequisite to the Master of Science in Communicative Disorders. A master’s degree in the area of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) is required for a professional license to practice in the field. A doctoral degree in Audiology (AUD) is required for professional licensing in Audiology. All undergraduates, regardless of their intention to become an Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist, or to pursue another career path, take the same coursework. Thirteen core courses are required for the major. The B.S. degree is not a terminal degree. While the B.S. degree in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences does not qualify the student to practice Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology, there are related fields open to the B.S. graduate that include employment as a teacher’s assistant, classroom aide, child development worker, and Speech-Language Pathology Assistant with additional intern experience beyond the undergraduate degree. In addition, the B.S. degree in SLHS is a strong preparation for a number of graduate programs in special education, education, rehabilitation counseling, and related fields.
The undergraduate degree requires 120 units minimum. Students entering the program must hold the status of junior and declare Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences as the major. Students are required to meet the following criteria prior to enrollment in the major coursework:
- Demonstrate a minimum GPA of 2.0
- Meet with an advisor to review the requirements of the professions in speech-language pathology, audiology, and related fields.
- All undergraduates, regardless of their intention to become an Audiologist (AuD), Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), or to pursue another career path, take the same coursework.
Many of the courses listed in the major have prerequisites and must be taken in a particular sequence. The course roadmap begins in the fall semester of the junior year, but SLHS 300 and SLHS 655 are general education that can be taken beforehand. (Consult the roadmap and online course descriptions for the course sequence.)
To advance in the undergraduate program, students must:
- Maintain an overall grade point average of C or better (2.0 GPA)
- Receive a grade of C– or better in all courses in each consecutive semester in the program.
- Successfully complete all courses in each semester sequence.
Students who do not meet these criteria cannot take any additional courses in the sequence. Courses with less than a C– grade must be retaken before enrollment in the complete sequence may continue.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of statistics as well as the biological, physical, and social/behavioral sciences.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic human communication and swallowing processes, including the appropriate biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural bases. The applicant must have demonstrated the ability to integrate information pertaining to normal and abnormal human development across the life span.
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (B.S.) — 40 units
All students must receive a grade of C– or better in all courses in each consecutive semester in the program.
Major Prerequisites
- A course in human or animal biology, human anatomy, and physiology, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, human genetics, or veterinary science.
- A course in Area D1 Social Sciences in psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health.
- A course in Area B1 Physical Science. A course in Area B1 Physical Science — CHEM 101, CHEM 180, PHYS 101, PHYS 111, or PHYS 220
- A course in statistics. MATH 124, ISED 160, or PSY 171 are recommended.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SLHS 300 | Introduction to Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences | 3 |
| SLHS 651 | Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism | 3 |
| SLHS 652 | Audiology | 3 |
| SLHS 654 | Audiometry | 3 |
| SLHS 655 | Language Development | 3 |
| SLHS 656GW | Diagnosis of Communicative Disorders - GWAR | 3 |
| SLHS 657 | Aural Rehabilitation | 3 |
| SLHS 658 | Developmental Speech-Language Disabilities | 3 |
| SLHS 659 | Articulatory and Phonological Disorders | 3 |
| SLHS 661 | Neurolinguistics | 3 |
| SLHS 663 | Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication | 3 |
| SLHS 664 | Clinical Phonetics | 3 |
| SLHS 668 | Typical and Atypical Social Communication Development | 3 |
| SLHS 680 | Practicum in Communication Therapy | 1 |
Capstone
A capstone ePortfolio assignment is required in the fall semester of the senior year, as a part of the course requirements for SLHS 656GW.
First-Time Student Roadmap (4 Year)
The roadmaps presented in this Bulletin are intended as suggested plans of study and do not replace meeting with an advisor. For a more personalized roadmap, please use the Degree Planner tool found in your Student Center.
SF State Scholars
The San Francisco State Scholars program provides undergraduate students with an accelerated pathway to a graduate degree. Students in this program pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously. This program allows students to earn graduate credit while in their junior and/or senior year, reducing the number of semesters required for completion of a master’s degree.
General Advising Information for Transfer Students
- Before transfer, complete as many lower-division requirements or electives for this major as possible.
- The following courses are not required for admission but are required for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these units before transfer; doing so will provide more flexibility in course selection after transfer.
- a course in U.S. History
- a course in U.S. & California Government
For information about satisfying the requirements described in (1) and (2) above at a California Community College (CCC), please visit http://www.assist.org. Check any geographically accessible CCCs; sometimes options include more than one college. Use ASSIST to determine:
- Which courses at a CCC satisfy any lower-division major requirements for this major;
- Which courses at a CCC satisfy CSU GE, US History, and US & CA Government requirements.
Remedial courses are not transferable and do not apply to the minimum 60 semester units/90 quarter units required for admission.
Additional units for courses that are repeated do not apply to the minimum 60 units required for upper-division transfer (for example, if a course was not passed on the first attempt or was taken to earn a better grade).
Before leaving the last California Community College of attendance, obtain a summary of completion of lower-division General Education units (IGETC or CSU GE Breadth). This is often referred to as a GE certification worksheet. SF State does not require delivery of this certification to Admissions, but students should retain this document for verifying degree progress after transfer.
Credit for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College-Level Examination Program courses: AP/IB/CLEP credit is not automatically transferred from the previous institution. Units are transferred only when an official score report is delivered to SF State. Credit is based on the academic year during which exams were taken. Refer to the University Bulletin in effect during the year of AP/IB/CLEP examination(s) for details regarding the award of credit for AP/IB/CLEP.
Students pursuing majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines often defer 6-9 units of lower-division General Education in Areas C and D until after transfer to focus on preparation courses for the major. This advice does not apply to students pursuing associate degree completion before transfer.
Transferring From Institutions Other Than CCCs or CSUs
Review SF State's lower-division General Education requirements. Note that, as described below, the four basic skills courses required for admission meet A1, A2, A3, and B4 in the SF State GE pattern. Courses that fulfill the remaining areas of SF State’s lower-division GE pattern are available at most two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
Of the four required basic skills courses, a course in critical thinking (A3) may not be widely offered outside the CCC and CSU systems. Students should attempt to identify and take an appropriate course no later than the term of application to the CSU. To review more information about the A3 requirement, please visit bulletin.sfsu.edu/undergraduate-education/general-education/lower-division/#AAEL.
Waiting until after transfer to take a single course at SF State that meets both US and CA/local government requirements may be an appropriate option, particularly if transferring from outside of California.