Top Code: 1220.00
This degree prepares students for employment as Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs). An SLPA works with clients/patients with communication disorders, under the supervision of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). Communication disorders affect people of all ages, including infants, children, adults, and seniors. Students will be trained to assist SLPs with the assessment and treatment of people with articulation, language, voice, fluency, and other communication disorders. There are a variety of locations of practice which include educational, clinical and medical settings. Upon successful completion of this degree, the graduate will be eligible to apply to the Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensers Board (SLPAHADB) of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs for registration as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant. SLPAHADB recognizes Pasadena City College (PCC) as an approved training program. This is a Career & Technical Education program.
This Associate of Science degree includes requirements for general education and for the major. The major requirements are categorized as “SLPA-designated” major required courses and other major required courses.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| "SLPA-designated” Major Required Courses | ||
| SLPA 018 | INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION DISORDERS | 3 |
| SLPA 107 | PHONETICS, ARTICULATION, AND PHONOLOGY | 3 |
| SLPA 115 | CHILD LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND DISORDERS | 3 |
| SLPA 119 | SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY: PROFESSIONAL ISSUES | 3 |
| SLPA 123A | COMMUNICATION DISORDERS: ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION | 3 |
| SLPA 123B | ADULT DISORDERS: REMEDIATION | 3 |
| SLPA 126 | SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK | 2 |
| SLPA 126S | SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK SEMINAR | 1 |
| Other Major Required Courses | ||
| SPCH 010 | INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| ASL 001 | ELEMENTARY AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE | 4 |
| LING 012 | INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| or ENGL 012 | INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | |
| CHDV 010 | PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN | 3 |
| CHDV 030 | INTRODUCTION TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS | 3 |
| CHDV 105 | CHILDREN WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS | 3 |
| CHDV 122 | PRACTICUM IN EARLY INTERVENTION/SPECIAL EDUCATION | 2 |
| CHDV 122F | FIELD PRACTICE IN EARLY INTERVENTION/SPECIAL EDUCATION | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-6 | |
| LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE CHILD and DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE ADULT | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| GENERAL BIOLOGY | ||
| HONORS GENERAL BIOLOGY | ||
| HUMAN BIOLOGY | ||
| Total Units | 50-53 | |
There is an application process for admission into the program. For the selection criteria and procedures, refer to the SLPA webpage at http://www.pasadena.edu/slpa or see a PCC Counselor. Candidates who completed some, but not all, of the “SLPA-designated” courses, beyond SLPA 018, prior to Fall 2019, will need to contact the SLPA Program Coordinator for consideration of program re-entry.
Students may begin taking Other major required courses at any time, referencing the list of required courses.
PCC and the SLPA program may accept previous coursework for general education or major requirements based upon the college’s transcript evaluation process. However, no course substitutions will be accepted for the “SLPA-designated” courses.
This program is not designed for candidates who have earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology and require a field work course in order to register with SLPAHADB as an SLPA. The field work course is only offered through the prerequisites of the program.
SLPA 018 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION DISORDERS is offered Fall and Spring annually and successful completion with a “C” or better is a prerequisite of application.
Students must be admitted to the program to enroll in any of the following “SLPA-designated” courses, which are offered as shown:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Year 1 | ||
| SLPA 107 | PHONETICS, ARTICULATION, AND PHONOLOGY 1 | 3 |
| Spring Year 1 | ||
| SLPA 115 | CHILD LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND DISORDERS 1 | 3 |
| SLPA 119 | SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY: PROFESSIONAL ISSUES 1 | 3 |
| Fall Year 2 | ||
| SLPA 123A | COMMUNICATION DISORDERS: ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION 2 | 3 |
| Spring Year 2 | ||
| SLPA 123B | ADULT DISORDERS: REMEDIATION 3 | 3 |
| SLPA 126 | SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK 4,5,6 | 2 |
| SLPA 126S | SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK SEMINAR 5,6,7 | 1 |
| Total Units | 18 | |
| 1 | Prerequisite: SLPA 018 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION DISORDERS |
| 2 | Prerequisites: SLPA 107 PHONETICS, ARTICULATION, AND PHONOLOGY, SLPA 115 CHILD LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND DISORDERS, and SLPA 119 SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY: PROFESSIONAL ISSUES |
| 3 | Prerequisite: SLPA 123A COMMUNICATION DISORDERS: ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION |
| 4 | Co-requisite: SLPA 126S SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK SEMINAR Prerequisite: Enrollment in or completion of SLPA 123B ADULT DISORDERS: REMEDIATION |
| 5 | Offered every spring and fall. |
| 6 | Students may elect to take after successful completion of SLPA 123B ADULT DISORDERS: REMEDIATION in a different semester or may co-enrolled in the Spring semester only |
| 7 | Co-requisite: SLPA 126 SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK |
Students may progress through the program part-time, following the prerequisite requirements.
Before applying for admission, prospective students must consider the following information:
If selected for admission to the program, students are required to submit an application for a pre-clinical check. This may include background information such as County Criminal Records, Social Security Alert, Nationwide Healthcare Fraud & Abuse Registry, and Nationwide Sexual Offender Registry. Additionally, they must complete and submit a negative TB test. The pre-clinical check may also include immunization history and drug screening, as well as other measures. This will be at the students' cost. If the students are not successful, they will forfeit their admission.
Many of the “SLPA-designated” courses, including field work, have a scheduled clinical component, providing students with opportunity for hands-on application of knowledge, at different contracted sites off-campus. It is the responsibility of students to transport themselves.
The majority of the “SLPA-designated” courses are offered during the day, particularly the Year 2 courses, in order to provide access to clinical components.
The culminating course, SLPA 126 SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK, requires students to be available two full days per week, Monday-Friday, for the duration of the semester. The required co-requisite course, SLPA 126S SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK SEMINAR, is scheduled in the evenings, once every other week during the same semester.
It is to students’ benefit to plan their program of study such that SLPA 126 SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK and SLPA 126S SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK SEMINAR are the final courses they complete before graduation.
Prior to entry into clinical components, students may be required to complete/obtain at their own cost:
- A physical examination
- Criminal background/drug screen check clearance
- CPR, HIPAA training, or other clinical site requirements
- Student malpractice liability insurance
An Associate of Science degree is awarded upon completion of all major required courses with a grade of C or better, and all General Education requirements with the standards determined by the college.
Requirements for the Major
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SLPA-designated Courses | ||
| SLPA 018 | INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION DISORDERS | 3 |
| SLPA 107 | PHONETICS, ARTICULATION, AND PHONOLOGY | 3 |
| SLPA 115 | CHILD LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND DISORDERS | 3 |
| SLPA 119 | SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY: PROFESSIONAL ISSUES | 3 |
| SLPA 123A | COMMUNICATION DISORDERS: ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION | 3 |
| SLPA 123B | ADULT DISORDERS: REMEDIATION | 3 |
| SLPA 126 | SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK | 2 |
| SLPA 126S | SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT FIELD WORK SEMINAR | 1 |
| Other Major Required Courses | ||
| SPCH 010 | INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| ASL 001 | ELEMENTARY AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE | 4 |
| LING 012 | INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| or ENGL 012 | INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | |
| CHDV 010 | PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN | 3 |
| CHDV 030 | INTRODUCTION TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS | 3 |
| CHDV 105 | CHILDREN WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS | 3 |
| CHDV 122 | PRACTICUM IN EARLY INTERVENTION/SPECIAL EDUCATION | 2 |
| CHDV 122F | FIELD PRACTICE IN EARLY INTERVENTION/SPECIAL EDUCATION | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-6 | |
| LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE CHILD and DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE ADULT | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| GENERAL BIOLOGY | ||
| HONORS GENERAL BIOLOGY | ||
| HUMAN BIOLOGY | ||
| Total Units | 50-53 | |
Visit the Program Mapper for a suggested sequence of courses.