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1220.00This degree prepares students for employment as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). 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. Students will also be eligible to apply to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for the voluntary Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Certification. SLPAHADB recognizes Pasadena City College (PCC) as an approved training program.
1. Prerequisites and Enrollment Limitations
Students must successfully complete, with grade C or better, or be concurrently enrolled in SLPA 018: Introduction to Communication Disorders, at the time of application. Refer to the SLPA webpage at www.pasadena.edu/slpa for selection criteria and application details or see a PCC counselor. Students enrolled in SLPA 018 at time of application must meet the successful completion standard of grade C or better to be accepted to the SLPA program. Enrollment in the remaining “SLPA-designated” courses is limited to students accepted in the SLPA A.S. degree program.
Before applying for admission, prospective students should 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. The pre-clinical check may also include immunization history and drug screening, as well as other measures. This will be at the student’s cost. If the pre-clinical check is not successful, the student will forfeit their admission.
2. Requirements
To be eligible to earn the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Associate in Science degree, a student must successfully complete, with a grade of C or better, a total of 60 units, which includes 21 units of Speech Language Pathology Assistant “SLPA-designated” major requirements, 29-32 units of “Other” major requirements, and General Education courses from a selected GE pattern: CSU GE, IGETC, or PCC Local GE.
The "SLPA-designated" major required courses, with semester typically offered:
Fall and Spring
- SLPA 018
- Fall Year 1
- SLPA 107 (SLPA 018 prerequisite)
Spring Year 1
- SLPA 115 (SLPA 018 prerequisite)
- SLPA 119 (SLPA 018 prerequisite)
- Fall Year 2
- SLPA 123A (SLPA 107, SLPA 115, and SLPA 119 prerequisites)
Spring Year 2
- SLPA 123B (SLPA 123A prerequisite)
- SLPA 126 (SLPA 126S corequisite. Prerequisite: Enrollment in or completion of SLPA 123B)
- SLPA 126S (SLPA 126 corequisite)
The “Other” major required courses include:
- SPCH 010 Interpersonal Communication
- ASL 001 Elementary American Sign Language
- LING 012/ENGL 012 Language and Cross-Cultural Communication
- CHDV 010 Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children
- CHDV 030 Introduction to Children with Special Needs
- CHDV 105 Children with Challenging Behaviors
- CHDV 122 Practicum in Early Intervention/Special Education
- CHDV 122F Field Practice in Early Intervention/Special Education
- PSYC 024 Lifespan Developmental Psychology (or PSYC 021 Developmental Psychology: The Child AND PSYC 022 Developmental Psychology: The Adult)
- BIOL 011 General Biology or BIOL 011H Honors General Biology or BIOL 003 Human Biology
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.
Students may begin taking "Other” major required courses at any time, prior to admission. PCC and the SLPA program may accept previous coursework for general education or “Other” major requirements based upon the college's transcript evaluation/course substitution process.
Many of the “SLPA-designated” courses have a scheduled clinical component, providing students with opportunity for hands-on application of knowledge, at different contracted sites, which may be on- and/or off-campus. It is the responsibility of students to transport themselves and to make themselves available for these experiences.
3. Course Substitutions
Often students begin this program after already completing another college degree. Substitutions may be accepted for the “Other” major required courses, based on the Course Substitution and degree policies and procedures of the college. No substitutions will be accepted for the “SLPA-designated” major required courses.
Note: 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, SLPA 126: Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Field Work, requires completion of the PCC course prerequisites. The courses in this program are not designed as post-baccalaureate leveling courses for people interested in applying to Master's programs in Speech-Language Pathology.
4. Other requirements
The fees for admitted students include:
- a student-paid background check (paid to a third-party) of approximately $38.
- a one-time purchase of a Student Malpractice Insurance policy when enrolled in the Fieldwork course, SLPA 126: Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Field Work. The cost of the policy varies based on student elections for policy limits and company. The cost is typically around $50.
If selected for admission to the program, students are required to complete 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. The pre-clinical check may also include immunization history and drug screening, as well as other measures. This will be at the student’s cost. If the student’s pre-clinical check is not cleared, they will forfeit their admission.
Prior to entry into clinical components, students may be required to complete/obtain at their own cost, depending on the requirements of the site:
- A physical examination
- Criminal background/drug screen clearance
- CPR, HIPAA training, or other clinical site requirements
- Student malpractice liability insurance
Program Outcomes
- Recognize and explain the Laws and Regulations pertaining to state registration as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant.
- Demonstrate skills to provide direct treatment assistance to diverse clients/patients in multiple settings, under the supervision of a Speech-Language Pathologist, by implementing treatment plans, conducting screenings without interpretation, assisting with assessment, and documenting client/patient progress.
- Demonstrate appropriate workplace behaviors as a paraprofessional team member, under the supervision of a Speech-Language Pathologist, by responding appropriately to supervisory feedback, assisting with clerical and operational tasks, and supporting the prevention and advocacy efforts of the agency.
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 | ||
| ASL 001 | ELEMENTARY AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE | 4 |
| SPCH 010 | INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| LING 012 | LANGUAGE AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| or ENGL 012 | LANGUAGE AND CROSS-CULTURAL 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 |
| BIOL 011 | GENERAL BIOLOGY | 4 |
| or BIOL 011H | HONORS GENERAL BIOLOGY | |
| or BIOL 003 | HUMAN BIOLOGY | |
| PSYC 021 (or PSYC 021H) and PSYC 022 may be taken in place of PSYC 024 | 3-6 | |
| LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE CHILD and DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE ADULT | ||
or PSYC 021H | HONORS DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE CHILD | |
| Total Units | 50-53 | |
General Education Requirements for the Associate in Science Degree
Visit the Program Mapper for a suggested sequence of courses.