Speech-Language Pathology

Phone: (209) 946-2381
Location: Chan Family Health Sciences Learning Center

Derek Isetti, Ph.D., Department Chair

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science
Master of Science (see Graduate Catalog for information)

Majors Offered

Speech-Language Pathology

Minors Offered

Speech-Language Pathology

Mission

The mission of the Speech-Language Pathology department is to prepare reflective speech-language pathologists for lifelong success by providing an excellent, student-centered experiential learning environment. Our students are mentored in developing leadership, critical thinking skills, and a strong commitment to their profession and society. These efforts are assisted by the department’s commitment to professional and liberal arts programs. The faculty is dedicated to continued professional growth through clinical practice, scholarly activity, and service to the profession and the community. The graduate professional preparation program is developed in accordance with state and national accreditation standards and guidelines to ensure that graduates provide exemplary professional practice throughout their careers.

The Study of Speech-Language Pathology

Speech-Language Pathology is a full-time, pre-professional, cohort-based program, with a set sequence, related to habilitative and rehabilitative services. This program leads to varied occupations that pertain to providing services to individuals with speech and language disorders.

Speech-Language Pathologists work with people of all ages and are prepared to evaluate speech and language problems. They plan and implement programs to correct or modify the disorder, or develop other means of communicating. Some examples of the types of problems include speech sound, language, fluency, and voice disorders.

The Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program is a full-time program with a cohort based plan of study. Students are required to enroll full-time and must advance through a pre-determined curriculum of speech-language pathology (SLP) courses in sequence with their cohort.  Students are required to successfully pass each SLP course in a given semester in order to advance to the subsequent semester with their cohort and progress in the program.  Students who do not pass an SLP course, or who withdraw from an SLP course, will not be able to progress with their cohort in the program.  Students may be able to rejoin the program at a later date if allowed by program policy and approved by the program chair/director.

Special Features

In addition to demonstrating satisfactory academic performance, students are allowed to demonstrate clinical competence. This includes:

1. The ability to identify individuals with communication disorders.
2. The ability to perform comprehensive evaluations of individuals with communicative disorders.
3. The ability to affect positive changes in the communicative skills of individuals with communicative disorders.
4. The ability to relate effectively to clients, their families and fellow professionals.
5. The ability to conduct oneself as a prospective professional, accepting the responsibilities and exhibiting the interest which this requires.

Clinical competencies are assessed throughout the program and are considered in the recommendation to grant the BS degree.

Clinical practicum experiences are performed in the Pacific Speech, Hearing and Language Center, the RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Stockton, and the Language-Literacy Center. These local centers allow the student to directly observe and participate in the habilitative and rehabilitative processes. At the junior level, students may participate in a junior clinician role in conjunction with more advanced students. At the senior level, students are directly responsible for their own clients. All clinical experiences are under the direct observation of licensed and certified personnel.

Accreditation

The master's degree program in Speech-Language Pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Speech-Language Pathology Facilities

The department is housed in quarters designed specifically for the clinical aspects of the program. Observation mirrors and audio-monitoring systems are installed in each of the 18 therapy rooms. Facilities allow for close student-faculty interaction and clinical experiences incorporating all persons involved in the therapeutic process. The Pacific Speech, Hearing and Language Center and the RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Stockton, and the Language-Literacy Center strengthen the clinical aspect of the program and serve to facilitate the development of strong clinical skills.

Career Options

Speech-language pathologists are members of healthcare and educational teams. Depending upon the nature of the problem, they may work with many different professionals including physicians, surgeons, orthodontists, psychologists, educators, counselors or social workers. Employment settings of the speech-language pathologist include public schools, clinics, hospitals and private practices.

Recommended High School Preparation

A strong college preparatory program serves the student very well in this major. Although not required, experience in a foreign language, good writing skills, behavioral and biological sciences,  mathematics, strong interpersonal skills, and compassion for others enhance the student’s skills for performance in the major.

Typical First-Year Program

Speech-language pathology (SLP) majors take  SLPA 051-Introduction to Communication Disorders during their first semester. Other students possibly interested in the major are also encouraged to take SLPA 051 for an overall survey of the field during their first semester. SLP majors are also encouraged to take a broad selection of courses in the Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Physical Sciences toward fulfillment of the general education requirements.

Program Requirements

The BS degree in Speech-Language Pathology is viewed as a full-time, pre-professional, cohort-based degree program which requires two years of clinical experience. In order to participate in Beginning and/or Intermediate Clinical Practicum (SLPA 189A/SLPA 189B) and Diagnostic Lab (SLPA 183), the student must have a 3.2 GPA overall in all required courses for the degree and no less than a "B-" in any Speech-Language Pathology major course.  These include the following required courses taught outside the department: Biology, Physics/Chemistry, Statistics, Developmental Psychology/Child Development, and Sociology or Psychology.  

All SLP majors who enter the program as a freshman are required to follow the Freshman Course Sequence sheet, located on the speech-language pathology webpage.   All SLP majors who enter the program as a junior/transfer are required to follow the Transfer Course Sequence sheet, located on the speech-language pathology webpage.   With the exception of the SLPA 051 - Introduction to Communication Disorders and the SLPA 121 - Speech and Language Development courses, all other SLP courses are required to be taken in the SLP department at Pacific. 

In addition, students who have declared the major prior to their junior year (less than 56 units) must complete all three of the following courses before the beginning of the senior year: Biology, Physics/Chemistry, and Statistics. Transfer students who have declared the major during the junior year (more than 56 units) must complete two of the three following courses before the beginning of the senior year: Biology, Physics/Chemistry, and Statistics

If a student is ineligible to participate in SLPA 189A/SLPA 189B and SLPA 183, SLPA 110A/SLPA 110B and SLPA 181 must be taken in place of these courses.

In order to be certified, licensed and/or credentialed in the field, the student must acquire the master’s degree. Further information regarding advanced work is obtained by contacting the Speech-Language Pathology Department.

Bachelor of Science Major in Speech-Language Pathology

Students must complete a minimum of 120 units with a Pacific cumulative and major/program grade point average of 2.0 in order to earn the bachelor of science degree with a major in speech-language pathology.

I. General Education Requirements

For more details, see General Education

Minimum 28 units and 9 courses that include:

A. CORE Seminars (2 courses)

CORE 001	Problem Solving & Oral Comm	3
CORE 002	Writing and Critical Thinking	4

Note: 1) CORE Seminars cannot be taken for Pass/No Credit. 2) Transfer students with 28 or more transfer credits taken after high school are exempt from both CORE seminars.  

B. Breadth Requirement (7 courses, at least 3 units each)

At least one course from each of the following areas:
Artistic Process & Creation
Civic & Global Responsibility
Language & Narratives
Quantitative Reasoning
Scientific Inquiry
Social Inquiry
World Perspectives & Ethics

Note: 1) No more than 2 courses from a single discipline can be used to meet the Breadth Requirement.

C. Diversity and Inclusion Requirement

All students must complete Diversity and Inclusion coursework (at least 3 units)

Note: 1) Diversity and Inclusion courses can also be used to meet the breadth category requirements, or major or minor requirements.

D. Fundamental Skills

Students must demonstrate competence in:
Writing
Quantitative Analysis (Math)

Note: 1) Failure to satisfy the fundamental skills requirements by the end of four semesters of full-time study at the University is grounds for academic disqualification.

II. Major Requirements

PSYC 029	Developmental Psychology	4
SLPA 051	Introduction to Communication Disorders	3
SLPA 101	Clinical Methods I	2
SLPA 103	Clinical Methods II	1
SLPA 105	Clinical Methods III	2
SLPA 107	Clinical Methods IV	1
SLPA 115	Aural Rehabilitation	3
SLPA 121	Speech and Language Development	3
SLPA 123	Language Disorders I	3
SLPA 125	Speech Sound Disorders I	3
SLPA 127	Audiology	3
SLPA 129	Anatomy and Physiology in Communication Sciences and Disorders	3
SLPA 131	Phonetics	3
SLPA 133	Neurogenic Case Studies in Speech-Language Pathology	3
SLPA 137	Speech and Hearing Science	3
SLPA 139	Diagnostics	3
SLPA 143	Culturally Responsive Practices	3
SLPA 145	Disorders of Fluency	3
SLPA 151	Behavior and Communication	3
Select one of the following:		1
SLPA 183	Diagnostic Laboratory
SLPA 181	Diagnostic Observation
Select one of the following:		1
SLPA 110A	Clinical Observations
SLPA 189A	Beginning Clinic
Select one of the following:		1
SLPA 110B	Clinical Observations
SLPA 189B	Intermediate Clinic
Select one of the following:		4
MATH 035	Elementary Statistical Inference
MATH 037	Introduction to Statistics and Probability
Select one of the following introduction to psychology/sociology courses:		4
PSYC 031	Introduction to Psychology
SOCI 051	Introduction to Sociology
Select one of the following biology courses:		4
BIOL 011	Human Anatomy and Physiology
BIOL 041	Introduction to Biology
Select one of the following physical science courses:		4
CHEM 023	Elements of Chemistry
PHYS 017	Concepts of Physics
PHYS 039	Physics of Music
Additional requirement for Speech-Language Pathology Services credential:
SPED 125X	Teaching Exceptional Learners	2

Speech-Language Pathology Minor

A minor in Speech-Language Pathology provides a basic understanding of normal speech, language and hearing processes, as well as an introduction to the identification of speech and language disorders.

The minor serves as an adjunct to such programs as Education, Music Therapy, Pre-Physical Therapy, Recreation Therapy, Psychology, Communication and Pre-Health Profession Preparation.

Minor in Speech-Language Pathology

Students must complete a minimum of 20 units with a Pacific minor grade point average of 2.0 in order to earn a minor in Speech-Language Pathology.

Minor Requirements
SLPA 051	Introduction to Communication Disorders	3
SLPA 121	Speech and Language Development	3
SLPA 127	Audiology	3
SLPA 129	Anatomy and Physiology in Communication Sciences and Disorders	3
SLPA 131	Phonetics	3
Electives - select two of the following:		5-6
SLPA 053	Sign Language I
SLPA 123	Language Disorders I
SLPA 125	Speech Sound Disorders I
SLPA 137	Speech and Hearing Science
SLPA 143	Culturally Responsive Practices
SLPA 145	Disorders of Fluency

Note: 1) 12 of these units must be completed at the University of the Pacific.2) Electives are chosen in consultation with a departmental advisor.

Program Specific Student Learning Outcomes

1. Describe and apply the normal aspects of speech production (including phonetics, anatomy, and physiology) to clinical cases.
2. Describe and apply the cognitive and linguistic processes underlying typical speech and language development to clinical cases.
3. Evaluate and interpret clinical data to differentiate communication disorders.
4. Summarize clinical results to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats in clinical environments.
5. Plan, select, and administer appropriate assessments and interventions with communication disorders including any modifications necessary due to developmental, physical, linguistic, and cultural considerations.

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty

Jeannene Ward-Lonergan, Professor and Associate Dean, 1999, BS, St. Joseph College, 1984; MS, Boston University, 1989; PhD, University of Connecticut, 1995.

Karissa Pina, Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of Clinical Education, 2023, BS, University of the Pacific, 2010, MA, San Jose State University, 2012.

Megan Black, Assistant Professor, 2020, BS, University of the Pacific, 2013, MS, University of the Pacific, 2014, DSHc, University of the Pacific, 2023.

Derek Isetti, Associate Professor and Chair, 2015, BA, University of California, Irvine, 1996; MS, University of the Pacific, 2008; PhD, University of Washington, 2014.

Larry Boles, Professor and Graduate Program Director, 2010, BA, San Francisco State University, 1978; MA, San Francisco State University, 1982; PhD, University of Arizona, 1995.

Madhu Sundarrajan, Assistant Professor, 2019, BIT, University of Delhi, India, 2004; MS, University of Texas at Dallas, 2007; PhD, University of Texas at Dallas, 2015.

Nalanda Chakraborty, Assistant Professor, 2022, BS, Manipal University, 2008; MS, Manipal University, 2010; PhD, University of Florida, 2018.

Valerie F. McDaniel, Assistant Professor, 2021, BA, Loyola University, 2004; MA, Drexel University, 2010; MA, University of Memphis, 2015; PhD, University of Memphis, 2020.

Ashley Kramer, Assistant Clinical Professor and Clinic Director of the RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Stockton, 2022, BS, University of the Pacific, 2010; MS, University of the Pacific, 2011.