Why Should I Major In Communicative Disorders?

A career in communicative disorders offers many challenges and opportunities. Many of these opportunities involve working with individuals throughout their life span and within a variety of settings. In order to take advantage of these opportunities, individuals employed in the communicative disorders field rely heavily on their undergraduate training. Cal State Fullerton offers a high quality degree program that creates a strong foundation for students to use in their careers.

The faculty at Cal State Fullerton is comprised of quality professors and teaching assistants who are respected throughout the nation. Their particular areas of strength include specialized, in-depth education in the diagnosis and management of communicative disorders in persons with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Other areas of strength are the use of technology to help persons who may need to communicate non-orally, and training individuals to work with swallowing disorders and with communication problems that occur when persons must breathe with the help of a ventilator.

The Communicative Disorders Program at Cal State Fullerton also provides benefits through its relationship with the community. We are fortunate to be able to provide to our students a strong association with a large number of hospitals, schools and clinics in the community. These organizations are closely involved with the university in the education and training of students in communicative disorders.

The department offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders. These degrees lead to eligibility for a state license in speech-language pathology, national certification in speech-language pathology, and a specialized credential for work within the public school system. The Communicative Disorders Program has been accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for over thirty years. The Communicative Disorders Program has a number of special features, including an emphasis on clinical services for persons from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, autism, alternative and augmentative forms of communication, and diagnosis and management of disorders of swallowing.

What Types Of Career Opportunities Are Available?

Speech-language pathologists are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of communicative disorders. They work in a variety of settings including public schools; clinics and agencies; private practice; and hospitals of various types, including acute, rehabilitation, psychiatric and extended care hospitals. They work with communicative disorders of all types. Many of these disorders occur in children with developmental problems. Speech-language pathologists also work with the communicative and swallowing disorders that result from certain illnesses and injuries. While most speech-language pathologists decide to work directly with people who have communicative disorders, some teach in colleges or universities, conduct research or work as administrators. Others develop products and devices that are useful for people with communicative disorders or for speech-language pathologists. Opportunities exist in every sector of the United States, and there are challenging opportunities in many parts of the world.

Special Features Of The Communicative Disorders Program

Accreditation—The Communicative Disorders Program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

  • Outstanding Faculty—Our program’s faculty and clinical staff consist of experts in speech pathology, audiology, and speech/language development. Still, the faculty's first priority is students-teaching, providing guidance and helping them realize their goals.
  • Resources—Our program includes a well-equipped laboratory for studying the acoustic and physiologic aspects of speech. The program has an on campus Speech and Hearing Clinic, as well as affiliations with over thirty hospitals, schools and clinics that provide clinical training to its students.

Student Associations

The Communicative Disorders Program sponsors an active chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association The NSSLHA chapter provides a bridge between students and their futures as professionals by hosting speakers from various facets of the profession. In addition, NSSLHA coordinates social activities for students and faculty members.