Certificate of Preparation for Advanced Studies in Communication Disorders and Sciences

CSUN’s Certificate of Preparation for Advanced Studies in Communication Disorders and Sciences (Certificate of Pre-CDS) is designed for college graduates who (a) desire careers in the rapidly growing field of speech-language pathology but did not major in Communication Disorders and Sciences or Speech-Language Pathology as undergraduates, and (b) do not have the minimum pre-requisite coursework necessary for admission to a master’s program. The two-year Certificate of Pre-CDS program enables participants to complete the minimum required, Upper Division (third year/junior level or above) preparatory coursework for admission to most master’s-level Communication Disorders and Sciences/Speech-Language Pathology programs in the United States. This certificate is a completely online program administered through the The Tseng College. It is entirely funded by student fees, offered in the cohort format and features evening and weekend course schedules.

A. Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the certificate of Pre-CDS program, applicants must possess:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in any field of study.
• No less than a 2.5 GPA in the last 60 semester/90 quarter academic units attempted, independent of when the bachelor’s degree was granted.
  • The entire academic term in which the 60-90 units began will be used in this calculation. Post-graduate coursework is included in the calculation only if it consists of standard academic offerings at the upper-division level (third year/junior level or above).
  • Nonstandard credit offerings (professional training, CEU courses, non-degree or other professional credit) are not included in the calculation.
  • Participants with less than a 2.5 GPA will not be considered for the program.
• Basic science requirements as identified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. These areas of study must involve courses taken at CSUN or courses that are eligible for transfer to CSUN.)
  • One college-level course in the biological sciences
  • One college-level course in either physics or chemistry
  • One college-level course in the social sciences
  • One college-level course in inferential statistics

B. Required English Language Skills for International Students

Admission to the Certificate of Preparation for Advanced Studies in Communication Disorders and Sciences (Certificate of Pre-CDS) follows the University’s English Language Requirements for International graduates. Those who do not meet the language test score minimum requirements do not qualify for direct admission to the Certificate of Pre-CDS program.

Language Test Requirements

Applicants may be admitted to the Pre-CDS program with:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
  One of the following scores:
  • Computer Test (CBT): 213
  • Paper Test (PBT): 550
  • Internet Test (IBT): 79
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score: 6.5
• PTE (Pearson Test of English) score: 58

Please note: The GRE/MAT is not required for admission to the certificate of Pre-CDS program; however, it is required for all CSUN CDS Distance Learning master’s degree program applicants.

C. Program Requirements

CD 405 Phonetics (3)
CD 410 Hearing Science (3)
CD 415 Speech and Language Development (3)
CD 442 Speech Science (3)
CD 445 Audiometry and Hearing Conservation (3)
CD 446 Auditory Habilitation (3)
CD 450 Fluency and Disorders of Fluency (3)
CD 451 Phonologic and Articulatory Disorders (3)
CD 462 Language Disorders I (3)
CD 469A Diagnostic Methods in Communication Disorders (3)

Total Units for the Certificate: 30