Communicative Sciences and Deaf Studies

About the Department

Steven L. Skelton, Ph.D., Department Chair
5310 N. Campus Drive M/S PH 80
559-278-2423 (V)
559-278-5187 (Fax)
chhs.fresnostate.edu/csds/

The Field of Communicative Sciences and Deaf Studies Audiology, speech-language pathology, deaf education and interpreting are concerned with many issues related to speech, healing, and language. Professionals in audiology and speech-language pathology ﬁelds are devoted to providing diagnostic, rehabilitative, and educational services to children and adults with communicative challenges. Professionals in deaf education and interpreting ﬁelds are devoted to providing educational services and community-related services to children and adults who communicate in American Sign Language and/or other communication modalities.

Bachelor of Arts. Communicative Sciences provides the students with a liberal arts foundation integrated with courses designed to provide a basic understanding of speech, language, and hearing development and communicative problems. Students pursuing deaf studies have three options: deaf education, deaf studies, and sign language interpretation.

Students majoring in deaf education and speech-language pathology can continue their options in our graduate program.

Master of Arts. Education beyond the bachelor’s degree is necessary for completion of the academic and credential requirements leading to professional employment.

Deaf Education Option gives you a broad background in bilingual-bicultural education, total communication, and cued speech philosophies along with speech, language, auditory training, deaf culture, and American Sign Language. This program includes all of the essential elements of a good education for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. The program is nationally accredited by the Council of Education of the Deaf (CED).

Speech-Language Pathology Option provides you with a broad professional background in normal speech and language development, language disorders, swallowing disorders, voice disorders, articulation disorders, and fluency disorders. The program is nationally accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).

The undergraduate curriculum plus the master’s degree prepares you for one or more of the following: provisional certification in deaf education by the Council on Education of the Deaf; and Preliminary and Clear. Education Specialist Credential: and Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Communicative Disorders Minor. Available for students in various education and health professions (nursing, health science, physical therapy, counseling, elementary and secondary education, special education, child development, linguistics, criminology, etc.) who are interested in expanding their understanding of children and adults with communicative disorders.

Facilities

Library facilities contain specialized collections including student access to local medical libraries. In the Anna Michelson Memorial Instructional Media Center, you have access to a wide range of educational production materials such as films, video, clinical equipment, and professional journals. The department operates the University Speech and Hearing Clinic; an ongoing clinic that provides diagnostic, therapeutic, and counseling services to clients of all ages with a variety of different communication problems or disorders.

Programs

Bachelor

Master

Credential

Minor

Communicative Disorders, Minor