Santa Ana College has an open door policy. Admission is granted to anyone who is a high school graduate, has a certificate of high school proficiency or is 18 years of age or older who can profit from instruction or is a high school student qualifying for Career Advanced Placement Program. 

This policy is the same for the SLPA program.  Please be advised that the SLPA program does not currently require an application for admittance.  A prospective student admitted to Santa Ana College is free to begin taking coursework within the program.  Initiation of the program can currently occur during either the Fall or Spring semesters.

If  you require a review of transcripts, please contact Maria Rios, Career & Technical Education Counselor, via email at rios_maria@sac.edu or by phone at 714-564-6810 or contact SAC's counseling department at 714-564-6100 to make an appointment with general counseling staff.  Please be advised that you will require a SAC student ID number to be seen.  The counselor will assist in determing what coursework may meet requirements within the SLPA program. 

Course Requirements for the SLPA Associates Degree

Human Development 107.  3 units 
Child Growth and Development
Developmental stages of children from conception through adolescence. Covers major theories of development (biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial) and their application to parenting, teaching and other interactions with children.    
                                                
Human Development 108A.  3 units
Observation and Assessment for Early Learning and Development
Emphasizes the dynamic forces underlying growth and change in the young child as related to physical, language and social development. Introduces basic methods of observing and recording behavior.  
                                                    
Human Development 205.  3 units
Exceptionality and Special Needs in Human Development
Study of diseases and disorders found in children resulting in exceptionality, including mental retardation, visual, speech and hearing impairments; behavior disorders, learning disabilities and physical and health impairments.    
                                              
Communication Studies 151.  3 units
Voice and Diction for Effective Communication
Basic speech and voice production. Anatomy and physiology related to respiration (breathing/loudness), phonation (sound/pitch), and articulation (diction/clarity). Practice in improving vocal skills for effective communication.

Sign Language 110 .  3 units  
American Sign Language I
This introductory course is designed to introduce students to American Sign Language (ASL) and fingerspelling as it is used within American Deaf Culture.  Instruction includes preparation for visual/gestural communication followed by intensive work on comprehension skills, modeling of grammatical structures, and general information about American Deaf culture.  Sign Language 110 is equivalent to two years of high school ASL.

Speech Language Pathology Assisting (SLPA) 118. 3 units
Introduction to Speech-Language Pathology Assisting
Overview of the field of speech-language pathology, professional standards, legal and ethical issues and scope of responsibilities of the speech-language pathologist and the speech-language pathology assistant in health care and educational settings.

Speech Language Pathology Assisting (SLPA) 119.  3 units
Speech, Language and Hearing Development
Study of normal speech, hearing and language development across the life span. Topics will include communication development in bilingual populations and differentiation of normal from disordered communication.

Speech Language Pathology Assisting (SLPA) 120.  2 units
Clinical Management and Procedures
Organizational and functional skills required in the speech-language pathology workplace. Includes interdisciplinary and supervisory relationships, client and public interaction, safety issues, technical writing, data collection, record keeping and computer applications.
(Prerequisite: SLPA 118 with grade of 'C' or better)

Speech Language Pathology Assisting (SLPA) 150.  .5 unit 
Observation of Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Practices
Beginning clinical observation of practices and procedures required in speech-language pathology. Observation sites will be both education and medical.
(Prerequisite: SLPA 118 with grade of 'C' or better and concurrent enrollment in SLPA 160)   

Speech Language Pathology Assisting (SLPA) 160.  3 units
Introduction to Communication Disorders and Treatment 
An overview of communication disorders, including classification, assessment and remediation of speech, language, swallowing and hearing disorders in children and adults. Role of the speech-language pathologist and audiologist in educational and medical settings.
(Prerequisite: SLPA 119 with grade of 'C' or better)

Communication Studies 170.  3 units
Introduction to Phonetics
Study of the articulatory foundations of the description and classification of speech sounds. Introduces the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), physiological properties of the speech-producing mechanism, and methods of transcription. Emphasis will be on American English along with the comparison to the sound systems of other languages.

Speech Language Pathology Assisting (SLPA) 180.  3 units
Screening Processes and Intervention Procedures
Screening tools, processes and intervention procedures used for clients with communication disorders.
Administration of screening tests and completion of protocols. Equipment utilized in therapeutic treatment.
(Prerequisites: SLPA 120, 150, 160 with grade of 'C' or better)

Speech Language Pathology Assisting (SLPA) 190.  2 units                                            
Clinical Fieldwork I
Application of supervised clinical practice procedures as required of a speech-language pathology assistant in an educational setting.
(Prerequisite: SLPA 120, 150, 160; concurrent enrollment in SLPA 180)
Application to department Coordinator required the semester prior to enrollment; Current TB Clearance; Fingerprinting and background check; Current CPR and First Aid Certification

Speech Language Pathology Assisting (SLPA) 200.  3 units
Adult and Geriatric Communication Disorders
Speech, language, and hearing disorders experienced by the adult and geriatric populations. Assessment tools and treatment strategies used to treat acquired disorders such as adult aphasia, dysarthria, and hearing loss.
(Prerequisite: SLPA 160)

Speech Language Pathology Assisting (SLPA) 250.  2 units
Clinical Fieldwork II
Advanced application of clinical practice procedures in a clinical or medical setting by the speech-language pathology assistant under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist.
(Prerequisite: SLPA 180,190)
Application to department Coordinator required the semester prior to enrollment; Current TB Clearance; Fingerprinting and background check; Current CPR and First Aid Certification

General Education Requirements:

Anthropology 104.  3 units (same as English 104)
Language and Culture
General introduction to the processes of human communication. Includes the relationship between language and culture, acquisition of first and second language, languages in contact, sociolinguistics and the effects of both language and culture on inter/intra group communication.

Biology 109/ 109L.  4 units 
General Biology
Principles of biology stressing the relationship of all organisms from anatomical, physiological and ecological points of view.
OR
Biology 149.  4 units  
Anatomy and Physiology
Human anatomy and physiology stressing the interrelationships between normal structure and function.
OR
Biology 239.  4 units    
General Human Anatomy
Structure of the human body. Systems, organs, and tissues are studies from human skeletons, models, charts, slides and CD-ROM programs.

English 101.  4 units         
Freshman Composition
Expository and argumentative essays and the research paper.

Psychology 100.  3 units
Introduction to Psychology 
Addresses principles of research, perception, development, learning, motivation, emotion and abnormal behavior. Emphasizes application of psychological principles to personal adjustment.

Communication Studies 101.  3 units
Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
Introduction to communication theory, listening, perception, language usage, non-verbal communication and conflict management.

Communication Studies 103.  3 units
Introduction to Intercultural Communication
A general view of the sociological, psychological and historical background of world cultures. Special emphasis on the methods, skills and techniques necessary for effective intercultural, cross cultural and interracial communication. Stresses the development of analytical thinking and writing skills.

Math 080 or 081.  4 units
Intermediate Algebra
Systems of equations: inequalities, graphs and functions; radicals, quadratic polynomials, rational expressions; exponential and logarithmic functions, problem solving.

Psychology 140.  3 units
Psychology of Adulthood and Aging
Examines psychological and related biological and social changes that occur in adulthood and old age. Designed to help students understand their own and others aging and to prepare student for occupations dealing with older people.

To complete the AA degree requirement, students need to fulfill the requirements for American Institutions, Reading, Lifelong Understanding & Self-Development Section F2.

EMPLOYERS 

 Childhood Language Center of SA 2-12.pdf (click for flyer)

The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 123,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists.  The mission of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is to promote the interests of and provide the highest quality services for professionals in audiology, speech-language pathology, and speech and hearing science, and to advocate for people with communication disabilities.  http://www.asha.org/
Read more about ASHA
http://www.asha.org/about_asha.htm

The California Speech-language and Hearing Association (CSHA) is a professional organization of speech-language pathologists and audiologists advancing services to children and adults with communication and related disorders. CSHA is the officially recognized professional association for California speech-language pathologists and audiologists by the national American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
http://www.csha.org
 
The mission of the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board (SLPAB) is to protect the consumer by requiring adherence to statutes and regulations designed to ensure the qualifications and competency of providers of speech-language pathology and audiology services. The SLPAB is an agency within the California Department of Consumer Affairs.  Prospective SLPA's can find information regarding state laws as they pertain to the use of SLPAs in the state of California.  In addition, a link is specifically provided where SLPA graduates can locate information on the application process and forms for California registration.
http://www.slpab.ca.gov

 

Autism:
www.AutsimSpeaks.org
http://autism.com/
http://www.autism-society.org/
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm
http://autism.about.com/


Deafness & Deaf Culture:
http://www.deaflinx.com/
http://www.deaflinx.com/Technology/hearingaids.html
http://deafness.about.com/
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
http://www.asha.org/
 
Stuttering
http://www.asha.org/
http://www.stutteringhelp.org/
http://www.nsastutter.org/
http://stutteringworld.com/