Speech Language Pathology Assistant

speechpathology.chemeketa.edu

The Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) program is a comprehensive certificate and degree program of both theory and practical experience designed to prepare students to become certified speech language pathology assistants (SLPAs).

An SLPA is a certified support person who works under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist to carry out professional responsibilities. The SLPA carries out specific therapy related tasks that are prescribed and directed by their supervising speech-language pathologist. The SLPA works closely with others in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or in private practice. As a member of a speech-language therapy team, the SLPA helps children and adults with communication disorders improve their ability to speak to, listen to, and interact with others. SLPAs are responsible for taking and tracking data, and following the direction of others while working independently to delivery therapy services to children and adults.

The SLPA program will heavily assess communication skills in the areas of speaking and writing. Students who are ESL speakers must have a satisfactory TOEFL score, or ESL level. Students applying to the SLPA program will be required to: Communicate clearly in English with clear articulation skills; Use writing skills to take data, communicate clearly in chart notes, use written discourse in taking descriptive therapy data and dialogue.

In order to be employed as a Certified Speech Language Pathology Assistant, one must hold current Certification as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant with the Oregon Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology.To be eligible to apply for certification with the Oregon Board of Examiners for Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, an applicant must submit transcripts showing: (a) 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours of speech-language pathology technical course work; (b) 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours of general education credit; (c) written evidence of 100 clinical interaction hours. These hours are collected during the practicum coursework in the SLPA program.

For more information, contact the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology: 971.673.0220, http://www.oregon.gov/BSPA/index.shtml

Program outcomes

Students completing the AAS or Certificate of Completion will:

Conduct individual and small group speech and language therapy services as directed by supervising Speech-Language Pathologist.
Accurately record and organize data taken from the therapy sessions and communicate findings to supervising Speech-Language Pathologist.

Getting started

The first step to entering this program is to take part in an assessment process which includes taking the college's free placement test and meeting with Counseling and Career Services. You may need to complete pre-program courses. Then, your advisor will help you develop an individualized program of study, which may include one or more of the following:

Course	Title	Credit Hours
CA121A	Keyboarding A Covers basic touch keyboarding for the standard microcomputer keyboard or typewriter keyboard. Attendance requirements: 2 lab hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp, Su.	1
	(if less than 25 wpm)
CS101	Introduction to Microcomputer Applications Introduces the basic microcomputer hardware/software system. Covers the concepts of system software and application software, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation and introduction to Internet. Attendance requirements: 3 lab hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp, Su. Prerequisite: Touch keyboarding ability and college textbook reading (RD090 or equivalent) recommended.	3
MTH060	Introductory Algebra Gives students with no algebra background a strong, fundamental background in beginning algebra through directed group activities and varied presentation styles. Covers signed numbers, elementary algebraic expression manipulation, and equation solving. Describes concepts using verbal, numerical, graphic, and symbolic forms. Scientific calculator required. Attendance requirements: 4 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp, Su. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in MTH020 or equivalent.	4
RD090	College Textbook Reading Prepares students to comprehend and apply information from college-level textbooks. Encourages active reading by teaching students how to ask and look for answers to questions about author's purposes and strategies. Includes application of active reading skills to specific academic disciplines and career fields. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp, Su. Prerequisite: Compass reading placement test score of 69-79 or consent of instructor.	3
WR115	Introduction to Composition Focuses on developing college-level writing skills by emphasizing critical thinking, reading, and the writing of well-constructed, unified, coherent paragraphs to form essays that support a thesis and develop a main idea through a structure appropriate to the thesis and reader. Bridges developmental writing courses and WR121 by introducing students to writing situations and skills that will prepare them for WR121. Reinforces competency in sentence writing. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp, Su. Prerequisite: Asset score of 41-43, or Compass score of 64-81, or grade of C or better in WR090 or consent of WR115 instructor.	3

If you have any questions about the requirements, call Counseling and Career Services at 503.399.5120 or Ashley Northam at 503-589-7815. Failure to be assessed may delay your entry into program classes.

This program has admission requirements and enrollment limits. An application packet is required to apply for admission to this program. This is a separate step in addition to the assessment and meeting with Counseling and Career Service department. Applications are available on the program Web site: speechpathology.chemeketa.edu. Application deadlines are typically July 15 for fall term entry and February 15 for spring term entry. Once admitted, students are required to follow the prescribed outline of the courses throughout the program.

Speech Language Pathology Assistant
^{Certificate of Completion}

In addition to tuition, estimated costs for students who complete the entire program listed below are books, $790; class fees, $540; universal fee, $270; online fee, $525. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 503.399.5018 to find out if you qualify for help with these costs.

You may earn a Certificate of Completion by successfully completing these 45 required credit hours with a grade of C or better in all courses. Applicants working toward a Certificate of Completion would have already completed a minimum of 45 general education credits (30 semester credits), or have earned a prior degree in another discipline.

Course	Title	Credit Hours
ED130	Comprehensive Classroom Management Provides current theory and methodology for managing small and large groups of students so that students choose to be productively involved in instructional activities. Covers the four major factors or skill areas of effective classroom management: 1) understanding students' personal/psychological and learning needs. 2) establishing positive adult-student and student-student relationships. 3) implementing instructional methods that facilitate optimal learning. 4) Using organizational and group management methods that maximize positive student behavior and learning. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp.	3
ED169	Overview of Students with Special Needs Introduces the disabling conditions of students with special needs and their implications in school settings. Defines and identifies intervention strategies for disabilities covered under federal law. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: W, Su	3
ED229	Learning and Development Addresses current theory regarding human development, intelligence, motivation, and the learning process. Applies strategies and techniques derived from these theories. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp, Su.	3
ED258	Multicultural Education Covers the philosophy, activities, and techniques appropriate to a culturally sensitive classroom. Students will develop an understanding of the impact of culture on individual perception and learning and on group dynamics. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, Sp, Su	3
SLP180	Survey of Speech and Language Disorders Provides on overview of the profession of speech language pathology. Describes the nature of various speech, language, voice, and hearing; covers communication development in children and descriptions of language differences. Includes the training, scope, and practice of a speech languqge pathologist and a speech language pathlology assistant. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, Offered as needed.	3
SLP181	Phonetics for Language Covers the listening/discrimination and transcription skills required to identify normal and disordered speech behaviors. Describes the motoric and linguistic acquisition of normal and disordered speech along with basic approaches to intervention that can be used by speech language pathology assistants. Focuses on transcription of American English speech sounds and the physical and linguistic development of speech. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: W, Offered as needed.	3
SLP182	Intervention Strategies for SLP Assistants Focuses on approaches to intervention that speech language pathology assistants can use with children, adolescents, and adults within the limits of a specified scope of practice. Covers data and record-keeping methodologies, along with types of materials and approaches that are motivating for students/clients in different age groups. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: Sp, Offered as needed. Prerequisite: SLP180.	3
SLP183	Introduction to Language Development Introduces language development for students pursuing training as a speech language pathology assistant and those in early childhood education. Provides an overview of basic linguistics and practical applications of the theoretical explanations of language acquisition. Includes observation of infants, children, and adolescents as the major focus for the identification and the milestones of language development. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: W, Offered as needed.	3
SLP184	Language Therapy Offers an advanced clinical course for students pursuing training as speech language pathology assistants. Focuses primarily on the age groups of early childhood, childhood, and adolescence. Includes intervention approaches that can be used successfully with adults. Provides directed application of language, cognitive, and behavioral therapy techniques in individual and group intervention modalities. Stresses integration of interpersonal and paraprofessional knowledge and skills into clinical activities. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, Offered as needed. Prerequisite: SLP180, SLP182, SLP183.	3
SLP185	Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Language Focuses on the anatomy and physiology specific to speech as a medium of communication and to the underlying modalities of language. Presents the anatomical structures and the physiology fundamental to various speech disorders, along with the role of anatomy and physiology in speech and language rehabilitation. Provides differentiation when appropriate among the anatomy and physiology of infants, children, adolescents, and adults. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: Su	3
SLP186	Speech Intervention with Children, Adolescents and Adults Presents an advanced clinical intervention course for speech language pathology assistants. Covers the various uses of group and individual therapy. Discusses treatment content and pacing. Includes the application of reinforcement schedules, along with effective use of various speech sound teaching and correction strategies. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: Sp Prerequisite: SLP180, SLP181.	3
SLP187	Clinical Documentation and Materials Management for the SLPA Covers the development and use of therapeutic teaching materials based on knowledge of communication disorders, speech production, clinical intervention, and normal language and cognitive development. Includes various approaches to documenting the results of intervention. Focuses on the use of developmental and behavioral models to produce materials and assessment of various intervention programs. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: Su Prerequisite: SLP180.	3
SLP188	Communication Disorders in Low Incidence Populations Focuses on the nature of communication and on swallowing and feeding disorders in groups of children with various types of disabilities that occur with a low frequency in the general population. Describes the specific communication, swallowing, and feeding disorders manifested in these various groups, along with the approaches to, and types of, intervention. Emphasizes the role of the assistant in the administration of behavioral treatment methods and tracking of progress with various data methods as a major key to success for these clients in both group and individual treatment models. Includes an overview of the various genetic disorders. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: Sp Prerequisite: SLP180.	3
SLP189	SLPA Practicum 1 Focuses on guided practice in speech language pathology assisting. Includes working with a speech language pathologist supervisor at one or more sites of service. Emphasizes skill shaping and improvement using input from the supervising clinician and the college instructor. Attendance requirements: 1 class and 6 lab hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp. Prerequisite: Successful completion of all SLPA courses or consent of instructor.	3
SLP190	SLPA Practicum 2 Focuses on guided practice in speech language pathology assisting. Includes working with a speech language pathologist supervisor at one or more sites of service. Emphasizes skill shaping and improvement using input from the supervising clinician and the college instructor. Attendance requirements: 1 class and 6 lab hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp. Prerequisite: SLP189 or consent of instructor.	3

COM051, ED229, MTH052, MTH062, MTN081, PSY101, PSY104, WR115, WR121 meet related instruction requirement.

Speech Language Pathology Assistant
^{Associate of Applied Science Degree}

In addition to tuition, estimated costs for students who complete the entire program listed below are books, $1,620; class fees, $1,080; universal fee, $540; online fee, $1,050. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 503.399.5018 to find out if you qualify for help with these costs.

You may earn a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant by successfully completing 90 credit hours (45 credits for the Certificate, and 45 general education requirements) with a grade of C or better in all courses.

Course	Title	Credit Hours
General Education requirements (45 credit hours):
CS101	Introduction to Microcomputer Applications Introduces the basic microcomputer hardware/software system. Covers the concepts of system software and application software, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation and introduction to Internet. Attendance requirements: 3 lab hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp, Su. Prerequisite: Touch keyboarding ability and college textbook reading (RD090 or equivalent) recommended.	3
	(or higher)
MTH070	Elementary Algebra Covers linear equations, linear systems, linear inequalities, and quadratic equations in verbal, numerical, graphical, and symbolic forms. Also covers negative exponents, scientific notation, and dimensional analysis. Explores topics using a graphing calculator as well as traditional approaches. Attendance requirements: 4 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp, Su. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in MTH060 or equivalent.	4
	(or higher)
SP100	Introduction to Communication Surveys the areas of communication with emphasis on intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, and mass communication modes. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp.	3
	(or higher)
WR121	English Composition - Exposition Emphasizes clear, detailed, informative writing, critical thinking, and active reading. Attendance requirements: 3 class hrs/wk. Terms offered: F, W, Sp, Su. Prerequisite: Ability to organize thoughts and competency in standard written English as demonstrated by (a) qualifying score on a standard placement test or (b) grade of C or better in WR115 or (c) grade of C or better in COM051.	3
	(or higher)
	Humanities/Fine Arts electives	9
	Physical Education or Health	3
	Science/Applied Science electives	8
	Social Science electives	12

Chemeketa Community College Catalog 2007-2008

Updated September 25, 2007 by Marketing and Student Recruitment.