SLPA Frequently Asked Questions

Is this program online? 

The SLPA Associate's degree program is not a fully online program. The SLPA department offers both remote and on-campus courses. Students will need to check the semester schedule to determine which classes are offered online or on-campus that semester.

How much does it cost to get an Associate's degree in SLPA?

Tuition is $46 a unit. The program requires a minimum of 60 units of coursework, so that will cost $2760 for tuition. Students are responsible for other semester based fees such as textbooks, student fees, required subscriptions for select courses, and other expenses related to the fieldwork (e.g., immunizations, doctor's visits, Livescan fingerprinting). Overall the estimated costs of completing this program are around $4000.

If I have a bachelor's degree or post-baccalaureate degree in communication sciences & disorders/speech-language pathology, can I get my Associate's degree in SLPA at Cerritos?

Yes! Prospective students with BA/BS degrees or post-baccalaureate certificates may apply to the Associate's degree program. Please note that all applicants (including those with BA degrees in CSD/SLP) must adhere to the following requirements to be considered eligible for admission to the Associate's degree program:

1) Take the required courses or equivalents from accredited universities:

  • A&P 120 (Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology) OR A&P 150 (Introduction to Anatomy) 
    • for BA/BS students, the program will accept 2 courses in lieu of A&P 120
      • Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism course
      • a neuroanatomy or neurosciences or neurological disorders course
  • ASL 110 (Introduction to American Sign Language)
  • CD 110 (Child Development)
  • CD 139 (Observation, Assessment, and Positive Guidance of Child Behavior)
  • CDSE 150 (Introduction to Children with Special Needs) or CDSE 152 (Curriculum and Strategies for Children with Special Needs)
  • SLP 100 (Introduction to Speech-Language Pathology)
    • for BA/BS students, the program will accept a course that specializes in a particular communication disorder (e.g., Fluency Disorders, Articulation Disorders, Language Disorders)
  • SLP 101 (Introduction to Communication Disorders)
    • For BA/BS students who have not taken an Introduction to Communication Disorders course at their university, the program will accept a course that specializes in a particular communication disorder (e.g., Aphasia, Developmental Language Disorders); *this must be different than the course substituted for SLP 100
  • SLP 105 (Speech and Language Development)
  • SLP 208 (Introduction to Phonetics)
  • Math proficiency course (BA/BS students with degrees in CSD/SLP will already have taken this if degree is complete)
  • English composition course (BA/BS students with degrees in CSD/SLP will have already taken this if degree is complete)

2) Earned a combined/average 2.0 (minimum) when GPAs from ALL colleges attended have been calculated.

3) Earned a minimum of a 2.5 GPA on all prerequisites (or equivalents) listed above

All students with bachelor degrees in CSD/SLP will be required to take all of the SLPA coursework upon admittance and will earn an Associate's degree in SLPA.

I work full-time. Can I do the fieldwork experience on the weekends?

No. All students admitted to the SLPA Associate's degree program need to be able to commit to 3 days of fieldwork in the assigned semester during regular business hours (8am-6pm). Hours will vary by site and students need to make personal and employment arrangements ahead of time in order to successfully complete their fieldwork experience.

How do I begin to complete the prerequisite courses so I can apply for the Associate's degree program?

Prospective students are encouraged to do the following:

1) Apply to Cerritos College to obtain a student number,

2) Review the SLPA handbook and curriculum to familiarize yourself with the program,

3) Gather all transcripts from other colleges attended and make an appointment with a Health Sciences & Wellness Pathway counselor to make an educational plan, and

4) Start taking the classes listed on the Speech-Language Pathology Aide Certificate (those are all prerequisites for the Associate's degree program): ASL 110, CD 110, CD 139, CDSE 150, SLP 100, SLP 101, SLP 105.