Master of Speech Pathology

The Master of Speech Pathology is a 72-unit program offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. It requires two years of full-time study and is not offered externally or on a part-time basis.

This course is an accredited program and graduates will be eligible for membership of the Speech Pathology Association of Australia.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study 
  
  

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree from an approved tertiary institution and typically have achieved a minimum of a credit average. However, the Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

No specific undergraduate degree is required for admission.

Admission will be based on the combined scores from a structured interview and the applicant’s best Grade Point Average using a minimum of 18 units of a qualification from an approved tertiary institution.

Course aims

The goal of the Master of Speech Pathology is to use best practice educational methods to develop graduates who are competent, reflective and innovative practitioners in the field of Speech Pathology.

Learning outcomes

At completion of the course students will have:

• knowledge

• to understand the content, context and processes of communication and swallowing and their breakdown
• to access and interpret current resources pertinent to the field
• of research principles and methods applicable to speech pathology.

• skills

• to meet the Competency Based Occupations Standards 2011 (CBOS) set by Speech Pathology Australia and required for professional practice
• to reflect critically on their own learning and professional practice in order to strive for excellence and creativity in their professional role
• to demonstrate creativity and innovation in transferring knowledge to practice
• to locate, evaluate, manage and effectively present information in a variety of forms
• to effectively communicate in workplace and university contexts
• to integrate health promotion approaches within all their activities from clinical interventions with individuals through to population based activities
• to work effectively with others in teams for learning and professional practice
• to engage in responsible, ethical decision-making within the framework of Speech Pathology Australia’s Code of Ethics
• to frame and evaluate researchable questions pertinent to the field.

• application of knowledge and skills

• to recognise their own strengths, weaknesses and learning style
• to relate to others displaying trust, concern, and openness
• to advocate for and empower others, both at an individual and community level
• to examine and cultivate their own value system in order to take initiative as a responsible self in the world
• to engage critically with the knowledge of content, context and processes of communication and swallowing and their breakdown to make informed professional judgements in diverse situations
• to examine all aspects of the evidence for speech pathology practice
• to plan and execute research-based projects.

Program of study

To qualify for the Master of Speech Pathology, a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

Students who commence the Master of Speech Pathology but elect not to complete that degree may be eligible to be awarded with the Graduate Diploma in Health Studies, subject to passing a minimum of 36 units of study within the Master of Speech Pathology.

Core - Year 1 topics

 SPTH9120  Speech Pathology Research Methods  (4.5 units)
 SPTH9121  Professional Studies and Communication Sciences 1  (4.5 units)
 SPTH9122  Speech Pathology Skills and Practice 1  (9 units)
 SPTH9123  Professional Studies and Communication Sciences 2  (4.5 units)
 SPTH9124  Speech Pathology Skills and Practice 2  (9 units)
 SPTH9125  Professional Studies and Communication Sciences 3  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

 SPTH9126  Speech Pathology Skills and Practice 3  (9 units)
 SPTH9127  Professional Studies and Communication Sciences 4  (4.5 units)
 SPTH9128  Speech Pathology Skills and Practice 4  (13.5 units)
 SPTH9220  Research in Practice  (4.5 units)
 SPTH9221  Elective  (4.5 units)

Normally a student may not proceed to the next semester unless they have satisfactorily completed the previous semester's topics.

Except with permission of the Dean (Education):

• the program must be completed within 4 consecutive years
• no topic may be attempted more than twice.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.