Bachelor of Speech Pathology

The Bachelor of Speech Pathology requires four years of full-time study and is not offered on a part-time basis. An honours degree can be completed in four years by undertaking additional units, including a research project at honours level, in Year 4.

Graduates are eligible for membership of the Speech Pathology Association of Australia.

The course is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

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

Admission requirements

 The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Course aims

The course prepares students for a professional career in Speech Pathology. It is designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills to:

• assess, diagnose, remediate or alleviate those disabilities specified as human communication or swallowing disorders
• provide or arrange for a range of adjunctive services whenever the need arises
• evaluate current research and apply the relevant findings to clinical practice
• meet the Competency Based Occupational Standards set by the professional association.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the course are expected to demonstrate the following knowledge:

• an understanding of the content, context and processes of communication and swallowing and their breakdown and to engage critically with this knowledge to make informed professional judgements in diverse situations
• ability to access and interpret current resources pertinent to the field
• recognition of their own strengths, weaknesses and learning style.

Graduates of the course are expected to demonstrate the following skills:

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

Graduates of the course are expected to demonstrate the following attitudes:

• relate to others, displaying trust, concern, and openness
• advocate for and empower others, both at an individual and a community level
• examine and cultivate their own value system in order to take initiative as a responsible self in the world.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Speech Pathology a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Normally at least 30 units must be completed at a given level before proceeding to any higher level topics.

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising

 SPTH1102  Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology  (4.5 units)
 SPTH1103  Anatomy and Physiology of Speech  (4.5 units)
 SPTH1104  Clinical Skills and Practice 1  (4.5 units)
 SPTH1105  Child Development and Learning  (4.5 units)
 SPTH1201  Psychosocial Aspects of Speech Pathology  (4.5 units)
 SPTH1202  Research Methods in Speech Pathology  (4.5 units)
 SPTH1506  Linguistics and Phonetics 1  (4.5 units)
 SPTH1509  Linguistics and Phonetics 2  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising

 SPTH2901  Professional Studies & Communication Sciences 1A: Communication Development & Disorders: Birth to Pre-School  (4.5 units)
 SPTH2902  Professional Studies & Communication Sciences 2A: Communication Development & Disorders: School Age to Adolescence  (4.5 units)
 SPTH2903  Clinical Skills and Practice 1A: Communication Development and Disorders  (4.5 units)
 SPTH2904  Clinical Skills and Practice 2A: Communication Development and Disorders: School Age to Adolescence  (4.5 units)
 SPTH2905  Professional Studies & Communication Sciences 1B (Motor Speech Disorders)  (4.5 units)
 SPTH2906  Professional Studies & Communication Sciences 2B (Voice and Swallowing Disorders)  (4.5 units)
 SPTH2907  Clinical Skills and Practice 1B: Motor Speech Disorders  (4.5 units)
 SPTH2908  Clinical Skills and Practice 2B: Voice and Swallowing Disorders  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising

 SPTH3901  Professional Studies and Communication Sciences 3A (Acquired Language Disorders 1)  (4.5 units)
 SPTH3902  Professional Studies and Communication Sciences 4A (Acquired Language Disorders 2)  (4.5 units)
 SPTH3903  Speech Pathology Practicum 1  (4.5 units)
 SPTH3904  Speech Pathology Practicum 2  (4.5 units)
 SPTH3905  Clinical Skills and Practice 3: Complex Practice  (4.5 units)
 SPTH3906  Clinical Skills and Practice 4: Complex Practice  (4.5 units)
 SPTH3907  Professional Studies and Communication Sciences 3B (Complex Disorders - Paediatrics)  (4.5 units)
 SPTH3908  Professional Studies and Communication Sciences 4B (Complex Disorders - Adults)  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 4 topics

36 units comprising

 SPTH4710  Research Methods in Speech Pathology 2  (4.5 units)
 SPTH4720  Clinical Skills and Practice (Transition to Practice)  (4.5 units)
 SPTH4901  Speech Pathology Practicum 3  (13.5 units)
 SPTH4902  Speech Pathology Practicum 4  (13.5 units)

Except with the permission of the Dean (Education):

• the course must be completed within seven consecutive years or, where credit has been granted for previous work, a period determined by the Board
• a student may not undertake more than 45 units in any year, unless enrolled in the fourth year honours program
• 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 or failure to complete the course within seven consecutive years may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

Honours

Refer to Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)