Bachelor of Speech Pathology
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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.
Students who commence, but subsequently do not wish to complete, may be eligible to transfer into the three year Bachelor of Speech, Language and Hearing Science after completing the 72 units of topics required to complete the first two years of the Bachelor of Speech Pathology.
The course is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
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 31.5 units must be completed at a given level before proceeding to any higher level topics.
Core - Year 1 topics
36 units comprising
HLTH1004 Human Bioscience (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.