Course summary
The Bachelor of Speech Pathology prepares students for entry into professional speech pathology practice. Speech pathologists assess and treat adults and children exhibiting acquired or congenital disorders of speech, fluency, voice, language and swallowing.
This distinctive course aims to educate students to become knowledgeable, skilled, empathetic, ethical and innovative professionals who are able to provide effective speech pathology assessment and intervention for people of different ages.
The course contains industry-specific and inter-professional units of study. A mix of theory units are combined with simulated learning and clinical practicum opportunities across the four-year course.
Domestic snapshot
| Duration | Location | Session |
|---|---|---|
4F/8P
4.5 years minimum for students commencing Session 2 | Gold Coast | 1, 2, 3 |
International snapshot
| Duration | Location | Session |
|---|---|---|
4F/8P | Gold Coast | 1 |
Major areas of study
The Bachelor of Speech Pathology enables students to develop an understanding of the theoretical and practical components of speech pathology, with a focus on both general and specialist knowledge and skills. The course shares components with other Southern Cross University degrees such as the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, Bachelor of Podiatry and the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies).
Arts and science-based units are included in the course, for example phonetics and linguistics, audiology and neurology for speech pathology. Embedded throughout the course are principals of evidence-based practice, cultural competency, multi-modal communication and holistic perspectives of functioning.
Honours: The Embedded Honours option is not available in 2019. Further information on this will be provided in due course.
Learning outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.
| Graduate Attribute | Course Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| Intellectual rigour | Apply critical analysis, prudent judgement and the use of research/evidence to inform clinical/professional practice |
| Creativity | Develop an entrepreneurial and sustainable approach to clinical/professional practice utilising appropriate leadership and management skills Demonstrate knowledge, skill and empathy as ethical, innovative and creative professional eligible to enter clinical/professional practice |
| Ethical practice | Establish clinical/professional practice based on ethical decision-making and evidence-based practice Demonstrate accountability and responsibility within clinical/professional practice |
| Knowledge of a discipline | Function in accordance with all relevant legislation, registration requirements, guidelines and standards affecting clinical/professional practice Assess, plan, provide and evaluate safe and effective clinical practice with a range of client groups across the lifespan |
| Lifelong learning | Identify and reflect on the generalist and specialist skills of practice required for continuing professional development and professional practice |
| Communication and social skills | Work collaboratively in a range of health care teams with an understanding of best practice and the evidence base that supports it Communicate and collaborate effectively with clients, families, significant others and professional colleagues in ways that are appropriate to the scholarly, professional and/or social setting |
| Cultural competence | Demonstrate cultural safety in clinical/professional practice and leadership Demonstrate an understanding of health inequalities and indigenous health (worldwide) |
Assessment methods
Assessment methods vary for each unit and may include multiple choice, short answer and essay style examinations, scenario-based case studies and reflective journals, presentations, written assignments, Vivas, object structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), practical skills testing and fieldwork performance evaluation.
Teaching methods
On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes as well as clinical practical experience. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit. There is an emphasis on learning-centred teaching.
Career opportunities
Professional placement
Students can complete up to 1,000 hours of professional placement in various settings throughout the four years of study. These settings include, but are not limited to, the Southern Cross University Health Clinic on campus, public hospitals, private practice, community health, rehabilitation centres, aged care facilities, schools and rural health locations.
Professional experience placements require students to fulfil certain pre-requisites prior to attending any placements. Before applying for this course, it is important that you understand what these requirements are.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Speech Pathology is accredited by Speech Pathology Australia (SPA), the national professional and accrediting body. Students and graduates of the Bachelor of Speech Pathology will be eligible for membership of Speech Pathology Australia.
| Type | Detail | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course code | 3007306 | ||||||||
| Course abbreviation | BSpPath | ||||||||
| Credit points | 384 | ||||||||
| Equivalent units | 32 | ||||||||
| Duration | 4 years full-time; 8 years part-time 4.5 years minimum for students commencing Session 2 |
||||||||
| Availability details |
|
||||||||
| Indicative ATAR/OP | 79 / 10 | ||||||||
| Fees | Commonwealth supported |
| Type | Detail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course code | 3007306 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Course abbreviation | BSpPath | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit points | 384 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equivalent units | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 4 years full-time; 8 years part-time | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability details |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| English language IELTS |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Academic scores by country
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Learning Resources
MySCU is a student's point of entry to a range of online services and resources that support study and student life. The portal includes unit learning sites and information sites where students can access resources, communication tools and useful links that are integral to their studies.
The web-based study environment Blackboard Learn delivers an advanced online learning environment for students and lecturers to communicate and collaborate through virtual meeting spaces, classrooms, and discussion boards. They can share files, presentations and applications. If a tutorial or lecture is recorded, students can view it afterwards.
Learning materials include the provision of unit information guides, study guides and readings. Students may need to purchase or access prescribed text books.
The SCU Library provides a wide range of services that include face-to-face and online help, and access to print and electronic resources.
The Academic Skills team supports student learning by offering online and on-campus academic skills workshops, assignment reviews and small group or one-on-one face-to-face, phone or Skype consultations during business hours 9am to 4.30pm. Appointments can be made via the MySCU Hub 'Connect Now' button or on the Academic Skills home page. Students can also book appointments online in Career Hub.
The Studiosity service provides online after-hours study support for SCU students. This service is available from 4pm to midnight Sunday to Friday via the 'Connect Now' button on MySCU Hub or from a link in nominated unit learning sites. The Studiosity service offers generic writing feedback and live online chat assistance for foundational concepts and study skills.
Equipment and facilities
Students have access to state-of-the-art laboratories which enable quality learning experiences in anatomy, physiology, neurology and speech pathology. This includes the speech language lab – a sound-treated facility that enables high quality sound transmission and phonetic transcription of speech sounds and computers with state-of-the-art software for students to analyse speech, language, fluency and voice.
The video capabilities in the lab provide the opportunity for students to observe qualified clinical speech pathologists in educator roles, other students and themselves working with clients who exhibit a range of communication disorders.These facilities also enable research opportunities for honours projects.
Students also access clinical learning spaces within on-campus health clinics and extensive library resources.
Visit scu.edu.au/healthlabs
Course structure
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
Table of contents
Admission requirements
-
English proficiency is a requirement for all students. Applicants who do not meet Rule 2 English Language Proficiency Requirements must demonstrate English language proficiency by:
- achieving an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 8.0 overall and a minimum score of 8.0 in each of the four components; or
- Achieving an International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR) score of at least 4+ in each of the four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing.
- An applicant who has completed a Certificate III qualification will not be admitted solely on the basis of this qualification.
Course requirements
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Speech Pathology, students must complete 384 credit points, comprising:
- all core units; and
- one elective unit from University wide offerings.
Honours
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Speech Pathology with Honours, students must complete 384 credit points, comprising all honours units.
Students in Honours must successfully complete all units in years 3 and 4 on their first attempt and maintain a Credit grade average (GPA) of at least 5.0 for years 3 and 4.
Exit Awards
Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Health and Human Sciences after completing 192 credit points, comprising any 16 core units.
Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Health and Human Sciences after completing 96 credit points, comprising any 8 core units.
Professional Experience Learning
This course includes professional experience learning. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on School of Health and Human Sciences Professional Experience page must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.
Progression
Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 18 months between study of any two (2) professional experience learning units.
Students are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 18 months between study of a theory unit that relates specifically to a particular professional experience learning unit.
Students who have an interrupted study sequence of more than 18 months will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may be required to undertake a specified supported professional experience placement to ensure clinical currency prior to continuation of the course.
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Access & Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Access & Inclusion website for further information and contact details.
Schedule of units
Course progressions
Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment
Session 1 Commencement
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Session 1 | |||
| Part-time students: Select the first two units in Year 1, Session 1 and the second two units in Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| BIO01302 - Human Anatomy | Introductory | ||
| BIO71002 - Human Physiology I | Introductory | ||
| BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences | Introductory | ||
| SPT10001 - Introduction to the Speech Pathology Profession | Introductory | ||
| Year 1, Session 2 | |||
| Part-time students: Select the first two units in Year 1, Session 2 and the second two units in Year 2, Session 2 | |||
| BIO71003 - Human Physiology II | Introductory | ||
| CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System | Introductory | ||
| MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | Introductory | ||
| SPT10002 - Phonetics and Linguistics for Speech Pathology | Introductory | ||
| Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| Part-time students: Select the first two units in Year 3, Session 1 and the second two units in Year 4, Session 1 | |||
| BIO20001 - Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology of the Head and Neck | Intermediate | ||
| SPT72002 - Communication Development Across the Lifespan | Intermediate | ||
| CUL00408 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | Intermediate | ||
| SPT20002 - Speech, Language and Literacy in Children: Theory and Practice | Intermediate | ||
| Year 2, Session 2 | |||
| Part-time students: Select the first two units in Year 3, Session 2 and the second two units in Year 4, Session 2 | |||
| SPT20004 - Neurology for Speech Pathology | Introductory | ||
| SPT20005 - Speech, Voice and Hearing Sciences | Intermediate | ||
| SPT20006 - Paediatric Speech and Language Internal Clinic | Intermediate | ||
| SPT20007 - Working in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Contexts and in Rural and Remote Settings | Intermediate | ||
| Year 3, Session 1 | |||
| Part-time students: Select the first two units in Year 5, Session 1 and the second two units in Year 6, Session 1 | |||
| SPT20003 - Appraising and Applying Research Findings Across Disciplines | Intermediate | ||
| SPT30003 - Language in Adults: Theory and Practice | Intermediate | ||
| HLT30001 - Simulated and Actual Internal Clinics: Mixed Caseload | Advanced | ||
| SPT30002 - Neurogenic Speech Disorders in Adults and Children | Intermediate | ||
| Year 3, Session 2 | |||
| Part-time students: Select the first two units in Year 5, Session 2 and the second two units in Year 6, Session 2 | |||
| SPT72001 - Swallowing Across the Lifespan | Intermediate | ||
| SPT30004 - Fluency: Theory and Practice | Intermediate | ||
| HLT30002 - Clinics in Multimodal Intervention: Internal | Advanced | ||
| ELECTIVE UNIT | |||
| Year 4, Session 1 | |||
| Part-time students: Select the first two units in Year 7, Session 1 and the last unit in Year 8, Session 1 | |||
| HLT83005 - Diagnostic Intake Clinic: Advanced and Interdisciplinary Practice (Internal) | Advanced | ||
| HLT83006 - Accountability and Clinical Reasoning | Advanced | ||
| HLT83007 - Health Promotion and Primary Health Care | Advanced | Note 1 | |
| Session 2, Year 4 | |||
| Part-time students: Select the first unit in Year 7, Session 2 and the second two units in Year 8, Session 2 | |||
| SPT40001 - Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Placements | Advanced | Note 1 | |
| SPT40002 - Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Cases | Advanced | ||
| HLT10601 - Transition to Professional Practice | Advanced | ||
Session 2 Commencement
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Session 2 | |||
| CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System | Introductory | ||
| CUL00408 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | Intermediate | ||
| BIO71002 - Human Physiology I | Introductory | ||
| Year 1, Session 3 | |||
| BIO71003 - Human Physiology II | Introductory | ||
| Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences | Introductory | ||
| BIO01302 - Human Anatomy | Introductory | ||
| SPT10001 - Introduction to the Speech Pathology Profession | Introductory | ||
| Year 2, Session 2 | |||
| MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | Introductory | ||
| SPT10002 - Phonetics and Linguistics for Speech Pathology | Introductory | ||
| Year 3, Session 1 | |||
| BIO20001 - Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology of the Head and Neck | Intermediate | ||
| SPT20002 - Speech, Language and Literacy in Children: Theory and Practice | Intermediate | ||
| SPT72002 - Communication Development Across the Lifespan | Intermediate | ||
| Year 3, Session 2 | |||
| SPT20004 - Neurology for Speech Pathology | Introductory | ||
| SPT20005 - Speech, Voice and Hearing Sciences | Intermediate | ||
| SPT20006 - Paediatric Speech and Language Internal Clinic | Intermediate | ||
| SPT20007 - Working in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Contexts and in Rural and Remote Settings | Intermediate | ||
| Year 4, Session 1 | |||
| SPT20003 - Appraising and Applying Research Findings Across Disciplines | Intermediate | ||
| SPT30003 - Language in Adults: Theory and Practice | Intermediate | ||
| SPT30002 - Neurogenic Speech Disorders in Adults and Children | Intermediate | ||
| HLT30001 - Simulated and Actual Internal Clinics: Mixed Caseload | Advanced | ||
| Year 4, Session 2 | |||
| SPT30004 - Fluency: Theory and Practice | Intermediate | ||
| HLT30002 - Clinics in Multimodal Intervention: Internal | Advanced | ||
| SPT72001 - Swallowing Across the Lifespan | Intermediate | ||
| Elective Unit | |||
| Year 5, Session 1 | |||
| HLT83006 - Accountability and Clinical Reasoning | Advanced | ||
| HLT83005 - Diagnostic Intake Clinic: Advanced and Interdisciplinary Practice (Internal) | Advanced | ||
| HLT83007 - Health Promotion and Primary Health Care | Advanced | Note 1 | |
| Year 5, Session 2 | |||
| SPT40001 - Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Placements | Advanced | Note 1 | |
| SPT40002 - Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Cases | Advanced | ||
| HLT10601 - Transition to Professional Practice | Advanced | ||
Session 3 Commencement
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete one or both the units under Session 3 below and then follow the Course Progression for Session 1 Commencement less the completed unit/s. | |||
| Session 3 | |||
| BIO01302 - Human Anatomy | Introductory | ||
| CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System | Introductory | ||
Notes
| Note 1: | Double-weighted unit |
This course is available to:
Australian/Domestic students
Where and when do you want to study?
Gold Coast
Session 1March 2019
Applications for this course are made directly to Southern Cross University via our online application service.
Apply OnlineSession 2July 2019
High school students
On-campus applications for this course are made through the NSW Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
Visit UAC website to apply Visit QTAC website to apply
Non-school leavers
Apply direct to Southern Cross University for all on-campus undergraduate study
Session 3November 2019
Applications for this course are made directly to Southern Cross University via our online application service.
Apply OnlineInternational students studying in Australia
Where and when do you want to study?
Gold Coast
Session 1March 2019
Applications for this course to study in Australia are made directly to SCU via our online application service.
Apply OnlineSession 2
Session 3
The information on this page may be subject to change over time. Please check this web page again before acting and see our disclaimer
From the 1st of June, 2017, the term 'Distance Education' has been replaced with 'Online'