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.

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.

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.

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 current Competency Based Occupations Standards (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.