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.
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 SCU 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 course includes an embedded allied health Honours program for eligible students, which can be studied concurrently during the Bachelor degree course.
| 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) |
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 SCU 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.
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.
Course overview
Course code
3007306
Course abbreviation
BSpPath
Credit points
384
Equivalent units
32
Domestic duration
4 years full-time; 8 years part-time
International duration
4 years full-time
Availability details
Domestic
| Location | Session | UAC code | QTAC code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | 1 | 330168 | 059861 |
Domestic fees
International
| Location | Session | Annual Fees | CRICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | 1 | $25,200 ($3,150 per unit) | 085520F |
Course requirements
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Speech Pathology a candidate shall successfully complete the equivalent of thirty two (32) units (384 credit points) comprising:
- all units listed in Part A; and
- two (2) elective units from Part B University wide offerings.
Honours
To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Speech Pathology with Honours a candidate shall successfully complete the equivalent of thirty two (32) units (384 credit points) comprising all units in Part C.
Candidates 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
A candidate who, while enrolled in the Bachelor of Speech Pathology, has successfully completed sixteen (16) units (192 credit points) comprising any 16 units from the units listed in the Schedule attached to these Rules may elect to be awarded the Associate Degree of Health and Human Sciences following withdrawal from the Bachelor of Speech Pathology.
A candidate who, while enrolled in the Bachelor of Speech Pathology, has successfully completed eight (8) units (96 credit points) comprising any 8 units from the units listed in the Schedule attached to these Rules may elect to be awarded the Diploma of Health and Human Sciences following withdrawal from the Bachelor of Speech Pathology.
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
Candidates are not permitted to have an extended period of more than 18 months between study of any two (2) professional experience learning units.
Candidates 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.
Subsequent to the above, candidates 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. If you have a disability or health condition which may impact on your ability to meet these requirements please refer to 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
| 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 | |||
| SPT10001 - Introduction to the Speech Pathology Profession | Introductory | ||
| BIO01302 - Human Anatomy | Introductory | ||
| CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System | Introductory | ||
| BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences | 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 | |||
| BIO00307 - Human Physiology | Introductory Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | Introductory | ||
| HLT10583 - Communication Skills for Health Sciences | 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 | ||
| SPT20002 - Speech, Language and Literacy in Children: Theory and Practice | Intermediate | ||
| CUL00408 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | Intermediate | ||
| ELECTIVE UNIT | |||
| 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 | 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 | Note 1 | |
| SPT40002 - Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Cases | Advanced | ||
| HLT10601 - Transition to Professional Practice | Advanced | ||
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Session 2 | |||
| MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | Introductory | ||
| CUL00408 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | Intermediate | ||
| BIO00307 - Human Physiology | Introductory Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System | Introductory | ||
| BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences | Introductory | ||
| BIO01302 - Human Anatomy | Introductory | ||
| SPT10001 - Introduction to the Speech Pathology Profession | Introductory | ||
| Year 2, Session 2 | |||
| HLT10583 - Communication Skills for Health Sciences | 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 | ||
| Elective Unit | |||
| 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 | Note 1 | |
| Year 5, Session 2 | |||
| SPT40001 - Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Placements | Advanced Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| SPT40002 - Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Cases | Advanced | ||
| HLT10601 - Transition to Professional Practice | Advanced | ||
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete one or both of 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 | ||
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Session 1 | |||
| BIO01302 - Human Anatomy | Introductory | ||
| CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System | Introductory | ||
| BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences | Introductory | ||
| SPT10001 - Introduction to the Speech Pathology Profession | Introductory | ||
| Year 1, Session 2 | |||
| BIO00307 - Human Physiology | Introductory Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| HLT10583 - Communication Skills for Health Sciences | Introductory | ||
| SPT10002 - Phonetics and Linguistics for Speech Pathology | Introductory | ||
| MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners | Introductory | ||
| Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| BIO20001 - Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology of the Head and Neck | Intermediate | ||
| CUL00408 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples | Intermediate | ||
| SPT20002 - Speech, Language and Literacy in Children: Theory and Practice | Intermediate | ||
| Elective | |||
| Year 2, 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 | |||
| SPT30003 - Language in Adults: Theory and Practice | Intermediate | ||
| HLT83001 - Allied Health Honours Seminar I | Advanced | ||
| HLT30001 - Simulated and Actual Internal Clinics: Mixed Caseload | Advanced | ||
| SPT30002 - Neurogenic Speech Disorders in Adults and Children | Intermediate | ||
| Year 3, Session 2 | |||
| HLT30002 - Clinics in Multimodal Intervention: Internal | Advanced | ||
| SPT72001 - Swallowing Across the Lifespan | Intermediate | ||
| SPT30004 - Fluency: Theory and Practice | Intermediate | ||
| HLT83002 - Allied Health Honours Seminar II | Advanced | ||
| Year 4, Session 1 | |||
| HLT83003 - Allied Health Honours Thesis I | Advanced Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| HLT83005 - Diagnostic Intake Clinic: Advanced and Interdisciplinary Practice (Internal) | Advanced | ||
| HLT83006 - Accountability and Clinical Reasoning | Advanced | ||
| Year 4, Session 2 | |||
| SPT40002 - Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Cases | Advanced | ||
| SPT40001 - Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Placements | Advanced | ||
| HLT83004 - Allied Health Honours Thesis II | Advanced Note 1 | Note 1 | |
Notes
| Note 1: | Double-weighted unit |
| Note 2: | 2018 is the last time this unit will be offered. See information on the School of Health and Human Science website (https://www.scu.edu.au/school-of-health-and-human-sciences/pages/human-physiology-2019/#d.en.205492) for more information regarding changes from 2019 |