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Bachelor of Speech Pathology

Bachelors Degree

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    BSpPath

  • Course code

    3007306

  • Credit points

    384

  • Equivalent units

    32

  • Indicative Fee

    Commonwealth supported

Overview

This course offers the chance for a truly transformational career.

It will develop your competence in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of people across the lifespan with communication (speech, language, multimodal communication, voice, fluency) and swallowing disorders.

Topics covered include phonetics and linguistics, audiology and neurology, working alongside and interacting with students from other health disciplines. As well as taking advantage of our state-of-the-art facilities, you will receive hands-on experience via clinical placements in schools, hospitals, nursing homes and the Southern Cross University Health Clinic at our Gold Coast campus.

Career opportunities for speech pathologists continue to grow nationally and internationally throughout the health and wellbeing industry, both in private practice and in working with health and education organisations and with various specialists.

Course Learning Outcome

Apply critical analysis, prudent judgement and the use of research/evidence to inform clinical/professional practice

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

Establish clinical/professional practice based on ethical decision-making and evidence-based practice

Demonstrate accountability and responsibility within clinical/professional practice

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

Identify and reflect on the generalist and specialist skills of practice required for continuing professional development and professional practice

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

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 Southern Cross University Health Clinic on campus, public hospitals, private practice, community health, rehabilitation centres, aged care facilities, schools and regional and remote 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 enables students to develop high-level communication skills (both written and oral) and 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 professionalism, evidence-based practice, cultural safety and responsiveness, person-centred care and holistic practice.

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Gold Coast Session 1 , Session 2 , Session 3 N/A N/A

Career Outcomes

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.

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Entry requirements

  1. 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.
  2. 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 the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:

  • all core units (372) credit points); and
  • 1 elective unit (12 credit points) from University-wide offerings.

Exit Awards

Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree of Health and Human Sciences after completing the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points), comprising any 16 core units.

Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Health and Human Sciences after completing the equivalent of 8 units (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.

Course structure

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment.

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
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 -  Child Speech: 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 -  Child Language and Literacy: Theory and Practice 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

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
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 -  Child Speech: 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 -  Child Language and Literacy: Theory and Practice 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

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
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

Note 1:

Double-weighted unit

Unit Code Unit Title Level of learning Notes
Core Units
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
BIO71002 Human Physiology I Introductory
MAT71004 Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners Introductory
BIO71003 Human Physiology II Introductory
SPT10002 Phonetics and Linguistics for Speech Pathology Introductory
BIO20001 Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology of the Head and Neck Intermediate
CUL00408 Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples Intermediate
SPT72002 Communication Development Across the Lifespan Intermediate
SPT20002 Child Speech: Theory and Practice Intermediate
SPT20003 Appraising and Applying Research Findings Across Disciplines Intermediate
SPT20004 Neurology for Speech Pathology Introductory
SPT20005 Speech, Voice and Hearing Sciences Intermediate
SPT20006 Child Language and Literacy: Theory and Practice Intermediate
SPT20007 Working in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Contexts and in Rural and Remote Settings Intermediate
SPT72001 Swallowing Across the Lifespan Intermediate
SPT30002 Neurogenic Speech Disorders in Adults and Children Intermediate
SPT30003 Language in Adults: Theory and Practice Intermediate
SPT30004 Fluency: Theory and Practice Intermediate
HLT30002 Clinics in Multimodal Intervention: Internal Advanced
HLT30001 Simulated and Actual Internal Clinics: Mixed Caseload Advanced
HLT83007 Health Promotion and Primary Health Care Advanced Note 1
HLT83005 Diagnostic Intake Clinic: Advanced and Interdisciplinary Practice (Internal) Advanced
HLT83006 Accountability and Clinical Reasoning Advanced
SPT40002 Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Cases Advanced
SPT40001 Assessment and Intervention of Communication and Swallowing: Clinical Placements Advanced Note 1
HLT10601 Transition to Professional Practice Advanced
Elective
One elective unit from the University-wide electives