Speech pathologists assess and treat adults and children exhibiting acquired or congenital disorders of speech, fluency, voice, language, swallowing and multimodal communication.
The Bachelor of Speech Pathology prepares you for entry into professional speech pathology practice.
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, compassion 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 education and 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.
Optional major: Indigenous Health
This optional major can be studied at Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour campuses and offers students the opportunity to build theoretical and practical capabilities in cultural protocols and Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Embedded placement opportunities equip graduates with the professional skills required to contribute to the improvement of health and social outcomes in Australian communities.
Location
Teaching period
UAC code
QTAC code
Coffs Harbour
Session 1, Session 2
N/A
N/A
Gold Coast
Session 1, Session 2
N/A
N/A
Career Outcomes
The Bachelor of Speech Pathology at the Gold Coast campus is fully accredited by Speech Pathology Australia (SPA), the national professional and accrediting body. The Coffs Harbour campus offering has qualifying accreditation and the process for full accreditation is underway.
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.
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 the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:
24 core units (288) credit points); and
1 major (96 credit points).
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 Faculty of Health 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
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
SPCH1002 - Phonetics and Linguistics for Speech Pathology AND must have completed or be currently enrolled in SPCH2011 - Communication Development Across the Lifespan
This unit contains professional experience learning/ laboratory activities that require students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the Professional Experience Learning and/or stipulated Laboratory Activity which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at https://www.scu.edu.au/health/health-placements/.
Please note Full Covid-19 vaccination is a mandatory requirement associated with the placement element of this unit of study. This requirement has been stipulated by the placement providers. It is strongly recommended that only students who meet this requirement enrol in this unit.
Appraising and Applying Research Findings Across Disciplines
Session1
Location
Domestic
International
Gold Coast
Session1
Session1
Pre-requisites
STAT2001 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners AND SPCH2005 - Child Language and Literacy: Theory and Practice AND have completed or be currently enrolled in SPCH2007 - Neurogenic Speech Disorders in Adults and Children OR SPCH2008 - Language in Adults: Theory and Practice
Simulated and Actual Internal Clinics: Mixed Caseload
Session1
Location
Domestic
International
Gold Coast
Session1
Session1
Pre-requisites
Completion of 192 credit points; AND
For Podiatry: PODR2003 - Internal Clinical Placement AND PODR2004 - Lower Limb Medicine II AND PODR2005 - Orthoses and Bracing AND PODR2010 - Lower Limb Assessment II;
OR
For Speech: SPCH2005 - Child Language and Literacy: Theory and Practice AND must have completed or be currently enrolled in SPCH2007 - Neurogenic Speech Disorders in Adults and Children AND SPCH2008 - Language in Adults: Theory and Practice
Enrolment information
This unit contains professional experience learning/ laboratory activities that require students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the Professional Experience Learning and/or stipulated Laboratory Activity which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements
Please note Full Covid-19 vaccination is a mandatory requirement associated with the placement element of this unit of study. This requirement has been stipulated by the placement providers. It is strongly recommended that only students who meet this requirement enrol in this unit.
REHB2001 - Simulated and Actual Internal Clinics: Mixed Caseload
Enrolment information
This unit contains professional experience learning/ laboratory activities that require students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the Professional Experience Learning and/or stipulated Laboratory Activity which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at https://www.scu.edu.au/health/health-placements/.
Please note Full Covid-19 vaccination is a mandatory requirement associated with the placement element of this unit of study. This requirement has been stipulated by the placement providers. It is strongly recommended that only students who meet this requirement enrol in this 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
Diagnostic Intake Clinic: Advanced and Interdisciplinary Practice (Internal)
Session1
Location
Domestic
International
Gold Coast
Session1
Session1
Pre-requisites
SPCH2015 - Work Integrated Learning in Speech Pathology 2 OR REHB2002 - Clinics in Multimodal Intervention: Internal
Enrolment information
Please note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7 which will require attendance on-campus.
Details will be provided closer to the time.
This unit contains professional experience learning/ laboratory activities that require students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the Professional Experience Learning and/or stipulated Laboratory Activity which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements
Please note Full Covid-19 vaccination is a mandatory requirement associated with the placement element of this unit of study. This requirement has been stipulated by the placement providers. It is strongly recommended that only students who meet this requirement enrol in this unit.
OCCU3002 - Evaluation of Occupational Therapy Programs
OR
REHB2002 - Clinics in Multimodal Intervention: Internal
OR
SOCI2006 - Doing Social Research
Enrolment information
This unit contains laboratory activities and/or professional experience learning that require students to fulfil certain vaccination and compliance requirements prior to attending. As some of these can take up to 5 months to complete, you must prepare now. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the stipulated Laboratory Activity and/or Professional Experience Learning which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements
Year 4, Session 2
Part-time students: Select the first unit in Year 7, Session 2 and the second two units in Year 8, Session 2
REHB3001 - Diagnostic Intake Clinic: Advanced and Interdisciplinary Practice (Internal) AND SPCH3003 - Critical and Creative Reasoning for Speech Pathology Practice
Enrolment information
This unit contains laboratory activities and/or professional experience learning that require students to fulfil certain vaccination and compliance requirements prior to attending. As some of these can take up to 5 months to complete, you must prepare now. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the stipulated Laboratory Activity and/or Professional Experience Learning which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/clinicalplacements
SPCH1002 - Phonetics and Linguistics for Speech Pathology AND must have completed or be currently enrolled in SPCH2011 - Communication Development Across the Lifespan
This unit contains professional experience learning/ laboratory activities that require students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the Professional Experience Learning and/or stipulated Laboratory Activity which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at https://www.scu.edu.au/health/health-placements/.
Please note Full Covid-19 vaccination is a mandatory requirement associated with the placement element of this unit of study. This requirement has been stipulated by the placement providers. It is strongly recommended that only students who meet this requirement enrol in this unit.
Appraising and Applying Research Findings Across Disciplines
Session1
Location
Domestic
International
Gold Coast
Session1
Session1
Pre-requisites
STAT2001 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners AND SPCH2005 - Child Language and Literacy: Theory and Practice AND have completed or be currently enrolled in SPCH2007 - Neurogenic Speech Disorders in Adults and Children OR SPCH2008 - Language in Adults: Theory and Practice
Simulated and Actual Internal Clinics: Mixed Caseload
Session1
Location
Domestic
International
Gold Coast
Session1
Session1
Pre-requisites
Completion of 192 credit points; AND
For Podiatry: PODR2003 - Internal Clinical Placement AND PODR2004 - Lower Limb Medicine II AND PODR2005 - Orthoses and Bracing AND PODR2010 - Lower Limb Assessment II;
OR
For Speech: SPCH2005 - Child Language and Literacy: Theory and Practice AND must have completed or be currently enrolled in SPCH2007 - Neurogenic Speech Disorders in Adults and Children AND SPCH2008 - Language in Adults: Theory and Practice
Enrolment information
This unit contains professional experience learning/ laboratory activities that require students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the Professional Experience Learning and/or stipulated Laboratory Activity which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements
Please note Full Covid-19 vaccination is a mandatory requirement associated with the placement element of this unit of study. This requirement has been stipulated by the placement providers. It is strongly recommended that only students who meet this requirement enrol in this unit.
REHB2001 - Simulated and Actual Internal Clinics: Mixed Caseload
Enrolment information
This unit contains professional experience learning/ laboratory activities that require students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the Professional Experience Learning and/or stipulated Laboratory Activity which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at https://www.scu.edu.au/health/health-placements/.
Please note Full Covid-19 vaccination is a mandatory requirement associated with the placement element of this unit of study. This requirement has been stipulated by the placement providers. It is strongly recommended that only students who meet this requirement enrol in this unit.
Diagnostic Intake Clinic: Advanced and Interdisciplinary Practice (Internal)
Session1
Location
Domestic
International
Gold Coast
Session1
Session1
Pre-requisites
SPCH2015 - Work Integrated Learning in Speech Pathology 2 OR REHB2002 - Clinics in Multimodal Intervention: Internal
Enrolment information
Please note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7 which will require attendance on-campus.
Details will be provided closer to the time.
This unit contains professional experience learning/ laboratory activities that require students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the Professional Experience Learning and/or stipulated Laboratory Activity which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements
Please note Full Covid-19 vaccination is a mandatory requirement associated with the placement element of this unit of study. This requirement has been stipulated by the placement providers. It is strongly recommended that only students who meet this requirement enrol in this unit.
OCCU3002 - Evaluation of Occupational Therapy Programs
OR
REHB2002 - Clinics in Multimodal Intervention: Internal
OR
SOCI2006 - Doing Social Research
Enrolment information
This unit contains laboratory activities and/or professional experience learning that require students to fulfil certain vaccination and compliance requirements prior to attending. As some of these can take up to 5 months to complete, you must prepare now. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the stipulated Laboratory Activity and/or Professional Experience Learning which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements
Year 4, Session 2
Part-time students: Select the first unit in Year 7, Session 2, and the final two units in Year 8, Session 2
REHB3001 - Diagnostic Intake Clinic: Advanced and Interdisciplinary Practice (Internal) AND SPCH3003 - Critical and Creative Reasoning for Speech Pathology Practice
Enrolment information
This unit contains laboratory activities and/or professional experience learning that require students to fulfil certain vaccination and compliance requirements prior to attending. As some of these can take up to 5 months to complete, you must prepare now. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the stipulated Laboratory Activity and/or Professional Experience Learning which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/clinicalplacements
Electives from Education have changed in 2022: EDUC2021Storylines: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking replaces EDUC2017 Storytelling; and EDUC3023 Education for Inclusion and Diversity: The Responsive Teacher replaces EDUC2009 Supporting Learners with Diverse Abilities
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