Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology)

Description

The Faculty of Health Sciences oversees two of the oldest and largest programs of speech pathology professional preparation in Australia. Speech pathology involves the study and treatment of communication disorders in both children and adults. Speech pathologists work in diverse settings (hospitals, private practice, schools and early childhood services) to assess and treat individuals who may present with a wide variety of communication disorders.

The Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) prepares students to practise as speech pathologists (formerly known as speech therapists). The degree is accredited by Speech Pathology Australia. Reference to specific professional competencies is made in each unit of study outline.

The Bachelor of Health Sciences with a Hearing and Speech second major shares some common units of study with Years 1 and 2 of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) course. The Hearing and Speech major does not qualify graduates to practise speech pathology but prepares them to pursue a variety of other career paths in areas involving either normal or impaired human communication. The Hearing and Speech major provides an excellent background for those who wish to pursue further education required for professional preparation in areas such as medicine, dentistry, education, rehabilitation counselling, speech pathology and audiology. The highest-performing students in the Bachelor of Health Sciences Hearing and Speech second major will be guaranteed a place in the Master of Speech Language Pathology (MSLP) postgraduate course.

An honours program is available for the Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) and provides opportunities for talented undergraduate students interested in research and/or pursuing graduate studies to obtain early experiences in the design and conduct of research in communication sciences and disorders.

Requirements

There are no specific prerequisites for admission to the Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) course. Speech pathologists work with language and communication so good communication skills and a desire to work with people are very important. Students who have not studied chemistry to an equivalent of NSW Year 10 science are advised to do the chemistry bridging course to prepare them for the biomedical science units of study.

At the end of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) students are qualified to work in Australia and therefore must have high level spoken English which is intelligible in all Australian health care settings. If you are concerned that you may have difficulty meeting this requirement please contact the Discipline for further advice.

Students with a disability are encouraged to complete this degree. If you have a serious mobility disability or an uncorrected sensory difficulty (vision or hearing) please contact the Discipline for advice on preparation and completion as soon as possible.

Notes

Research and teaching in speech pathology are supported by a large on-campus Communication Disorders Treatment and Research Clinic. The Clinic is a centre of excellence that offers evidence-based practice in a full range of services for adults and children with a communication difficulty, as well as functioning as a teaching and research laboratory. Audiology, speech science and psycholinguistic laboratories are also part of the on-campus clinic, and provide facilities for hearing assessments, the measurement of disordered and normal speech and high-quality speech recordings.