Master of Speech Pathology
Course code/s: Bendigo (HMSPB), Melbourne (HMSP)
Course Duration: 2 years, full-time
The Master of Speech Pathology enables graduates with a first degree, other than speech pathology, to obtain a professional qualification in speech pathology at a postgraduate level of study.
Admission requirements
Applicants should hold a bachelor degree and have obtained a B average in the last two years of their undergraduate degree, or H2A or above in their honours degree to be eligible to apply. Although not required for entry, a background in health, behavioural science, biological science or linguistics is preferred. Professional experience in related fields will be considered. International applicants are also required to provide current evidence of competence in English language usage through:
- a score of not less than 7.5 on International English Language Testing Service (IELTS), or
- a score of not less than 625 on Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or
- evidence of successful completion of tertiary studies conducted in English.
Students who want to apply for the Master of Speech Pathology must submit a brief statement to provide information about their method of learning and their understanding of the Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach and a personal statement describing their motivation and professional experiences in related fields (maximum of 500 words).
Course structure
Bridging course for graduate entry Master of Speech Pathology students
Please note that there is a bridging course offered in the summer semester. This bridging course is designed to enable those students, who have not completed previous studies in human biosciences (anatomy and physiology) and linguistics (phonetics and grammar), to develop the foundation knowledge in human communication sciences which will serve as a basis for their future studies in speech pathology. Students with these previous studies may apply for an exemption from the bridging program.
The cost of the bridging program is $360. All enrolments and payments can be submitted online.
The course requires full-time enrolment over four semesters. The first and second years of the program utilise both innovative PBL methods of teaching and learning, as well as more traditional formats, and rich clinical learning experiences. In this curriculum PBL utilises actual speech pathology cases presented in a variety of formats, eg. printed case notes, computer-based examples, video or audio samples, simulated patients. Semester one of the first year is dedicated to the assessment of communication and swallowing disorders. In semester two, students further develop their diagnostic skills and begin to consider intervention planning. The second year of the course enables students to consolidate their understanding of therapeutic intervention and management for human communication disorders and swallowing.
Clinical education
Clinical experience is a major component of the program and is gained at the La Trobe Communication Clinical (on the Bundoora campus) and through external clinical placements in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centres, nursing homes, community health centres, early childhood centres and private practice, in metropolitan, rural and interstate settings. Clinical placements begin in the first semester of first year and continue throughout the two years of the program.
| Teaching period | Subject code | Subject title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | HCS4ACS | Assessment of Communication and Swallowing Disorders | 30 |
| TE-SEM-1 | HCS4ISP | Introduction to Speech Pathology Practice Clinic | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | HCS4RSP | Introduction to Research: Statistics in Speech Pathology | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | HCS5AIA | Assessment and Intervention in Speech Pathology A | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | HCS5AIB | Assessment and Intervention in Speech Pathology Clinic | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | HCS5EPS | Evidence Based Practice in Speech Pathology | 15 |
Second year
| Teaching period | Subject code | Subject title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | HCS5TIM | Therapeutic Intervention and Management | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | HCS5ASP | Advanced Seminars in Speech Pathology | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | HCS5SPA | Speech Pathology Practice A | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | HCS5SPB | Speech Pathology Practice B | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | HCS5CEL | Critical Evaluation of the Literature | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Speech Pathology Practice C | 15 | |
| TE-SEM-2 | HCS5SPD | Speech Pathology Practice D | 30 |
Professional recognition
Graduates of the Master of Speech Pathology are eligible for membership of the Speech Pathology Association of Australia and are able to work in several overseas countries