Future Undergraduate Students

If you would like to qualify as a Speech Pathologist, there are two courses. A Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) and a Master of Speech Language Pathology. These independent programs are designed to prepare individuals to practise as qualified Speech Pathologists.

At the undergraduate level, the Discipline offers the following:

Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) - Course Code SH040 - Year 1, 2 and 3 intake are no longer offered. Year 4 will be available for 2010 enrolment only.

Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) - Course Code SH128 - 4 year undergraduate program.

The generic Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHlthSci) - Course Code SH130, has a Hearing and Speech Specialist Stream. Successful completion of the BHlthSci Hearing and Speech second major, with 4.5 GPA or better, will provide entry into the Master of Speech Language Pathology (MSLP) postgraduate coursework degree.

Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) - Course Code SH040

The curriculum for this course has been revised and a new course established. The new Course Code is SH128 (See below). Year 4 intake (SH040) will be offered in 2010 for the last time.

If you are transferring from another course or University, and you are eligible for Year 4 entry into SH040, see the Year 4 prerequisites and outlines in the Faculty of Health Sciences Handbook, Chapter 13 - Tables 13.1 and 13.1.1. Brief unit of study descriptions are available in Chapter 14. The University's Course Search database no longer lists the details of this course.

Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) - Course Code SH128

This is a challenging and engrossing 4-year degree program (for both the pass and honours levels) that leads to a qualification as a Speech Pathologist.

The revised undergraduate speech pathology program (replacing Course Code SH040) commenced in 2008 with the Year 1 intake. The old curriculum will be phased out by the end of 2010.

This new, four year program will continue to provide students with research led teaching in the range of communication sciences and disorders studies required for professional competency. However, the new curriculum integrates broader professional issues of health service delivery, rural and indigenous health, ethical and evidence based practice with academic units of study by adopting case based approaches to learning.

Additionally, the structure of the new curriculum facilitates students’ opportunities to engage in inter-professional learning and international studies.

By building upon the strengths of our previous program (SH040) and introducing these curriculum innovations, we anticipate that students will graduate with the ‘well rounded’ professional skills required for speech pathology practice.

Applicants from other countries, who wish to use this degree to return home to work in their country, should check with their local professional registration board or licensing authority for details on requirements for getting their degree locally recognised.

Full-time and Part-time study

Limited places may be available for Part-time study.

Applications for part-time study in the undergraduate degree is made to the Undergraduate Course Coordinator AFTER acceptance and enrolment in the full-time course.

Part-time study involves a reduced number of hours per week - there are no evening classes/lectures offered or available.

Important Note: All Year 1 units of study must be successfully completed within the first 2 years (4 semesters)

Important Note: Students who receive government help or scholarships should check with the provider, as these often require students to be enrolled full-time.

Students requesting to enrol part-time should note that daytime attendance at lectures and clinic placements, as well as clinic block placements, is required for completion of the BAppSc (Speech Pathology) course.

Students wishing to enrol part-time should also note the following:

• Part-time students must adjust their load so that they can complete the course within the maximum time. No extensions of maximum time will be granted
• Minimum time: 6 years from the initial academic year of enrolment
• Maximum time: 10 years from the initial academic year of enrolment
• The course is structured as a full-time course. Students must be aware of the possibility of clashes in timetables for units with different first numerals in their codes – e.g. CSCD2XXX and CSCD3XXX
• Students must meet prerequisite and corequisite requirements as specified for enrolment in specific units of study
• Where a unit of study has a corequisite, a student is to enrol in that unit as well as the corequisite in the same semester
• Where a unit of study is a prerequisite, this prerequisite unit must be passed prior to enrolment in any other units for which it is a prerequisite
• Part-time students are completing their degree over a longer period of time and it is possible, and in fact likely, that there will be curriculum changes while they are undertaking their degree
• Part-time students have the responsibility for monitoring changes in curriculum which may affect their progression and for discussing these with the Course Coordinator

Admission Requirements

• There are no specific prerequisites for admission to the Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) course. The University of Sydney's general admission requirements, outlined in Chapter 3 of the Faculty of Health Sciences Handbook, apply
• 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
• It is also recommended that new students enrol in the Grammar Bridging Course. Knowledge of grammar is assumed knowledge for the Linguistics units of study which are core units for this program

Honours

• Students in the honours program complete all Year 1 and Year 2 units of study in the pass program. In Year 3, honours students undertake some of the same units of study in the pass program as well as units that are unique to the honours program. In Year 4, all units the honours students undertake are unique to the honours program. For information specific to the Speech Pathology honours program, students are advised to contact the of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) course

Course Requirements

• All students must undertake clinical placements with children in their degree. Therefore all students are required to fill out a Criminal Records check, Prohibited Employment Declaration form and an Adult Vaccination Record card. Click here for more information
• Forms are to be completed on enrolment. Some placements will require students to be vaccinated against tuberculosis, hepatitis C and other infectious diseases and to provide proof of immunity. Prospective students should seek information about Vaccination requirements from the University Health Services
• Any prospective student who thinks that he/she may have a consideration, condition or disability, which may interfere with the development or practice of speech pathology skills, or with participation in clinical education should consult the Course Coordinator before commencing the program

Application Procedures

• Local applications for the 2009 program must be lodged with the University Admissions Centre (UAC). Applicants can Apply-by-web on the UAC site. Applications close on the last working day in September of the preceding year
• International applicants can obtain application information from the International Office

Course Fees

• Information can be found on the University website
• Details of loan schemes, available to help students pay fees, can be found on the Department of Education website

Course Outline

See the complete course outline in the Faculty of Health Sciences Handbook, Pass and Honours are presented in Chapter 13 - Tables 13.2, 13.2.1, 13.3.1. Units of study are briefly described in Chapter 14. You can find more information about the course on the University’s Course Search database.

Further information

Telephone: +61 2 9351 9161
Ask Health Sciences

Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHlthSci) - Course Code SH130

Successful completion of the BHlthSci with a Hearing and Speech second major, with 4.5 GPA or better, will provide entry into the Master of Speech Language Pathology (MSLP) postgraduate coursework degree.

Students wishing to study human communication can enrol in the Bachelor of Health Science with a Hearing and Speech specialist stream. This degree does not qualify you to practise as a speech pathologist but provides students with a good background for postgraduate study. The Bachelor of Health Science is available as a Pass degree (three years) and an Honours degree (four years).

The (BHlthSci) prepares students for a rewarding career in the general health and community services sector. Designed to meet contemporary industry needs, the BHlthSci provides the knowledge and skills directly suited to working in health care, including an understanding of the health system, communication skills and a strong health science research focus.

The BHlthSci also equips students with a portfolio of skills that are in demand throughout the wider community, locally and globally. With its flexible and multidisciplinary approach, the BHlthSci allows students to branch out in almost any direction, either through further studies or employment opportunities.

The BHlthSci is recognised by the University of Sydney as a generic, foundation degree for a wide range of graduate programs. This means that students, after completing the BHlthSci with relevant majors, can apply for entry into right of practice health professional programs such as dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, health informatics, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy, radiography, occupational therapy, orthoptics, physiotherapy and rehabilitation counselling.

Double major structure
The BHlthSci offers flexibility and choice. The course is designed so that students can maximise their flexibility through two major sequences of study. All students will have a major in health sciences and will take another major in an area related to health. The double major structure allows students to tailor their degree to their own interests, needs and career plans.

Examples of majors relevant to Health from the Arts, Economics and Business and Science faculties include:

• Social Policy
• Psychology
• Biochemistry
• Cell Pathology
• Management Decision Science
• Nanoscience and Technology

Other majors are possible: students should discuss their degree
pathway with the program coordinator.

When choosing units of study, students should consult the appropriate faculty handbook to determine the course rules related to studying their second major. Examples of additional majors from the Faculty of Health Sciences include:

• Hearing and Speech
• Movement

See full details of the Bachelor of Health Sciences generic foundation degree in the Faculty of Health Sciences Handbook Chapter 7 (see table 7.2 for Hearing and Speech second major) or on the University’s Course Search database.

Further information
Telephone: +61 2 9351 9161
Ask Health Sciences