Speech pathology is an exciting career that will enable you the opportunity to work with people across the lifespan. As a speech pathologist, you will work with other health professionals, in a variety of settings, to help children and adults who have communication and/or swallowing difficulties. Your role in assessing and managing these essential skills will promote positive well-being for the people with whom you work.
In this course, you will learn how communication and swallowing typically develop. You will assess these skills in children and adults to determine whether or not they are having difficulties. You will learn to analyse the results of these assessments within the context of a person's health and functioning so you can plan an evidenced-based intervention that best meets the person’s needs. You will undertake extensive Work-Integrated Learning opportunities at CQUniversity's Health Clinic, and off-campus at community and clinical sites in and outside of Queensland, where you will observe and work directly with children and adults with communication and/or swallowing difficulties. This will allow you to consolidate the content and theory you are learning in class with your developing clinical skills. Throughout these experiences, you will exercise critical thinking and self-reflection, allowing you to develop lifelong learning skills. At the completion of this course, you will be qualified as an entry-level speech pathologist, ready to work with children and/or adults with a diverse range of communication and swallowing difficulties, in a variety of contexts.
Speech pathologists can work in diverse settings in urban, rural and remote areas and may include hospitals (public & private), community centres, rehabilitation centres, kindergartens, schools, aged care facilities and private practice.
Duration | 4 years full-time or 8 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 192 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | BSpchPath(Hons) |
AQF Level | Level 8: Bachelor Honours Degree |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Rank Threshold | SR 70 | ATAR 70 |
English (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent
English Language Proficiency Requirements
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion within the last 5 years of:
completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
International Students should visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information.
Each student will be assessed individually.
It is recommended that students have had at least one class in a biological science during high school.
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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Exit Awards | CL13 - Diploma of Health Science |
Accreditation |
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Compulsory Residential School | Students are required to attend two compulsory residential schools, one as part of SPCH14006 Speech Pathology Work Integrated Learning 6 (2 days) and one as part of SPCH14007 Speech Pathology Work Integrated Learning 7 (3 days). |
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Click here to view all Residential Schools |
SPCH13006 - Students will complete 1 full day or 2 half days per week of work-integrated learning in a clinic setting for the duration of the term. |
SPCH14006 - Students will complete one block placement of 5 days/week for 6 weeks in a paediatric setting. |
SPCH13001 - Students will complete 1 full day or 2 half days per week of work-integrated learning in a clinic setting for the duration of the term. |
SPCH14007 - Students will complete one block placement of 5 days/week for 6 weeks in an adult setting. |
SPCH12007 - Students will engage in clinical sessions with children for up to one half day per week, for a maximum of 12 weeks. |
SPCH14009 - Students will complete up to 15 hours per week in a work-based setting for the duration of the term. |
SPCH12004 - Students will engage in observations and/or clinical sessions with children for up to one half day per week, for a maximum of six weeks. |
Year | Number of Students |
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2024 | 56 |
2023 | 42 |
2022 | 37 |
2021 | 35 |
2020 | 32 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and as such are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks and are outlined in the health, security and other compulsory requirements sections. Mandatory checks are determined by industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date prior to a WIL placement and maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.
Mandatory health requirements include immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) to the following diseases: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, and Tuberculosis screening. Respirator mask fit testing is also an annual requirement for this course.
Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.
Mandatory security requirements include an Australian Federal Police clearance and working with children check.
Other mandatory requirements include a First Aid and CPR certificate, student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, adherence to Speech Pathology Australia's policies for a registered student professional, fitness to participate in WIL student declaration, jurisdictional and site-specific compulsory requirements, and other training modules.
Course Learning Outcomes | |||||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines and knowledge of research principles and methods | |||||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence | |||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of a body of knowledge and theoretical concepts with advanced understanding in some areas | |||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in developing new understanding | |||||||
5. SKILLS Have technical skills to design and use research in a project | |||||||
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | |||||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in professional practice and/or scholarship | |||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | |||||||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | |||||||
10. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Plan and execute project work and/or a piece of research and scholarship with some independence | |||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 30 | Total credit points: 192 |
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Course Overview
On completion of this course, students will graduate with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) qualification. The speech pathology profession is diverse, serving a vast range of individuals with often complex communication and swallowing needs. The course provides a scaffolded exposure to a broad range of practice areas, including developmental speech and language, stroke and brain injury, motor neurone disease, dementia, stuttering, voice, literacy, swallowing, and multi-modal communication. Students will apply knowledge of language, cognition, speech, hearing, and anatomy/physiology to support the functional goals of those with communication and swallowing needs.
Work Integrated Learning and Clinical Placement Experiences
The Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) course involves extensive clinical placement experiences. Students complete sessional (part-time) placements starting in Year 2. In Term 2 of Year 4, students complete two block (full-time) placements. Students may be required to complete these block placements outside of Rockhampton, which may result in students incurring travel and accommodation costs.
Prior to engaging in any clinical placement, students are required to complete a range of pre-clinical requirements. These are described under Compulsory Requirements in the CB87 Handbook.
Research Experience
From Term 2 of Year 3 to Term 1 of Year 4, students engage in an honours research project on a topic relevant to speech pathology.