Course information for - 2021 entry
Offered at 3 locations
- Study mode
- Attendance
- Duration
- 4 years full-time
- QTAC code
- 115631
- OP/Rank
- 16/66 for Brisbane
- Fees (first year)*
$8763 CSP
- Start dates
- Semester 1 - February , Semester 2 - To be advised
This is a four year course with an embedded Honours program.
Overview
Speech pathologists recognise the importance of communication and swallowing as activities that enable people to participate fully in their daily lives. They work with individuals, groups, families, and communities to support the development, rehabilitation and maintenance of effective communication and swallowing skills across the lifespan.
Our speech pathology program will prepare you to assess and diagnose difficulties with speech, language, voice, fluency, multi-modal communication and swallowing, and enable you to provide intervention and support that is person-centred, culturally-sensitive and evidence-based. You’ll recognise the dignity of the human person and your responsibility towards the common good, and have opportunities to put your values, knowledge and skills into action with professional practice and community engagement activities in Australia and overseas.
Work placement
Students in the Bachelor of Speech Pathology undertake a range of professional practice placements to ensure they meet Speech Pathology Australia's graduate entry competency with regard to the management of disorders of communication and swallowing.
As part of your course, you will be placed in a range of organisations to integrate the theory you learn with practical workplace experiences (placements). As part of your enrolment, you must complete the Faculty of Health Sciences pre-placement requirements. To ensure you meet these requirements you need to start as soon as possible. Visit ACU’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) website to view your Pre-Placement Requirements checklist.
Professional recognition
The course is participating in the triennial re-accreditation process with Speech Pathology Australia in Brisbane, Melbourne, and North Sydney in 2020. If the course is re-accredited, all graduates will be eligible to apply for membership of Speech Pathology Australia.
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Careers
Our graduates have pursued careers in:
- early intervention services for children
- schools
- hospitals
- rehabilitation centres
- mental health services
- community health services
- aged care services
- private practice research
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Speech Pathology, a student must complete 320 credit points (cp).
Sample program map
| Year - Study period | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 | Unit 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 - Semester 1 | ALHT106 Psychology for Allied Health | BIOL125 Human Biology 1 | SPHY103 Linguistics and Phonetics for Speech Pathology | SPHY101 Introduction to Speech Pathology Practice | |
| Year 1 - Semester 2 | SPHY102 Anatomy and Physiology for Speech Pathology | SPHY100 Communication and Development Across the Lifespan | SPHY104 Evidence Based Practice in Speech Pathology | Core Curriculum 100 level unit: Either UNCC100 Self and Community: Exploring the Anatomy of Modern Society or PHCC102 Being Human or PHCC104 Ethics and the Good Life | |
| Year 2 - Semester 1 | SPHY200 Neuroscience Speech Pathology | SPHY204 Speech Disorders (Developmental) | HLSC120 Indigenous Health and Culture | SPHY203 Speech Pathology Practice 2A | |
| Year 2 - Semester 2 | SPHY201 Language Disorders (Developmental) | SPHY202 Language Disorders (Acquired) | SPHY205 Motor Speech Disorders (Acquired) | SPHY207 Speech Pathology Practice 2B | |
| Year 3 - Semester 1 | SPHY308 Multimodal Communication Across the Lifespan | SPHY303 Voice Disorders Across the Lifespan | SPHY301 Mealtimes Feeding and Swallowing | SPHY302 Speech Pathology Practice 3A | |
| Year 3 - Semester 2 | SPHY310 Community Development, Public Health and Speech Pathology | SPHY306 Research in Speech Pathology | SPHY304 Fluency Disorders Across the Lifespan | SPHY305 Speech Pathology Practice 3B | |
| Year 4 - Summer | Core Curriculum 300 level unit: Either UNCC300 Justice and Change in a Global World or PHCC320 The Just Society | ||||
| Year 4 - Semester 1 | SPHY401 Contemporary Issues in Speech Pathology (Pre: All 3rd year SPHY units) | SPHY410 Speech Pathology Professional and Reflective Practice 4A | |||
| Year 4 - Semester 2 | SPHY402 Speech Pathology Practice 4B (30 credit points) (Pre: SPHY400 Speech Pathology Practice 4A ) |
A blank cell indicates that there are no additional units required for that study period.
This is a sample program only and units will vary between states. Please refer to the handbook for the prerequisite units and the current listing.
AQF framework
Exit Points
A student who has successfully completed 230 cp from units, and 10 cp from Core Curriculum units may exit from the course with following qualification:
- Bachelor of Allied Health
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Speech Pathology, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12 level, or equivalent:
| State | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
New South Wales | English (Advanced) or English (Standard) (Band 4) or English as an Additional Language (Band 4); plus at least one of biology, chemistry, physics, or personal development, health and physical education (PDHPE) (Band 2 for all). |
Queensland | English (Units 3 & 4, C); one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health or Physical Education (Units 3 & 4, C) |
Victoria | Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in any English other than EAL; and a study score of at least 25 in one of biology, chemistry, physics or health and human development. |
International students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Disclaimer :The Course entry requirements above are for 2021 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.
Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
For current year 12 students
If you’re a current Year 12 applicant you can be given a selection rank separate from, and in addition to, your ATAR if you’ve completed a competency-based and graded AQF Certificate III or above.
For non-school leavers
If you’ve completed, or are completing a competency-based AQF Certificate IV or AQF diploma you will be assigned a selection rank by your local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC). This is an entry score based on your individual qualifications and achievements.
ACU has partnerships with ACU College, TAFE, and many private education providers. If you have completed a qualification with one of these partners, you may be eligible for guaranteed entry and/or credit into a related ACU degree. Please apply through your local TAC and then submit a credit application for your previous study.
Applicants with higher education study
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, you’ll be assigned a selection rank based on your study level, duration and grade point average that will be applied during the admission process.
If your previous study has equipped you with knowledge, skills or experiences that align with the learning outcomes of units in your new course you may be able to apply for recognition of prior learning and you may be able to complete your course sooner.
Applicants with work and life experience
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have no formal education qualifications you may be eligible for a selection rank based on your work, life or service experience.
- If you’ve been in paid employment, relevant to the course you’re applying for, for a minimum of six months full-time (or equivalent), this work may be assessed for your selection rank.
- If you’re 21 years or older you can sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) through your local TAC.
- You can apply for an ACU bridging course. Our bridging courses allow you to transition back into studying and can give you a head start on the relevant undergraduate degree.
- If you have served in the defence force, your rank and time in service may contribute to your selection rank.
English language requirements
Applicants require an academic IELTS minimum overall score of 8.0 (with a minimum score of 8.0 in all bands), or an equivalent acceptable test score as outlined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy (Schedule 3).
Adjustment factors
If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.
Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Pathways into course for current or recent Year 12 students
Admission Schemes
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admission Program
- Community Achiever Program (CAP)
- ACU Guarantee
- Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) - NSW/ACT only
Adjustment Factors which may improve your Selection Rank
- Most applicants to undergraduate courses at ACU are eligible for adjustment factors – which can help improve your selection rank when applying for a degree. Your location, school or personal circumstances may make you eligible too. Learn more about the full list of available adjustments.
If you have a Selection Rank but it's not enough for this course
- Complete a VET qualification such as an AQF Diploma or Advanced Diploma (Qld only)
- Commence another ACU undergraduate degree and successfully complete at least one full-time year (8 units or 80 cp) of study, then apply for internal transfer to this course. A new Selection Rank will be calculated from your results in your ACU units which will be compared with the entry score required for this course. Note - you will need to achieve higher than a pass grade for your studies to achieve the entry score required for this course.
Further study
Graduates may be eligible to progress to a postgraduate coursework degree within the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Honours graduates may be eligible to undertake a Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy.
Fees
Course costs
$8763 CSP
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 40 credit points (normally 4 units) per semester.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- the number of units studied per semester;
- the choice of major or specialisation; and
- elective units.
The University reviews fees annually.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
How to apply
Domestic applicants
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year (excludes Honours course). Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.
