Coursework Degree Programs

Coursework programs consist of units of study rather than research work. They usually require attendance at lectures and tutorials. Master’s degrees can all be obtained by coursework.

Postgraduate coursework qualifications provide you with specialised knowledge which leads to advantages in furthering your career. Study at this level enables you to upgrade your qualifications, enrol in professional development courses, change careers or explore one subject at a time.

The Discipline of Speech Pathology offers the following postgraduate coursework degree:

Master of Speech Language Pathology (Pass) - Course Code SC112

The Master of Speech Language Pathology (MSLP) is a two (2) year full-time or four (4) year part-time program.

The program provides a professional pathway to becoming a Speech Pathologist for students who already hold a bachelors degree.

The program is accredited by Speech Pathology Australia. Graduates are eligible for practising membership of the Association which is a requirement to work as a speech pathologist in Australia.

Students must attend lectures on-campus as well as undertake clinical education in on-campus and off-campus clinics. No distance units are offered.

Admission Requirements, Application Procedures, Fees

See the University's Course Search database.

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

Assumed Knowledge Requirements - Essential

Knowledge of linguistics and phonetics are not pre-requisites for enrolment in the MSLP program. But, these subject areas will not be covered during the course and prior study is essential. Successful applicants who do not meet the prior study requirement, must attend Summer School classes in January/February before the start of Semester 1. Do not enrol in Summer School unless you receive an offer for the MSLP program.

Linguistics
Including sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic models of language, morphology, phonology, orthography, semantics, discourse, and grammar / syntax.

Phonetics
Including real time broad/phonemic transcription of normal adult speech using IPA. Theoretical concepts of allophones, distinctive feature analysis, narrow or phonetic transcription, diacritics, stress or accent, suprasegmental aspects of speech, acoustic features of vowels and consonants, interpretation of spectrographs of normal adult speech.

Expected Knowledge - Desirable but not essential

The following domains of knowledge are not pre-requisites for enrolment in the program. Nevertheless, it will be expected during classes, that participants will have completed prior study in these domains, either through an academic program or independent study.

Psychology

An understanding of the principles of psychology, normal child development, learning and cognition are beneficial.

Research Methods

A knowledge of the principles of research design is beneficial.

Statistics

Knowledge of the principles of basic descriptive and analytic statistics is beneficial. (eg mean, mode, median, standard distribution, standard deviation, t-test, anova, chi square, p value, type I and II errors etc)

Anatomy

Students without a background in anatomy are strongly encouraged to do some study in this area before enrolment.

Physiology

Students without a background physiology are strongly encouraged to do some study in this area before enrolment.

Sociology

It is desirable for students to have completed introductory sociology.

Course Requirements

Criminal Record Check; Prohilited Employment Declaration; Adult Vacination Card

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. 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 Student Services.

CPR Certificate
It is a Health Department and University of Sydney requirement that students provide evidence of completion of a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course with an accredited organisation (eg St. John’s Ambulance, Red Cross, Campus Rewards).
Completion of CPR training is mandatory before you can enrol in any clinical unit of study. CPR certificates must be renewed annually.


If you have a certified First Aid Certificate - which is valid for 3 years, it is still required by the Health Department and the University of Sydney, that you update the CPR component every 12 months.

MSLP Course Structure

The curriculum is designed around the competency requirements for Speech Pathology professional practice. The curriculum incorporates 18 compulsory units of study, totaling 96 credit points.

These units will provide students with the competencies expected of a beginning practitioner in speech pathology.

Students who meet the requisite academic standard, based on their results in Year 1, are invited to apply for a place in the MSLP Honours program in Year 2.

The MSLP is structured around 4 academic blocks and 4 clinical blocks. The clinical blocks occur during semester and during the breaks. The academic program will require all students (including part time students) to attend in orientation week and for 13 teaching weeks in each semester.

Students must be prepared and available for clinical placements and some lectures that are delivered outside set semester dates.

Units of Study

This is a list of units of study in the MSLP program as delivered to full-time students. Mode of delivery: On-campus. There are no units offered by "Distance".

See the complete MSLP course outline in the 2011 Faculty of Health Sciences Handbook

See brief unit descriptions in the 2011 Faculty of Health Sciences Handbook. Speech Pathology unit of study codes start with CSCD.

Timetabling

All lectures are held between 8am and 6pm, Monday - Friday. In first and second semester, full-time students should expect to be on-campus for 4-5 days per week and part time students for 2 to 3 days per week. Intensives, block teaching and clinic can occur outside of the semester dates.

Graduate Diploma in Communication Disorders

Students enrolled in the MSLP (Course Code SC112) who would like to graduate after Year 1 (48 credit points), can do so with the Graduate Diploma in Communication Disorders award. It does not qualify graduates to work as speech pathologists.

All Enquiries

Contact the Program Administrator via email or Phone 61 +2 93519447