Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)

Become equipped to improve your future clients’ quality of life by assessing, diagnosing and managing communication and swallowing difficulties and differences. Learn about speech pathology theory and practice as well as anatomy, linguistics, psychology, medicine, education and communication.

Speech pathologists are autonomous professionals who support every individual’s right to optimal communication and swallowing. The broad scope of your speech pathology studies will prepare you to take a holistic approach to healthcare and make a difference to those who need it most. Areas that underpin speech pathology practice include communication sciences, health care and allied health, education, social justice, biomedical sciences, physical sciences and even performances such as sport and singing. All of these areas extend your career opportunities by allowing you to work in many different fields.

JCU’s Bachelor of Speech Pathology is accredited by Speech Pathology Australia, the federally recognised professional body representing speech pathologists in Australia. Completing JCU’s Bachelor of Speech Pathology is equivalent to registration and graduates are eligible for Practising Membership with Speech Pathology Australia. Your qualifications are recognised in many countries and a limited Mutual Recognition Agreement exists with the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand.

In the Bachelor of Speech Pathology, you’ll study an advanced body of theoretical knowledge and technical competencies that are applicable to diverse contexts. You will explore subjects including anatomy and physiology relevant to speech pathology, linguistics and phonology, psychology, lifespan development, and different types of speech and language impairments. You will develop an in-depth understanding of the speech chain at a linguistic, physiological and acoustic level as you study how communication develops through the ears, the lips, the teeth, the nasal cavity, the brain, the sensory and motor nerves and the vocal muscles.

Go behind-the-scenes of health care as you study the Australian healthcare system, the epidemiological patterns of the Australian population, and the factors and decisions that influence health service activity. Your combined knowledge of speech pathology practice and healthcare systems will equip you to make a difference to your future clients at both a personal and systemic level. JCU Speech Pathology emphasises health promotion, particularly in remote and Indigenous communities, and will train you to think and work holistically as you incorporate the ‘bigger picture’ of your client’s health and lifestyle into your professional practice.

You will have firsthand experience of what it’s like to be a speech pathologist as you undertake multiple professional placements across this speech pathology degree. You’ll complete practical placements in urban, regional and remote areas, giving you the experience to work in any setting. Your placement could be facilitated by public or private hospitals, health clinics, or disability services. You’ll discover the variety inherent to the speech pathologist’s role as you encounter clients who need assistance with communicating, possibly after a stroke, due to stuttering, voice problems, autism, literacy difficulties, hearing problems or difficulties learning to speak. Clients may also need assistance to eat — chewing and swallowing can be difficult for some babies born with conditions like cleft palate or Down Syndrome; adults who have a stroke or cancer in the throat might also need help to improve their ability to eat or drink.

Upon graduation, you will have all the essential skills of a speech pathologist including the ability to provide responsive, sensitive and effective speech pathology practice to all clients, specifically including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other culturally and linguistically diverse populations. You will be equipped with highly applicable skills such as professional communication, ability to plan, learn and reason as well as having the ability to conduct yourself successfully in a professional work environment. You will be prepared to deliver, facilitate, and evaluate safe, sustainable and effective client-centred speech pathology services including preventative, educational and promotional programs in collaboration with client groups and other professionals.

Honours

An Honours degree supports entry into a Higher Degree by Research. An Honours component is embedded in JCU’s Bachelor of Speech Pathology; students further develop their research skills as they complete the Honours component in the fourth year of the degree.

The Honours component has two streams available — a professional stream and a research stream. In the professional stream, small groups of students work collaboratively to conduct a research project within the field of speech pathology. They present their findings and prepare a thesis related to their work. In the research stream, students will work independently to conduct a research study in an area of interest within speech pathology. These students also present their findings and submit a thesis. This work may be submitted and accepted for publication in professional journals or presented at national or international conferences. Recent topics include the effectiveness of rugby players' voices and experiences of police working with offenders who have language disorders.

The professional stream supports students to continue their postgraduate study with a Master’s degree while the research stream can act as a potential pathway for students to pursue a PhD or similar research qualification.

Refer to the Course Handbook for eligibility information.

Additional information

Begin a life-changing career helping patients overcome communication and swallowing difficulties. Through this accredited course, JCU Speech Pathology graduates are equipped with job-ready skills to meet the unique needs of tropical, rural and Indigenous communities.

As a JCU Speech Pathology graduate, you’ll have the knowledge and expertise to enable you to work with children and adults and promote speech and swallowing improvement, literacy development and auditory development appropriate to you clients’ needs.

Once you’re a qualified speech pathologist, you may want to pursue a career in education, hospital support, community health or aged care. Alternatively, you could find work in childcare, mental health services, disability services or private practice.

This course is accredited by Speech Pathology Australia. Upon graduation, you will be eligible for Practising Membership with Speech Pathology Australia.