Course type

Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7)

Division

Tropical Health and Medicine

Minimum English language proficiency requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the following English language proficiency requirements:

An overall IELTS of 7.0 with a minimum writing score of 6.0; speaking score of 8.0; reading and listening score of 7.0

For registration with Speech Pathology Australia where English is not your first language applicants must submit results of the Occupational English Test (OET) taken within the last 12 months with grades of at least 3 As and 1B on the OET test.

Post admission requirements

Immunisations:

Students must provide evidence of being immune to hepatitis B and that they have been vaccinated or evidence that they are not susceptible for the vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR); Varicella and Pertussis. Professional experience placement is a requirement of this course and students may be engaged in roles where there is contact that would allow transmission of a VPD. Students are required to comply with the above requirement prior to commencing their first Professional Experience Placement or by the end of the first teaching period of their studies, otherwise their enrolment will be terminated.

Suitability to Work with Children Card (blue card):

This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age. Students are required to obtain a Suitability to Work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland Police) before the start of the first placement. Students must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course.

For more information, refer to:

Blue Card Services

Current Apply First Aid and CPR Certificate:

Students must hold a current First Aid Certificate before undertaking professional or clinical placements.  Students are responsible for any costs associated with obtaining this certificate.

Some professional/clinical placement agencies may require that students hold an advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate before undertaking a professional or clinical placement. Students are responsible for any costs associated with obtaining this certificate.

Australian Federal Police check:

This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements.  Some placement agencies will require students to produce a current Australian Federal Police check. This is in addition to the requirements for a Blue Card.  Students must provide written confirmation of clearance to the Clinical Placement Officer prior to commencement of clinical placement.

Application documents can be accessed at:

Australian Federal Police

Course learning outcomes

The James Cook University Bachelor of Speech Pathology will prepare graduates to meet the Competency-Based Occupational Standards (CBOS: 2011) for speech pathology, as defined by Speech Pathology Australia.

On successful completion of the Bachelor of Speech Pathology, graduates will be able to:

• Integrate and adapt a broad and coherent body of theoretical and technical knowledge in diverse contexts as an entry level speech pathologist

• Review professional and ethical frameworks, including the Speech Pathology Australia Code of Ethics and underlying principles and concepts to inform responsible and accountable professional behaviours

• Retrieve, critically evaluate and apply evidence in speech pathology and inter-professional practice

• Assess children and adults with communication and swallowing disorders, and formulate, implement and evaluate management plans, in consultation with clients, families and other professionals

• Provide diverse services to support client needs including supervision and training of non-speech pathology personnel working directly with clients, and preventative, educational and/or promotional programs in collaboration with client groups and other professionals

• Provide sensitive and effective speech pathology services, to culturally and linguistically diverse populations, including Indigenous Australian, tropical, rural and remote communities

• Communicate clearly and coherently through well-developed English language and numeracy proficiency, appropriate for entry into the speech pathology workforce

• Reflect on current knowledge, skills, attitudes and practices, and plan continuing professional development to ensure the capacity to deliver current best practice.

Townsville

Maximum time to complete

8 years

Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)

Clinical placement/professional practice:

This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. (Note: health professional courses generally involve extensive professional or clinical placements).

Further information about placements can be found at Enrolment Policy – Coursework Students

Professional accreditation requirements

Nil

Supplementary exam for final subject

Not applicable

Maximum allowed

63 credit points

Expiry

Advanced standing gained for any subject shall be cancelled 18 years after the date of the examination upon which the advanced standing is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course.

Approved abbreviation

BSpPath

Exit with lesser award

Not applicable

Eligibility

Embedded honours

At the start of level 3, the College Dean will invite applications for honours.

Students must have obtained a GPA of not less than 5.0, calculated over the subjects completed for levels 1 and 2 of the program.

A quota may be imposed on the number of students accepted for entry to the honours course depending on the availability of supervisors.

Graduate entry honours

Successful completion of a pass degree in Speech Pathology

• Normally students will have achieved a GPA of not less than 5.0 calculated over the four levels of the pass degree.

• Students professional experience and continuing  professional development will be also be considered in their application.

Students may be required to undertake work additional to the pass degree before commencing honours.