Speech and Language Pathology Programme, 240 credits

Purpose

The purpose of the programme is to prepare students for licensing as speech and language pathologists. The programme is also intended as a general master’s degree that prepares students to continue their education in the second and third cycles.

Aim

General objectives

Chapter one of the Higher Education Act (SFS 1992:1434 including updates) have adopted the following general objectives for the first and second cycle respectively:

8 § Undergraduate level education should be primarily based on knowledge students receive from national programmes at upper-secondary school level or equivalent. However, the government may decide on exemptions relating to the fine, applied, and performing arts.

First-cycle programmes and courses will develop students’

• abilities to make independent and critical assessments,
• abilities to independently identify, formulate and solve problems,
• preparedness to meet changes in working life

Within the specific field of education, the students will, in addition to their knowledge and skills, develop the abilities to:

• seek out and evaluate knowledge at a scientific level,
• follow the development of the field,
• exchange knowledge also with people without specialized knowledge in the field

9 § Second-cycle programmes and courses should be primarily based on knowledge students receive from first-cycle studies or equivalent.

Second-cycle programmes and courses will include progression of knowledge, skills and abilities in relation to those acquired from first-cycle studies and will in addition to what applies to first-cycle programmes and courses:

• further develop the students’ abilities to independently integrate and use their knowledge,
• develop the students abilities to handle complex phenomena, queries and situations,
• develop the students preparedness for professional activities which place extensive demands on independence or for work within research and quality improvement

Degree objectives

Qualitative targets for a Degree of Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology as set out in the Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100 with updates), Appendix 2 - System of Qualifications.

For a Degree of Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology, the student shall demonstrate the knowledge and ability required in order to qualify as a speech therapist.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate their knowledge of the disciplinary foundation of the field of study, insight into current research and development work and knowledge of the relationship between research findings and proven experience and the significance of this relationship to professional practice,
• demonstrate both the breadth and the depth of their clinical, educational and therapeutic knowledge of the habilitation and rehabilitation of voice, speech, language and swallowing disorders,
• demonstrate an understanding that the ability to communicate is an integral part of an individual’s personality and social situation,
• demonstrate their knowledge of relevant statutes.

Skills and abilities

For a Degree of Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate their specialist ability to, independently and in cooperation with the patient, investigate, assess and treat the most common disorders within the field of speech and language pathology,
• demonstrate their ability to initiate and participate in preventive healthcare within the field of speech and language pathology,
• demonstrate their specialist ability to plan, implement and evaluate treatment programmes,
• demonstrate their ability to inform and teach a variety of groups, and to undertake supervisory duties,
• demonstrate their ability to describe and discuss measures and treatment results verbally and in writing with those concerned and to document these in accordance with relevant statutes,
• demonstrate their ability to work as part of a team and with other professions, and
• demonstrate their specialist ability to critically appraise, assess and use relevant information and discuss new information, phenomena and queries with a variety of groups and thus contribute to the development of the profession and the activities in question.

Judgement and attitude

For a Degree of Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate their self-knowledge and ability to empathise,
• demonstrate their specialist ability to make assessments of interventions using a comprehensive view of the person and on the basis of relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, paying particular attention to human rights.

Qualitative targets for a degree of master as set out in the Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100 with updates), Appendix 2 - System of Qualifications.

Scope

A degree of master is achieved once the student has completed course requirements worth 60 credits with a specific specialisation determined independently by each higher education institution, of which at least 30 credits involve a specialisation within the programme’s main field of study. In addition, there is a requirement to have been awarded a degree of bachelor, a Degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts, a professional qualification worth at least 180 credits or an equivalent foreign degree.

Exemptions from the requirement to have been awarded a degree may be granted for a student who has been admitted to the programme without having met the general entry requirements in the form of a degree. However, this does not apply if, at the time of admission, an exemption was granted pursuant to Chapter 7, Section 28, second paragraph because it was not possible to issue a degree certificate in time.

Knowledge and understanding

For a degree of master, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the programme’s main field of study, including both an overview of the field and specialist knowledge within certain parts of the field and insight into current research and development work,
• demonstrate their specialist knowledge of methods within the programme’s main field of study.

Skills and abilities

For a degree of master, the student will be able to:

• demonstrate their ability to integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, question and situations, even if they have limited information,
• demonstrate their ability to independently identify and formulate questions and to plan and implement advanced tasks using adequate methods and within given time frames,
• demonstrate their ability to describe and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which these are based verbally and in writing with various groups,
• demonstrate the skills required in order to participate in research and development work or to work in another qualified role.

Judgement and attitude

For a degree of master, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate their ability to perform assessments within the programme’s main field of study, taking into account relevant academic, societal and ethical aspects and demonstrating their awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work,
• demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and individuals’ responsibility for how it is used,
• demonstrate their ability to identify their requirements for additional knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their expertise.

Besides the objectives above, the students will after completing the programme, have obtained the higher institution’s local objectives as well as the local objectives of the programme, 

Local objectives for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

 Having completed the programme, the student will

• have the ability to critically appraise situations within healthcare in order to motivate and evaluate choice of actions as a working professional 
• demonstrate knowledge about and understanding of factors which affect health from a local and global perspective
• have the ability to evaluate and apply knowledge in evidence-based medicine and quality improvement in healthcare
• be able to work for a sustainable and health promoting development of current and future generations
• have obtained inter-professional skills that enables working in teams with other professions
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the importance of equality and equal opportunities in society

Local objectives for the Speech and Language Pathology Programme

A student who has completed the Speech and Language Pathology will also:

• be able to relate and act based on their speech and language pathology expertise in relation to other professions and experts who work together with the pertinent groups of patients,
• have adopted a life-cycle perspective on typical and abnormal communication and eating and swallowing function,
• be able to apply a comprehensive view of disabilities that focuses on the health concepts activity, participation and well-being,
• have acquired the knowledge required to contribute to work with health promotion.

Content

The following courses are included in the programme:

Course 1: Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology for Speech-Language Pathology, 15 credits (semester 1)

Kurs 1: Anatomi, fysiologi och patologi inom logopedi, 15 hp (termin 1)

Course 2: Linguistic and Psychological Perspectives for Speech-Language Pathology, 15 credits (semester 1)

Kurs 2: Språkvetenskapliga och psykologiska perspektiv inom logopedi, 15 hp (termin 1)

Course 3: Anatomy and Physiology of Relevance for Speech and Language Pathology Development, 15 credits (semester 2)

Kurs 3: Anatomi och fysiologi under utveckling och åldrande med relevans för logopedi, 15 hp (termin 2)

Course 4: Human Communication Development from Linguistic and Psychologic Perspectives, 15 credits (semester 2) 

Kurs 4: Mänsklig kommunikationsutveckling ur ett språkligt och psykologiskt perspektiv, 15 hp (termin 2)

Course 5: Speech and Language Impairments in Children I, 30 credits (semester 3)

Kurs 5: Tal- och språkstörning hos barn I, 30 hp (termin 3)

Course 6: Speech, Language and Swallowing in Children and Adults within Habilitation and Rehabilitation, 30 credits (semester 4)

Kurs 6: Tal, språk och sväljning hos barn och vuxna inom habilitering och rehabilitering, 30 hp (termin 4)

Course 7: Voice and Fluency Disorders, 20 credits (semester 5) 

Kurs 7: Röststörningar och störningar i talets flyt, 20 hp (termin 5)

Course 8: Professional Practice in Speech and Language Pathology I, 5 credits (semester 5) 

Kurs 8: Praktisk logopedi och professionellt förhållningssätt I, 5 hp (termin 5)

Course 9: Statistics and Scientific Methods in Speech and Language Pathology, 15 credits (semester 5 and 6)
Kurs 9: Statistik och vetenskaplig metod inom logopedi, 15 hp (termin 5 och 6)

Course 10: Developmental Speech and Language Disorders II, 15 credits (Semester 6)

Kurs 10: Tal- och språkstörning hos barn II, 15 hp (termin 6)

Course 11: Professional Practice in Speech and Language Pathology II, 5 credits (semester 6)
Kurs 11: Praktisk logopedi och professionellt förhållningssätt II, 5 hp (termin 6)

Course 12: Neurogenic Communication and Swallowing Disorders in Adults, 19.5 credits (semester 7)

Kurs 12: Neurogena kommunikations- och sväljningsstörningar hos vuxna, 19,5 hp (termin 7)

Course 13: Elective Course, 7.5 credits (semester 7)

Kurs 13: Valbar kurs, 7,5 hp (termin 7)

Course 14: Ethics, Scientific Methods and Master’s Thesis (60 credits), 33 credits (semester 7 and 8)

Kurs 14: Etik, vetenskaplig metod och självständigt arbete (examensarbete), 33 hp (termin 7 och 8)

Specialisations

The specialised study in the main field is indicated by the intended learning outcomes in the syllabus for each of the courses in the programme and by the suggested course literature in the reading lists.

Teaching and working methods

Student centred and problem based learning make up the foundation of the teaching at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The student takes responsibility for, studies and researches current content of the courses and study programme. The methods of the course work challenge the students to independently formulate questions for learning, to seek out knowledge and assess and evaluate achieved knowledge in dialogue with others. Students work together in groups based on reality based situations to develop their own learning, contribute to co-students’ learning and to practice cooperation. The teacher’s role is to support the students in this way of learning. The programmes consist of subject integrated themes, theoretical and practical modules integrated throughout the study programme. The study programmes at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences cooperate in certain integration modules where inter-professional learning takes place through the participation of students from several professions learning with, about and from each other. The course methods and integration modules stimulate and support the student’s development of professional and inter-professional competencies as well as prepare the student for teamwork and cooperation in the future profession.

Entry requirements

For admission to the Speech and Language Pathology Programme, besides general entry requirements, the following is required:

Science Studies 2,
and
Social Studies 1b or 1a1 and 1a2
and
Mathematics 2a/2b/2c or Mathematics B

Threshold requirements

Each semester’s content builds on that of others and they must be completed in order. The following requirements apply in order to move forward in the programme:

Entry to the course Speech and Language Impairments in Children I (semester 3) requires a pass in the courses Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology for Speech-Language Pathology (semester 1).

Entry to the course Speech, Language and Swallowing in Children and Adults within Habilitation and Rehabilitation (semester 4) requires a pass in the courses Anatomy and Physiology of Relevance for Speech and Language Pathology Development, 15 credits and Human Communication Development from Linguistic and Psychologic Perspectives (semester 2).

Entry to the courses Voice and Fluency Disorders (semester 5), Professional Practice in Speech and Language Pathology I (semester 5) and Statistics and Scientific Methods in Speech and Language Pathology (semester 5 and 6) requires a pass in the course Speech and Language Impairments in Children I (semester 3). 

Entry to the courses Developmental Speech and Language Disorders II and Professional Practice in Speech and Language Pathology II (semester 6) requires a pass in the courses Speech, Language and Swallowing in Children and Adults within Habilitation and Rehabilitation (semester 4) and Professional Practice in Speech and Language Pathology I (semester 5). 

Entry to the courses Neurogenic Communication and Swallowing Disorders in Adults and Ethics, Scientific Methods and Master’s Thesis (semester 7) requires a pass in the courses Voice and Fluency Disorders (semester 5), Statistics and Scientific Methods in Speech and Language Pathology and Professional Practice in Speech and Language Pathology II (semester 6).

Degree thesis

For a Degree of Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology, the student shall have completed within the scope of the course requirements a master’s thesis worth at least 30 credits within the programme’s main field of study.

Degree requirements

Following completion of a programme worth 240 credits, a degree certificate with the title Degree of Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology is issued to the student upon request. Degree of Master of Medical Science (60 credits) in Speech and Language Pathology is obtained upon application.

Degree in Swedish

Logopedexamen och Medicine magisterexamen i Logopedi.

Degree in English

Degree ofMaster of Science in Speech and Language Pathology och Degree of Master ofMedical Science (60 credits) in Speech and Language Pathology.

Specific information

The placements may be located outside of Linköping and the rest of Östergötland, which may entail increased costs for the student.

Some courses/elements may be conducted in English. Otherwise, the language of instruction is Swedish.

Internationalisation

Thanks to partnerships with higher education institutions outside of Sweden, there may be foreign students and/or teachers on the programme.

Common rules

Directions regarding deferment, leave from studies, returning to study, transferring of credits etc are referred to the Linkoping University regulations and to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Board regulations.

Transition rules

1. This programme syllabus enters into force on 21 January 2019 and applies to students who are admitted to the programme from spring semester 2019.
   From autumn semester 2022, the programme syllabus also applies to students admitted in autumn semester 2018 or earlier.
2. Students who were admitted to the programme in autumn semester 2018 or earlier are entitled to sit retakes under the previous programme syllabus on three occasions within/in connection to the two semesters subsequent to that in which each course is taught for the final time.
3. The programme coordinator makes decisions concerning individual study plans and examination formats for students who were admitted under and have adhered to the previous programme syllabus and have, due to approved leave from studies or some other reason, not completed their studies by the end of spring semester 2022.