Hearing, Speech and Communication
About the major
The Hearing, Speech and Communication Major is designed to prepare students for postgraduate study to become a Speech Pathologist or Audiologist. This major focuses on normal speech, language and hearing acquisition, development and change across the lifespan, and the underpinning theoretical disciplines. Graduates will therefore have an integrated understanding of the linguistic, psychological, acoustic, neuroscience and anatomical bases of human communication. Graduates will acquire technical skills in speech and language analysis and hearing assessment. Graduates with a Hearing, Speech and Communication Major may also consider work in the disability support sector, technical writing in medicine and health, audiometry, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and in special education roles.
Options for studying Hearing, Speech and Communication
Both the Hearing, Speech and Communication major and minor are available as Table S (shared pool) options.
Pathway through the major and minor
The requirements for a major or minor in Hearing, Speech and Communication are spread out over three years of the degree (four years if students are completing a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree).
(i) Hearing, Speech and Communication Major
To achieve a major in Hearing, Speech and Communication, students must complete 48 credit points comprising:
- 12 credit points of 1000-level core units of study;
- 18 credit points of 2000-level core units of study; and
- 18 credit points of 3000-level core units of study.
Major learning outcomes
| No. | Learning outcome |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify and explain the anatomical and neuroscience bases of human communication and explain the interconnected anatomy, neuroscience and cognitive neuropsychology associated with developmental and acquired communication disorders and hearing science. |
| 2 | Integrate the psychological and developmental bases of human communication including processes associated with learning, memory and attention across the lifespan. |
| 3 | Explain the acoustic bases of spoken communication. |
| 4 | Using appropriate technology, conduct hearing screenings and be able to accurately interpret the results and discuss the implications of audiological assessments conducted with children and adults. |
| 5 | Discuss a range of intervention options that are available to support the communication of deaf and hard of hearing individuals, identify when different options are more likely to be recommended over other options, and explain some of the complexities associated with intervention options with this population. |
| 6 | Obtain written and spoken language samples in a culturally sensitive, ethical manner, and conduct linguistic, phonetic, and language development analyses. |
| 7 | Describe environmental aspects that may negatively impact communication, and suggest practical and useful recommendations to modify these environments and/or the communication behaviours. |
| 8 | Describe ethical and legal requirements when working with populations who have conditions that affect communication, in order to begin to develop a professional identity as a health care professional. |
A sample pathway for the Hearing, Speech and Communication major (over three years of a degree) is listed below.
Sample pathway – Hearing, Speech and Communication Major (48 credit points)
| Year | Session | Units of study | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Semester 1 | Core: BIOS1163 Speech Science Core: CSCD1034 Linguistics and Phonetics |
|
| Second | Semester 1 | Core: BIOS2166 Neuroscience of Hearing | |
| Semester 2 | Core: CSCD2070 Human Communication Development Core: CSCD2071 Audiology 1 |
||
| Third | Semester 1 | Core: BIOS3166 Neuroscience of Hearing II | |
| Semester 2 | Core: CSCD3093 Topics in Neuropsychology Core: CSCD3094 Audiology 2 |
||
Please Note. This sample progression is meant as an example only. Depending on unit prerequisites, students may be able to complete some units in a different sequence to that displayed in the table above.
(ii) Hearing, Speech and Communication Minor
To achieve a minor in Hearing, Speech and Communication, students must complete 36 credit points comprising:
- 12 credit points of 1000-level core units of study;
- 12 credit points of 2000-level core units of study;
- 6 credit points of 3000-level core units of study; and
- 6 credit points of 2000-level or 3000-level selective units of study.
A sample pathway for the Hearing, Speech and Communication Minor (over three years of a degree) is listed below.
Sample pathway – Hearing, Speech and Communication Minor (36 credit points)
| Year | Session | Units of study | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Semester 1 | Core: BIOS1163 Speech Science Core: CSCD1034 Linguistics and Phonetics |
|
| Second | Semester 1 | Core: BIOS2166 Neuroscience of Hearing | |
| Semester 2 | Core: CSCD2070 Human Communication Development | ||
| Third | Semester 1 | Core: BIOS3166 Neuroscience of Hearing II | |
| Semester 2 | Selective: CSCD3093 Topics in Neuropsychology | ||
Please Note. This sample progression is meant as an example only. Depending on unit prerequisites, students may be able to complete some units in a different sequence to that displayed in the table above.
Contact/further information
For further information about the Hearing, Speech and Communication major or minor, please contact the Sydney School of Health Sciences.
Email: shs.ltadmin@sydney.edu.au
