Programme Themes

Provides integrated knowledge and understanding of human anatomy, physiology and neurology, with specific relation to speech, language, communication, swallowing and hearing.

Provides integrated knowledge and understanding of: theoretical models of speech, language and communication, its development, and its disorders; current research in relation to communication and communication difficulty; methods of observing, transcribing and recording speech, language and communication behaviours. Draws particularly on perspectives from linguistics and psychology.

Provides integrated knowledge and understanding of: social and psychological aspects of health and illness; interpretation of individual behaviour across different contexts; cultural and linguistic diversity; theoretical models of disability, including the World Health Organisation’s ICF framework. Draws on approaches and frameworks from social and health psychology, and sociology.

Provides knowledge and skills in relation to appraising and conducting research within the human communication sciences, including behavioural observation, literature reviewing and quantitative research/statistics.

Provides integrated knowledge and understanding of: intervention for adults and children with a range of speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties (including planning and evaluation of intervention); evidence-based practice; standards of practice and clinical ethics; health and social care services in the context of multidisciplinary working.

Provides observational and hands-on supervised practice learning experiences in health, social care and education services, working with adults and children with a range of speech, language, communication and/or swallowing difficulties.