Bachelor of Speech, Hearing and Language Sciences with the degree of Bachelor of Human Sciences
SHHS19V1
Minimum number of credit points for the degree | 96 |
Of your 96 credit points, complete a maximum of 36 credit points at 100 level | |
Minimum number of credit points at 200 level or above | 60 |
Minimum number of credit points at 300 level or above | 30 |
Completion of a qualifying major for the Bachelor of Human Sciences | |
Completion of a designated PACE unit | |
Completion of other specific minimum requirements as set out below |
In order to graduate students must ensure that they have satisfied all of the general requirements of the award.
Specific minimum requirements:
Credit points
100 level
200 level
or
300 level
Balance of credit points required:
TOTAL CREDIT POINTS REQUIRED FOR THIS PROGRAM
Qualifying Majors for the Bachelor of Human Sciences
AQF Level | Level 7 Bachelor Degree |
CRICOS Code | 096862D |
Overview and Aims of the Program | This award is an interdisciplinary double degree and is ideal for those who wish to work in the community and allied health sectors with a substantial background in speech, hearing and general linguistics studies and who want to keep their future options of a career/further studies open as they enter their bachelor studies. The four year program combines three years of undergraduate studies in the fields of speech, hearing and language - a pathway into clinical masters programs in Speech Pathology (MSLP) and Audiology (MCAUD) - with a major and potentially a minor in Human Sciences. This combination will provide pathways into a new range of future postgraduate studies and/or career choices for speech and hearing students who do not wish to enter clinical programs post graduation, but who still want to be employed in community based careers. Students in this double degree can choose from any of the available majors in the BHUS but in particular we would expect strong interest in the following three: Communication Disorders, Community Services and Public Health:Policy and Promotion. Throughout the program students will be engaged in an exploration of evidence-based practice in the chosen major in the BHUS alongside their extensive studies in linguistics through the BSpHLSc. In both degrees there is the opportunity for community based experiences through certain targetted PACE units. |
Graduate Capabilities | The Graduate Capabilities Framework articulates the fundamentals that underpin all of Macquarie’s academic programs. It expresses these as follows: Interpersonal or social capabilities |
Program Learning Outcomes | By the end of this program it is anticipated you should be able to: 1. demonstrate a broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of the structure of language, as manifested in the phonetic/phonological, morphological and syntactic systems and be able to apply this knowledge to specific contexts in higher levels of study or in the workplace (K, P, I, L) 2. identify, critically evaluate and apply key knowledge within the linguistic sub-disciplines of sociolinguistics, language acquisition and psycholinguistics, as well as within the related disciplines of psychology and human biology (K, P, T, I, E, J) 3. apply knowledge of speech, hearing and language to problem solving in the areas of typical and disordered communication (K, T, P, I, A, J) ▪4. critically appraise and/or conduct effective analyses of human communication (T, P, C, E, A) 5. demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgment and responsibility in the ethical conduct of scientific research and practices in speech, hearing and language sciences (T, C, E, A, J) 6. communicate, through speaking or writing, knowledge, skills and ideas about speech, hearing and language sciences to a range of audiences including the wider community and in professional settings (T, C, E, J) *These learning outcomes refer to the Bachelor of Speech, Hearing and Language Sciences component only. They must be combined with the outcomes of the qualifying major chosen for the Bachelor of Human Sciences. |
Learning and Teaching Methods | Throughout the Bachelor of Speech, Hearing and Language Sciences program students are encouraged to participate in a wide range of independent and collaborative learning experiences and activities designed to help them develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and techniques required for successful participation in employment or further study in speech, hearing and language sciences. Learning is developmentally structured to steadily encourage independence through activities that build on each other in the progression towards mature and accomplished ability and critical thought. Learning activities are extensive and varied and include a range of formal and informal experiences. All learning activities are supported by an online presence that facilitates web-based group discussion/blogging, communication between staff and students, as well as easy access to multimedia resources and assessment materials. Live and recorded lectures and presentations are complemented by smaller group tutorial and workshop sessions along with independent reading and engagement with learning materials. Lecture format may be used to present important concepts in a didactic way while still providing opportunities for students to interact with senior teaching staff in a large-group forum. Most lectures are recorded for student convenience and are structured with additional small-group activities and targeted self-study activities in mind. Small group activities consolidate materials presented in more formal settings and encourage further independent and collaborative exploration of concepts and ideas. In small groups you will learn to critically appraise relevant literature, make evidence based arguments, give and receive feedback, communicate using a range of media, work as part of a team, conduct small research projects, analyse data, and behave ethically. Acquisition of skills essential to speech, hearing and language sciences is fundamental to the program. Skill development occurs in a supportive and collaborative environment facilitated through the small group format by providing opportunities for group discussion, problem-based learning, focus on analysis techniques, and skills practice. Skill acquisition requires structured experiences with real-world language problems and data collected from a variety of sources. These include direct observations of language and text-based corpora through to physiological and acoustic data captured by state-of-the-art equipment. Laboratory analyses and experiences reinforce the importance of evidence-driven practice and help consolidate concept development through hands-on exploration of data. The program has its foundations in research-based theory and practice and therefore research is integrated into every stage of the program. You will be involved in observing, collecting, analysing language data and presenting your findings using a variety of media. You will also be involved in the research-rich culture of the linguistics department through participation opportunities with research projects that are in progress in the Department. The program is supported throughout by highly experienced teaching staff who are expert researchers in their own field of endeavour. For the Human Sciences component of the double degree, the program develops to allow students to research, analyse and critique academic and other contributions to the discipline of the chosen major. Teaching and learning methods are generally consistent with those used in the Speech, Hearing and Language Sciences component although the latter part of the program also has a focus on in-depth group work where students are able to learn about team work and organisational communication. Toward the end of the program students explore, analyse and apply advanced knowledge to complex problems especially through their Capstone and PACE units through project design, practical tasks or work placements. |
Assessment | Assessment strategies used in both the Bachelor of Speech, Hearing and Language Sciences and the Bachelor of Human Sciences are structured with both formative and summative feedback in mind. with students being presented with multiple opportunities throughout the program to improve their critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication skills. Assessment tasks are designed to provide students with early opportunities to monitor their intellectual and discipline specific progress in the study units and to measure the extent to which students can demonstrate their acquisition of the program learning outcomes. Staff and sometimes peer feedback (either written or verbal) allows students to diagnose and remedy areas for improvement. Later assessment tasks allow the students to research, analyse and critique discipline specific writings and initiatives and asks them also to apply this learning to specific issues or challenges in their discipline field. As such, the assessment of learning and for learning take place across the program. Students also participate as a research subject as a component of first year Linguistics and Psychology units. All units in the double degree involve summative assessment from which final grades are obtained, but students also participate in extensive formative assessment – receiving feedback that should help identify areas of strength and weakness, thereby giving them the opportunity to improve their performance in subsequent tasks. For instance, formative feedback is given in most first year level units by means of a short and comparatively risk free task such as a short essay where your academic literacy skills are examined, a quiz to check your understanding of concepts, or a skill based task to identify areas that need extra practice. At second and third year levels, formative feedback may take the form of nested assessment tasks, peer reviewed activities, and skill practice which, in combination with a more substantial summative assessment such as a longer assignment or examination, provide a set of results that allow for your final grade to be calculated. In each unit of study the Unit Guide will set out clearly what is assessed, how it will be assessed and the weighting of each task. The standards and criteria associated with each assessment task are advertised along with the detailed instructions for task completion. Across the four years of the program, assessment methods will usually include: - Web-based quizzes - Essays, critical reviews and research reports of various lengths and complexity - Class presentations, both group and individual - Conducting laboratory language data analysis - Describing language data using established theory-driven techniques - Literature reviews and critical analysis of issues in their discipline of specialisation - Designing and/or conducting independent or collaborative research projects using language data to explore interesting theoretical questions - Multiple-choice tests and exams - Essay and short-answer-based exams - Designing experiments or health initiatives - Conducting individual and group-based psychological research projects - Evaluating and/or applying policy or health -based initiatives - Posting blogs or participating in other kinds of online activities - Placement and reflective project report (PACE unit) |
Recognition of Prior Learning | Macquarie University may recognise prior formal, informal and non-formal learning for the purpose of granting credit towards, or admission into, a program. The recognition of these forms of learning is enabled by the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy (see www.mq.edu.au/policy) and its associated Procedures and Guidelines. The RPL pages contain information on how to apply, links to registers, and the approval processes for recognising prior learning for entry or credit. Information can be found at: https://mq.edu.au/rpl |
Support for Learning | Macquarie University aspires to be an inclusive and supportive community of learners where all students are given the opportunity to meet their academic and personal goals. The University offers a comprehensive range of free and accessible student support services which include academic advice, counselling and psychological services, advocacy services and welfare advice, careers and employment, disability services and academic skills workshops amongst others. There is also a bulk billing medical service located on campus. |
Program Standards and Quality | The program is subject to an ongoing comprehensive process of quality review in accordance with a pre-determined schedule that complies with the Higher Education Standards Framework. The review is overseen by Macquarie University's peak academic governance body, the Academic Senate and takes into account feedback received from students, staff and external stakeholders. |
Graduate Destinations and Employability | The Bachelor of Speech, Hearing and Language Sciences component of this double degree can provide students with a pathway into clinical speech pathology or audiology masters programs in order to become clinicians in those fields. The advantage of combination with the Bachelor of Human Sciences is that it can keep student options open and equip them for careers in a variety of other health-related occupations such as community development, health advocacy, language/health/NDIS policy and planning, and health promotion. Students in this program must complete a PACE unit as part of their general degree requirements; careful choice of that PACE unit and the placement within it will help to make students work-ready for a variety of careers within the community services sector. |
Assessment Regulations | This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules visit www.mq.edu.au/policy. |
Accreditation | This is an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited qualification. |
Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or program necessary for a student to successfully achieve the core learning outcomes of a course or program. Students must meet the inherent requirements to complete their Macquarie University course or program.
Inherent requirements for Macquarie University programs fall under the following categories:
Physical: The physical inherent requirement is to have the physical capabilities to safely and effectively perform the activities necessary to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.
Cognition: The inherent requirement for cognition is possessing the intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative capabilities to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.
Communication: The inherent requirement for communication is the capacity to communicate information, thoughts and ideas through a variety of mediums and with a range of audiences.
Behavioural: The behavioural inherent requirement is the capacity to sustain appropriate behaviour over the duration of units of study to engage in activities necessary to undertake the learning activities and achieve the learning outcomes of an award.
For more information see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/inherent-requirements