Masters in Speech & Cleft (SPACL) PG Diploma/ MSc

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Study mode: Either Full Time OR Part Time by Distance Learning

Duration: Full-time - MSc / PGDip 1 year; Part-time - PGDip 2 years; MSc 2 or 3 years

Why choose the Speech & Cleft course at Sheffield?

The SPACL postgraduate programme is the only one of its kind in the UK. It was launched in September 2006 on the basis of the successful Post-Graduate Certificate in Cleft Palate Studies and the demand for further modules in developmental speech difficulties. The programme gives comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the impact of cleft and speech difficulties on an individual across the lifespan. Client groups considered will include those with cleft palate; phonological impairment / disorder; childhood apraxia of speech / developmental verbal dyspraxia; dysarthria. The MSc SPACL is a multi-disciplinary programme, taught by experts in the fields of speech and language therapy, phonetics and linguistics, psychology, education, and computer sciences.

The programme is particularly suitable for speech and language therapists who specialise (or wish to develop a specialism) in cleft palate and developmental speech difficulties, and for graduates of other disciplines (e.g. linguistics, psychology, education, and speech/computer sciences) who have a background in phonetics. It provides research training and is a good basis for an MPhil/PhD. The department is recognised by the ESRC as a research training outlet.

Students can begin with the PG Certificate in Cleft Palate Studies and transfer to the PG Diploma or MSc.
More information about the PG Certificate in Cleft Palate Studies is available here

This programme does NOT provide a professionally accredited qualification in speech and language therapy.

Programme Outline

The course is offered on a full time or part time basis, over the full calendar year.
Students can enrol on the PG Diploma (120 credits) or MSc (180 credits). Students may transfer from one course to the other in the summer of each year.

Aims and Objectives

• To provide an engaging and stimulating learning environment that includes high-quality learning resources and a curriculum based on current research and scholarship;
• To foster in students a comprehensive, detailed and in-depth understanding of cleft lip and palate and developmental speech difficulties and their impact on an individual within social, educational and health contexts;
• To provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to observe and analyse human behaviours associated with cleft lip and palate and with developmental speech difficulties;
• To provide the educational base for professional work in the field of cleft lip and palate care and developmental speech difficulties;
• To equip students with the academic and professional skills needed to foster a positive attitude towards lifelong learning

Curriculum

PG Diploma / MSc

• Cleft Lip & Palate: A Multidisciplinary Approach
• Cleft Lip & Palate: Velopharyngeal Structure & Function
• Cleft Lip & Palate: Speech Assessment
• Cleft Lip & Palate: Intervention & Service Provision
• Speech Difficulties 1 : Nature and Investigation
• Speech Difficulties 2 : Intervention & Management
• Research Methods

MSc students, in addition:

• Dissertation

More details of the course structure and curriculum are available in the Course Outline

Modules are also available for individual study. For more information see here.

Assessment methods

All modules are assessed by written work.

Teaching Methods

• Online course material
• Study block attendance with lectures, tutorials and practical workshops

6 Study blocks of 2 or 3 days are held throughout the year. Attendance at study blocks is normally compulsory. However, students who are based out of the UK, or who have special circumstances, may be able to be exempted.

Key teaching staff

The following staff contribute to teaching on this programme: Professor Joy Stackhouse, Professor Bill Wells, Dr Sara Howard, Dr Debbie Sell, Dr Anne Harding-Bell.

What our students say about our courses.

• Click here to read what our students say about our courses

Entry requirements

Applicants will normally have a good BA or BSc degree (1st class, upper 2nd or equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as Speech and Language Therapy/Pathology, Linguistics, Education, Psychology or Computer Sciences. A background in phonetics is necessary for some modules.

For students who do not have English as a first language, the English language requirement is an IELTS average score of 7 with no component less than 6, or the equivalent.

Fees and Funding

More information about fees is available here

Funding is available for employees of the Yorkshire and the Humber and East Midlands NHS.

Funding for international students.
There are scholarships available for some nonUK, nonEU students who are studying either full-time or part-time masters programmes at Sheffield.
For more information go to: http://www.shef.ac.uk/international/enquiry/money/pg and look at information for your country.

Closing Date for applications

The course commences in mid-September of each year.
Applications will usually be considered up until 31st July in each year.

How to apply

You can apply online here

For more information contact

• Professor Bill Wells 0114 2222429
• Ms Kathryn Sharpe Programme Secretary, Tel:0114 2222402
• Admissions Secretary, Tel: 0114 2222405

University of Sheffield, Dept of Human Communication Sciences, 31 Claremont Crescent,
Sheffield, S10 2TA