Acquired Communication Disorders

Course description

This course is for speech and language therapists/pathologists, linguists, psychologists or others with a relevant background who have an interest in acquired communication disorders such as aphasia, dysarthria and the communication difficulties secondary to dementia or traumatic brain injury.

The course will develop your knowledge and skills of evidence-based practice so that you can effectively support people with acquired speech, language and communication difficulties.

You’ll have the opportunity to take part in a range of clinical observations with speech and language therapy clients (adults and children) throughout the course.

The MSc will provide you with an up-to-date understanding of the main theoretical and clinical issues and approaches in this field and the implications of these findings for clinical intervention.

What will you learn?

On the course you’ll develop:

• an understanding of current research and recent clinical developments within acquired speech and language disorders, including aphasia, dysarthria, and the communication difficulties associated with dementia and traumatic brain injury
• an understanding of both impairment-focused analytic approaches to these disorders, including neuropsychological and psycholinguistic perspectives, and functional approaches, including communicative, psychosocial and interactional perspectives
• knowledge of current intervention methods in the treatment of acquired communication disorders that draw on both impairment-focused and functionally-focused approaches
• competency in quantitative and qualitative research design and methods relevant to analysing and carrying out intervention for these disorders

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Modules

Core modules

PGCert

• Acquired Language Disorders
• Acquired Speech Disorders
• Methods in Clinical Linguistics
• Developing an Evidence Base for Practice

PGDip

• Same four modules as for the PGCert
• Research Methods A
• Research Methods B

MSc

• Same four modules as for the PGCert
• Research Methods A
• Research Methods B
• Dissertation/Evaluation of Clinical Practice

Optional modules

Students on the PGDip and MSc also take optional modules, from a range offered both within the department and across other departments in the University.

Teaching

• Online course material.
• Four study blocks of two or three days are held throughout the year. Attendance at study blocks is normally compulsory. During study blocks, students take part in lectures, tutorials and practical workshops. However, students who are not based in the UK, or who have special circumstances, might not need to attend study blocks. 

Assessment

All modules are assessed by written work.

Duration

MSc: 1 year full-time or 2/3 years part-time by distance learning
Postgraduate Diploma: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time by distance learning
Postgraduate Certificate: 1 year part-time by distance learning

Your career

Graduates continue to develop their career both within the NHS and the private sector, as well as going on to specialise as speech and language therapists. Some graduates have alternatively gone onto further PhD training in clinical research.

Entry requirements

At least a 2:1 degree in a relevant discipline such as speech and language therapy/pathology, linguistics, education or psychology.

Overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component, or equivalent.