Trinity College Dublin - Clinical Speech and Language Studies (Dysphagia)

Course Overview/Contact:

This one year part-time course offers qualified Speech and Language Therapists who already have a license to practise an opportunity to develop specialist skills in all aspects of dysphagia (swallowing disorders) in both adult and paediatric populations. Classes are timetabled to facilitate Speech and Language Therapists in employment and overseas students. 

The course comprises core modules on dysphagia incorporating basic research methods, evidence based practice, counselling, therapy processes and reflective practice. Students must also complete 80 hours of clinical practice.  Those students who have not completed a qualifying course in dysphagia must complete an additional one week introductory course and undertake a minimum of 40 hours supervised clinical work in dysphagia (with experienced supervisors to be recognised by the Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies at Trinity College Dublin). Students are expected to organise these clinical hours prior to registration on the course.  Students should ensure that proposed supervisors have been agreed with the Department.

Please note, this programme may not be offered unless a minimum of five applications are received.

Course Options:

1 Year Part Time

Course Url

www.tcd.ie/slscs/postgraduate/taught-courses/dysphagia/

Course Coordinator

Dr Margaret Walshe

Telephone Number

+353-1-896 1496

Course Email

cslspostgraduate@tcd.ie

Next Intake

September 2017

Closing Date

31st March 2017

Programme Content:

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this programme, Graduates will be able to:

1. extend and enhance their existing theoretical knowledge base in  dysphagia (eating, drinking and swallowing disorders) across the lifespan with a critical awareness of new insights and developments within the field.
2. apply their knowledge and comprehension of dysphagia as well as their critical awareness and problem solving skills to further the development of their professional clinical skills in dysphagia.
3. demonstrate application of models of disability and specific counseling approaches to the management of dysphagia in the clinical context. 
4. apply their existing scientific literacy skills to clinical practice in dysphagia.
5. critically reflect on the literature on dysphagia and interpret the contribution of existing insights and new developments to evidence-based practice,
6. demonstrate coherent and detailed knowledge of service delivery policies while reflecting on social, legal and ethical responsibilities and their application to practice.
7. communicate confidently with their peers and the wider scholarly community and with society in general about their area of expertise, 
8. sustain intellectual interest and critical thinking as mature professionals through application of scientific literacy skills in the pursuit of lifelong learning.

Course Structure

Students registering for the Postgraduate Diploma will need to attend an introductory course in dysphagia if they have not completed a course in this area already. In addition to the specialist module in dysphagia, students also attend 4 core modules , incorporating research methods, evidence based practice, reflective practice in dysphagia assessment and management. Students must undertake to arrange and participate in supervised practical work in dysphagia. Exemptions will be made for students who have already completed a recognised introductory course in dysphagia.

Entry Requirements:

Eligible candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma course should hold at least an upper second class honors degree in Clinical Speech and Language Studies or an equivalent qualification in Speech and Language Therapy. Previous clinical experience in dysphagia is taken into consideration. Students for whom English is not a first language must obtain a minimum IELTS score (academic version) of 6.5 with no individual band below 6.5.