Undergraduate study of Speech and Language Pathology

The holder of the undergraduate study of Speech and Language Pathology:
Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Zagreb

Executors of the undergraduate study of Speech and Language Pathology:

• Department of Speech and Language Pathology
• Department of Hearing Impairments

Head of the undergraduate study of Speech and Language Pathology: Prof. Mirjana Lenček, PhD; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Duration of the study: three academic years or 6 semesters

ECTS: 180

Professional title: Bachelor in Speech and Language Pathology (BA)

The undergraduate study of Speech and Language Pathology has been taught since the academic year of 2005/2006. The Ministry of Science, Education and Sport of the Republic of Croatia issued the accreditation for conducting this programme on June 18, 2004, and the license on June 16, 2005. Since the academic year of 2010/2011 it is taught according to the updated programme.

The holder of this degree is authorized to perform professional work in the area of his/her academic degree. The programme of study is based on the basic knowledge of disorders in human communications, including processes and functions linked with acquiring and production of oral, written, and sign language, as well as the forms of supported (augmentative and alternative) communication. Upon the completion of this study, the students have acquired competences enabling them to participate in the habilitation and/or rehabilitation of spoken, written, or sign language, and supported (augmentative and alternative) communication as well as the social communication under surveillance of a holder of the MA degree in Speech and Language Pathology.

Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences does not offer full degree study programme of Speech and Language Pathology in English language.

During the study, the student acquires theoretical knowledge of the biological foundations of language and speech, anatomy, physiology, physics of speech and acoustics, and the basic knowledge from the field of biomedical sciences, such as neurology, otolaryngology, psychiatry, ortodontics, audiology, phoniatrics, and genetics.

The students also acquire basic knowledge of linguistics (phonetics/phonology, semantics, lexis, morphology/syntax and pragmatics), psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, and basic knowledge of psychology (developmental, clinical, cognitive, and social), sociology, and pedagogy.

This level of study of speech and language pathology covers fundamental theoretical knowledge of developmental and acquired speech and language disorders including the following: 

• motoric disorders
• voice disorders
• speech fluency disorders
• feeding and swallowing disorders
• disorders of reading, writing, and mathematics disorders
• learning difficulties
• disorders of the autistic spectrum
• emotional-behavioural communication disorders
• neuro-degenerative disorders
• supported (augmentative and alternative) communication
• hearing impairments

Upon the completion of the undergraduate study, the student acquires the competences which include the following:

• Providing basic professional information to persons included in habilitation or rehabilitation, their families, and wider environment, as well as to other experts participating in its implementation, according to instructions of a holder of the MA degree in Speech and Language Pathology,

• Conducting activities of screening of human communication disorders, according to instructions of a holder of the MA degree in Speech and Language Pathology,

• Providing support in creation of conditions for encouraging early communication and language-speech development in the preschool system, according to instructions of a holder of the MA degree in Speech and Language Pathology,

• Conducting activities which stimulate the development of communication, language, hearing, and speech skills, and conducting therapeutic tasks in the limited scope, according to instructions and under supervision of a holder of the MA degree in Speech and Language Pathology,

• Providing support within the school system in creation of conditions for the progress of students with learning difficulties and disorders, notably in reading, writing, and mathematics, according to instructions of a holder of the MA degree in Speech and Language Pathology,

• Conducting therapeutic tasks within the school system, aimed at providing help to students with learning difficulties and disabilities, notably in reading, writing, and mathematics, however, in limited scope and according to instructions of a holder of the MA degree in Speech and Language Pathology,

• Individual learning from the relevant literature and participation in carrying out field and simpler professional tasks on scientific and professional projects, promotional campaigns, expert meetings, etc.,

• Searching the literature, databases, and other sources of information,

• Highly developed awareness on professional ethics and responsibilities in the practice of speech and language pathology, readiness for participating in lifelong learning and recognizing its importance,

• Continuation of studies at the graduate and postgraduate specialist and scientific levels.

Curriculum and programme of the undergraduate study of Speech and Language Pathology (2005.) (.pdf)

ECTS Information Package for the Academic Year 2018/2019 - Undergraduate Study (.pdf)