Program Mission
The Speech and Language Pathology program aims to graduate professionals with the highest level of education and practical skills in the fields of speech and language pathology. Speech-language pathologists address typical and atypical problems in the following areas:
- Swallowing and Feeding (Dysphagia)
- Speech sound production and organization (Articulation, Apraxia of speech, Dysarthria)
- Resonance
- Voice
- Fluency (Stuttering, Cluttering)
- Language (comprehension and expression); Literacy (reading, writing, spelling)
- Prelinguistic communication (e.g., joint attention, intentionality, communicative signaling)
- Cognition (Attention, memory, sequencing, problem solving, executive functioning).
Potential etiologies of communication and swallowing disorders include: neonatal problems, developmental disabilities, auditory problems, oral anomalies, respiratory compromise, pharyngeal anomalies, laryngeal anomalies, neurological disease/dysfunction, psychiatric disorder, and genetic disorders. Graduating with a B.Sc. in Speech and Language Pathology and obtaining the required training will enable our graduates to provide quality services for those with communication, swallowing and hearing challenges in different institutions in the State of Qatar including hospitals, schools, centers for children with disabilities, and private clinics.
Study Plan
Program Vision
The program aligns with Qatar University’s, QU Health’s and the College of Health Sciences’ plans to expand program offerings to include professional programs of international scope and caliber. The program particularly contributes to the growth of the College of Health Sciences by offering undergraduate students opportunities to join the healthcare profession workforce. The program also aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030 for human, social, economic and environmental development as it aims to graduate competent students duly prepared for careers in health science-related disciplines for optimal health care delivery in the State of Qatar.
Program Objectives
The program content is designed to enable students to:
- Demonstrate thorough knowledge of fundamental human communication processes, including the nature of speech, language, and swallowing
- Recognize the cardinal concepts and processes of prevention, assessment, and intervention for individuals with speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders
- Demonstrate dexterity while working with individuals with speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders in the clinical setting
- Construct intervention plans specific to and ideal for individuals with speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders
- Utilize the most suitable diagnostic monitoring techniques, therapy options, and any other relevant processes safely and proficiently
- Compose professional reports for cases of speech, language, communication, and swallowing disorders that can be applied for referral purposes and other similar practices
- Employ essential concepts of evidence-based practices in the practice of assessment and intervention
- Evaluate continuing efficiency of any planned activity and alter as needed
- Critically analyze the standard criteria of each assessment and intervention strategy and determine the most appropriate technique to be adapted for each individual case
Program learning outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Utilize augmentative/alternative communication modalities as part of their professional practice while understanding and applying the core knowledge of speech, language, communication, and swallowing therapy
- Apply speech, language, communication, and swallowing therapy clinical skills in a clinical environment appropriate to the patient's needs
- Analyze clinical problems strategically using critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills
- Provide multidisciplinary team members and the client with appropriate information, ideas, problems, and solutions through various interfacing strategies
- Effectively deliver safe and effective speech, language, communication, and swallowing therapy based on a patient-centered philosophy through collaborative and independent work
- Utilize evidence-based practice and a variety of research methods to provide clinical reasoning, diagnostic testing, prognosis assessments and speech, language, communication, and swallowing therapy management to patients.
- Extend the delivery of speech, language, communication and swallowing therapy services to include health education and promotion of patient conditions
- Exemplify a commitment to continuing education, lifelong learning and research in speech, language, communication and swallowing therapy
- Illustrate social and professional responsibility and ethical behaviors in multi-cultural settings and scenarios.
Employment opportunities
- Hamad Medical Corporation
- Sidra Medicine and Research Centre
- Qatar Foundation (Awsaj Centre)
- Shafallah Centre for Special Needs
- Governmental Schools
- All private Special Education Centres such as Step by Step, Child Development Centre
- All private Speech Therapy Centres such as QISH
- Al-Ahli Hospital
- Al-Emadi Hospital
- International Schools such as Qatar Academy, Al Maha international school, etc.
- Al Noor institute for the Visually Impaired