About Clinical Speech and Language Studies (Dysphagia), Graduate Diploma - at Trinity College Dublin
This part-time course offers clinicians an opportunity to develop specialist skills in eating, drinking and swallowing disorders in both adult and paediatric populations. The Postgraduate Diploma course takes place over one academic year. The M.Sc. course extends over a further year. Courses are timetabled to facilitate clinicians in employment. Students must register for either the Diploma or M.Sc. at the time of registration.
Course StructureDuring the first year of the course, students will attend intensively taught modules in dysphagia, along with common modules in disability issues, counselling, statistics, medico-legal issues and ethics. There will be a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice throughout the modules. 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. Students registering for the M.Sc. course will complete a research methods module, an advanced specialist module in dysphagia, as well as a major research component, leading to a dissertation.
The course will use a combination of teaching styles with directed and self-directed distance learning and problem based learning approaches. All prospective students should ensure that they have use of a computer with easy access to the Internet.
Assessment
Students' knowledge base in eating, drinking and swallowing disorders will be evaluated according to performance on class work, clinical skills and coursework. Course work will include video analysis and case studies. Students must pass all components of the course to be allowed to progress to Year 2 of the M.Sc. course, or to be issued with a Postgraduate Diploma in Dysphagia.
Admission RequirementsEligible candidates should hold at least an upper second class honours degree in Clinical Speech & Language Studies, or an equivalent qualification in Speech & Language Therapy.
