LOGOPEDIA (ABILITANTE ALLA PROFESSIONE SANITARIA DI LOGOPEDISTA) Degree Programme Profile
Basic Information
Qualification awarded
Bachelor Degree in LOGOPEDIA (ABILITANTE ALLA PROFESSIONE SANITARIA DI LOGOPEDISTA)
Qualification Type/Level
EHEA First cycle; EQF Level 6
Number of Years/credits
3 years; 180 ECTS
Mode of Study
Full-Time/Part-Time*
*All Degree Programmes are planned and organised for full-time students. It is possible, however (without special arrangements), to proceed through the course of study at one's own pace. This makes it possible, if necessary, to accommodate employment or other non-university activities or obligations.
Name of the Course Director and other contact information
President of the Degree Course Council:
Prof. FRANCESCA FORLI
Email francesca.forli@unipi.it
Department of DIPARTIMENTO DI PATOLOGIA CHIRURGICA, MEDICA, MOLECOLARE E DELL'AREA CRITICA
Internationalization Coordinator (CAI):
Prof. Gianfranco Natale
Email gianfranco.natale@med.unipi.it
Language of Teaching
Italian
Admission Requirements
Formal Requirements
Certificate of completion of Italian upper secondary school or equivalent foreign qualification.
Possible assessment prior knowledge and competences
Obligatory selective/competitive entrance exam (numerus clausus).
Required knowledge and competences support programmes
Students who do not pass the entrance exam are required to take specific courses and/or complete extra reading to prepare for the programme.
General Information
Programme Profile
The Bachelor Degree in Speech Therapy prepares healthcare workers who have to carry out their activities in the prevention and rehabilitation of pathology of speech and communication of developmental, adult and elderly age. The activity of speech therapists is dedicated to the rehabilitation of all pathologies which lead to vocal and speech disorders, both verbal and written, and verbal communication handicap. Speech therapists work in collaboration with physicians in a multidisciplinary team elaborating strategies to individuate and overcame these disabilities. Their therapeutic approach is based on strategies which allow the rehabilitation of speech suggesting aids, teaching their use and, finally, verifying the efficacy of the therapeutic intervention. Their professional activity can be carried out in public as well as private healthcare structures.
Key Learning Outcomes
Graduates in Speech Therapy will be able to acquire::
- knowledge of preparatory sciences, basic, biomedical, and psychological statistics: to know the biological processes, mechanisms of organ and apparatus functions, psychomotor and cognitive development, physiological and pathophysiological phenomena, also in correlation with psychological and social diseases.
- Deep knowledge of speech therapy sciences: to identify the necessary preventive and rehabilitative needs of the subject through the evaluation of clinical data in cognitive and functional fields, for extent and significance of the symptoms; to understand the basis of pathological processes which focus on the rehabilitative and/or therapeutic, in age adolescents, adults and geriatric develop better therapeutic approaches, technical and methodological issues for the resolution of the patient's health; to acquire the basics scientific and functional alterations of the general and specific rehabilitative methods in the various specialist areas (e.g., neurology, pediatrics, neuropsychiatry, and audiology); to design and test intervention speech therapy using objective measurement criteria, such as diagnostic tests, therapeutic procedures in relation to the directions and recommendations of the doctor.
- Interdisciplinary sciences and medical surgical: to acquire knowledge of the pathophysiology of various clinical situations, including diagnostic parameters.
- knowledge of health Sciences and health services: to acquire skills in analyzing individual and/or community health problems and the responses of the healthcare and social-welfare services to the major needs of the citizens.
- knowledge of health Management Sciences: to acquire skills in analyzing the organization of the rehabilitation activities by establishing priorities, appropriateness and use of resources available or by delegating tasks to competence employees, by working in a team, to ensure healthcare continuity and quality.
- Ability to English
Occupational Profile/s of Graduates
The speech therapist takes care with the prevention, assessment and rehabilitation of congenital and acquired abnormalities, in children, adults and elderly, of
- voice
- swallowing
- linguistic-communicative functions, related to both oral and written language
Access to further study
The Laurea Degree in SPEECH THERAPY normally gives direct access to the corresponding Second Cycle degree programme. It also gives access to some other Second Cycle degree programmes, in which case extra work may be necessary for admission.
Assessment methods, examination regulations, and grading
Assessment is normally by means of an oral or written examination; in some cases there are intermediate exams during the course; other elements (participation in discussion, written or oral reports, commentary of texts etc. ) are foreseen in specific course units and are described in the Course Unit Profiles.
The grading system for the course units consists of 30 possible points, plus 'lode' (cum laude) in case of excellence. Marks are given by the lecturer based on the performance as ascertained in a public examination by a board of at least two teachers. The main exam sessions are held in June/July; September; and January; students may resit exams**.
Actual grading curves differ in different degree programmes. The University of Pisa provides an ECTS Grading Table, which shows the actual distribution, of the examination and final grades among students for each degree programme, in order to facilitate the comparison with other grading systems. ---> Link to ECTS Grading Table
An overall mark is given on the occasion of the 'Final Exam', when a written research text is presented and discussed. The final overall mark is calculated based on the results of the marks obtained in the single course units and the final exam, and is based on 110 possible points, with the possible further mention of honours ("lode" or cum laude).
**The exam sessions are organised into sessions (the dates vary according to the Department and are published in the Department's academic calendar). In each session there are a certain number of 'appelli' [calls], or dates on which the examination for each course unit may be taken. The 'appelli' are fixed by the teacher. The students choose which of the appelli they wish to respond to. In most cases, it is obligatory to sign up before the specified date.
Requirements (regulations) to obtain the qualification
The final exam, for which 6 ECTS are expected, will consist in
- a practical exam (discussion of a written text on a clinical case) aimed to demonstrate the professional skills acquired from the candidate in the rehabilitation techniques
- a discussio