MASTER´S DEGREE IN SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY

Speech-Language Therapy (SLT) is a field under the scope of Communication Sciences and Disorders, an area in full growth at an international level, with expanding knowledge that brings new demands to speech therapists. Scientific development has allowed progress towards evidence-based professional practices. Therefore, it is essential that all professionals monitor the profession's evolution and contribute to its growth, regardless of their previous experience and areas of specialization.

At P.Porto Health School we train Speech Therapists since 1981. The Master's Degree in Speech-Language Therapy, in operation since 2017, is an academic training of 90 ECTS (3 academic semesters) which aims to foster a profile with a deeper understanding of noble areas of SLT without forgetting the various roles that Speech-Language Therapists have been called to play in the various contexts where they currently work. Among the various areas of SLT professional practice, this curriculum explores three main areas of investment:

- Analysis and supervision of professional practices - Intends to respond to the needs of speech therapists with more years of professional experience, who collaborate in the training of young professionals;

- Advanced Practices in Speech - Intends to integrate the most current knowledge in the area of Speech, considering the evolution of the profession in terms of oral motor disorders, voice disorders and speech sound disorders;

- Advanced Practices in Communication and Language - Intends to deepen methods of integrated analysis of communication and language, as well as intervention skills in the area of specific language impairment.

The philosophy of ESS training was valued in this study plan, with a clear investment in person and family centered practices and reinforcing the modern World Health Organization's paradigms. The plan presented is also characterized by a strong versatile component (15 ECTS), being possible for students to select from several courses at the postgraduate level existing at the Health School, allowing them to invest in areas related to management, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Research is a transversal element of the 3 semesters, culminating in the development of a dissertation, an internship report or an action-research project that allows reflection on current practices and promotes innovative practices.

CURRICULUM

   FIRST YEAR

     1 st  semester

          > Research Methods [10 ECTS]

     2 nd  semester

          > Instruments’ Development and Validation [5 ECTS]

     Anual

          > Person and Family Centered Practices [12 ECTS]

          > Option A [18 ECTS] ( Only one of the 3 courses will be active in each year)

               - Op. 1 – Analysis and supervision of professional practices

               - Op. 2 – Advanced practices in Speech

               - Op. 3 – Advanced practices in Communication and Language

          > Option B [15 ECTS] ( Select the needed number of courses until completing the total amount of credits)

              - Seminars in SLT

              - Coaching and Counseling Fundamentals

              - Inovation and Enterpreneurship in SLT

              - Didactics, Multimedia and Telehealth

              - Other courses from P.Porto Health School

   SECOND YEAR

     1 st  semester

          > Dissertation / Project / Internship report [30 ECTS] ( Students may do this course in international mobility)

Observations:

- This degree is entirely lectured in Portuguese language

- All the classes are presential and synchronous

- All assessments are defined by the Course Syllabus according to ESS-P.Porto regulations