The academisation of speech therapy in Germany has long been an objective to the professional group of speech therapists. Due to the model clause introduced in 2009 an important step in the direction of the elementary academisation of speech therapy was set. Beside the existing additive courses, in the near future there will be in Germany the opportunity to study speech therapy at a college or university. This is offered at  Präha school in Dusseldorf and the SWS Seminargesellschaft  für Wirtschaft und Soziales mbH in cooperation with the Hogeschool Zuyd. Students will study the first three years in Dusseldorf or Schwerin and the fourth year in Heerlen, Netherlands. The first three years are finishes with the degree of a state-certified speech therapist. If desired, in the fourth year students can acquire the internationally recognized bachelor title in Heerlen.

Advantages of the bachelor's degree

• Expansion of specialist skills and health science competences
• Achievement of an internationally recognized academic degree (Bachelor)
• Access to academic further qualifications such as the European Master's degree in universities (e.g. in Nijmegen or Aachen)
• Improved job opportunities, both in Germany and on the international market
• Improved career opportunities, opening of other activities such as research and teaching and leadership roles

Concept and objectives of the fourth year in Heerlen

Custom work, learning skills and international orientation are our key principles. We adapt to the personality, capacities and ambitions of our students. This means we take into account their previous knowledge, experiences and ideas individually. This also means that the system structure is adjustable and that this structure for each student can be different. Our competence-oriented study program provides room for flexibility, individuality and international priorities. There will be studying in small groups or individually. We train you to be a speech therapist that is confident about her/his knowledge and is able to assert herself/himself at the university level.

Structure

The degree course consists of four so called lines. Each of these lines focuses on a special subject within the course of study.

Line 1: Science Competencies (40 ECs, European Credits^*))

You will acquire the basic skills of scientific work, preparing for the writing of the bachelor thesis. Contents are:

• Statistics and Methodology (15 ECs)
• Writing a bibliography (dealing with international literature and international databases; 5 ECs)
• Writing of bachelor thesis (20 ECs)

Line 2: Job-specific skills (35 ECs)

This line consists of a compulsory part (teaching and business administration) and an arbitrary part (individual study option). In didactics (10 ECs) not only basic skills are taught, but also modern forms of teaching, like the problem-oriented learning or competence-oriented learning are treated. The area of ??business administration (10 ECs) in particular focuses on management processes, but also the team coaching in priority. Furthermore, the students have the opportunity to specialize in a freely chosen area (individual study option, 15 ECs). As part of the study support the opportunity will be discussed to fill in the individual study space. Besides speech therapy specific electives in English language, we have a wide selection of electives, which can be taken in Dutch. As part of the individual study area students may also search for specific programs abroad (e.g. Germany) or at other universities. Mainly, the student should be encouraged to specialize in the area that is close to his heart.

Line 3: Practical skills (15 ECs)

Requirements in this line are for example writing a theoretically sound and evidence-based treatment plan. Priority is given to examining critically, which evidence-based therapies are in the speech therapy field. This researched therapies from international databases must be applied to a specific case.

Line 4: Study Support

Another essential part of the course is the study support. During the study students will be supported by a lecturer. In consultation with the lecturer the possibilities for the student’s future career will be discussed (see line 2: "Individual study space ").

Language

German
Some courses and parts of the literature are in English

Study place

Hogeschool Zuyd, Heerlen, Netherlands (about ten miles from Aachen)

Anschrift

Hogeschool Zuyd, Nieuw Eyckholt 300, 6419 DJ Heerlen, Niederlande
Sekretariat Logopädie Tel.: +31 (0)45 - 400 63 82
www.hszuyd.nl/aufbaustudium


*) The Hogeschool Zuyd takes part in the European Credit Transfer System. Since the introduction of the Bachelor/Master degree the study progress is expressed with the help of the international ECTS. Thus international study programs are comparable. An EC stands for 28 study hours (including self-study and contact hours). 60 ECs are for one academic year. A study point is called an EC (European Credit).