Program Overview
The Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) program at
Dar Al-Hekma University was developed in the year 2009 to cater to a significant percentage of speech-language and hearing-impaired individuals of Arab descent living in metropolitan areas throughout the world. The demand for speech-language pathologists is predicted to grow internationally, regionally, and in Saudi Arabia throughout 2028 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020), making the employment outlook very strong. More specifically, and in response to the 2030 Saudi Vision, the Ministry of Health is vigorously working on securing jobs for Saudi graduates in the health sector for the coming ten (10) years. This is a significant move towards investing in this vital sector that has graduates from local and international universities. Speech-language pathologists work in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, and early intervention programs.
The program also intends to create more job opportunities in the health or education sectors for females in the western region, thus enhancing the role of Saudi women in improving the quality of life of the community. From a cultural perspective, some families continue to engage in practices based on strict tribal or family lineage. Consequently, it is thought that intermarriage is linked to a large number of communication disorders found in Arab communities. Economic disparity, limited access to services, lack of trained native Arab speech-language and hearing specialists, and limited educational support systems result in large numbers of underserved, communicatively impaired individuals in the Arab world specifically in Saudi Arabia. Thus, there is a considerable need for the specialization of speech, language, and Hearing Sciences in order to increase the number of trained native Arab speech-language and hearing specialists and improve the quality of life for communicatively impaired individuals. Furthermore, the national policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia advocates and mandates the need to serve special needs students in regular classroom programs. To develop, expand, and enhance students’ knowledge in speech and language sciences, the University offers a
master’s degree in speech and language pathology.
Program Mission
To graduate professionals in the field of speech-language pathology to provide quality services for individuals with communication challenges in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Program Goals
- Prepare students to meet the international standards for certification and Saudi Commission for Health Specialties Licensure in speech-language pathology.
- Provide students with clinical practicum experiences to meet the labor market and the Saudi community demands in medical facilities, clinical centers, and other private settings.
- Provide students with real-life case studies and experiences to foster ethical knowledge and conduct in clinical practices when dealing with individuals with who have language, communication, and hearing disorders.
- Provide students with state-of-the-art clinical laboratory facilities to promote their clinical and research-related skills.
Why choose this Bachelor program at Dar Al-Hekma University?
- Dar Al-Hekma (DAH) is the first university in the western region of Saudi Arabia that offers a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
- The program emphasizes training and competency in both English and Arabic. This empowers student clinicians to become bilingual practitioners who can provide clinical services in both English and Arabic.
- The SLHS program operates a Speech and Hearing Clinic at the University, which facilitates learning in an experimental setting that mimics real-life clinical experiences. The clinic serves the DAH community which seeks speech, language, and hearing services for children, adolescents, and adults with various communication problems.
- The SLHS curriculum is designed to include both theory and hands-on practice. Students must complete two (2) practicum experiences over two (2) semesters under the supervision of qualified clinical supervisors with credentials from the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and holders of the certificate of clinical competence (CCC).
- The SLHS program employs modern and creative teaching methods and learning strategies, such as case simulations, student-centered learning, blended learning, and project-based learning.
- The students have the opportunity to participate in various national and international conferences.
Admission Requirements
Programs
| Linguaskill Score
| Required Certificate Percentage
| Qudurat Test Score
| Othe Admission Requirement
|
|---|
Bachelor of Science in Speech,
Language and Hearing Sciences
| 162
| 80%
| 65%
| Pass Interview
|
For further details about admissions, click here
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
Knowledge
- Explain concepts, theories, and findings relevant to human communication disorders to meet the international standards and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties certifications.
Skills
- Demonstrate competency in clinical skills in working with individuals with language, hearing and communication disorders in different settings.
- Apply appropriate assessment tools to diagnose and identify language, communication, and hearing disorders.
- Utilize advanced techniques to evaluate and analyze data to make informed decisions about language, communication, and hearing disorders.
Values
- Demonstrate ethical knowledge and conduct with issues and practices that are relevant to professional interaction and scientific research.
- Design evidence-based intervention programs and plans for individuals with language, communication, and hearing disorders.
Plan of Study
|
Year One |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
| BIOL 1301 | Human Biology | 3
| SLHS 1302 | Speech and Language
Development | 3 |
| PSYC 1301 | Human Development | 3 | SLHS 1304 | Speech Science | 3 |
| SLHS 1301 | Introduction to Communication
Disorders | 3 | SLHS 1305 | Phonetic Transcription
and Phonology | 3 |
| SLHS 1303 | Introduction to
Linguistics | 3 | LOGC 1201 | Logic and Problem
Solving | 2 |
| ISLS xxxx | Islamic Studies | 3 | ICTC 1301 | Information and Communication
Technology | 3 |
| BBBF 1101 | Basic Body and
Brain Fitness | 1 | COMM 1301 | Communication Skills I | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
16 |
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
|
Year Two |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
| SLHS 2302 | Anatomy and Physiology of Speech
and Hearing Mechanisms | 3 | SLHS 2201 | Professional Aspects and Ethics of
Speech Pathology and Audiology | 2 |
| SLHS 2304 | Introduction to Clinical Practice | 3 | SLHS 2303 | Neurological Bases of Speech,
Language and Hearing | 3 |
| SLHS 2305 | Research Methods in Communication
Sciences and Disorders | 3 | EDUC 2304 | Behavior Management:
Theory and Practice | 3 |
| SLHS 2307 | Introduction to Audiology | 3 | SLHS 2306 | Developmental Language
Disorders | 3 |
| ARAB XXXX | Arabic Studies | 3 | SLHS 2308 | Clinical Management of
Communication Disorders | 3 |
| COMM 1302 | Communication Skills II | 3 | EMOI 1201 | Emotional Intelligence | 2 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 |
Total Credit Hours |
16 |
|
Year Three |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
| SLHS 3307 | Articulation and Phonological
Disorders | 3 | SLHS 3311 | Neurogenic Communication
Disorders | 3 |
| SLHS 3308 | Fluency Disorders | 3 | SLHS 3312 | Voice Disorders | 3 |
| SLHS 3309 | Statistics in Communication
Sciences and Disorders | 3 | XXXX xxxx | Program Elective | 3 |
| SLHS 3310 | Practicum I | 3 | ENTR 3301 | Entrepreneurship and
Design Thinking | 3 |
| ARTS xxxx | Arts and Design | 2 | ISLS xxxx | Islamic Studies | 2 |
| XXXX xxxx | Required General Education
Electives (HUMN, NASC,SBSC) | 3 | XXXX xxxx | Required General Education
Electives (HUMN, NASC,SBSC) | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
Total Credit Hours |
17 |
|
Year Four |
|---|
|
Semester – Fall |
Semester – Spring |
|---|
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
Course Code |
Course Title |
Credit
Hours |
| SLHS 4201 | Counseling in Communication
Sciences and Disorders | 3 | SLHS 4601 | Practicum II | 6 |
| SLHS 4303 | Introduction to Augmentative and
Alternative Communication | 3 | ISLS XXXX
| Islamic Studies | 3 |
| SLHS 4304 | Audiological Rehabilitation | 3 | XXXX xxxx | Free Electives | 3 |
| SLHS 4305 | Prevention: Early Intervention in
Communication Disorders | 3 |
| ARAB xxxx | Arabic Studies | 3 |
| XXXX xxxx | Free Electives | 3 |
|
Total Credit Hours |
18 |
Total Credit Hours |
12 |
Career Prospects
The program equips students with the necessary skills that qualify them for a variety of career paths/jobs in the market including, but not limited to:
- Speech-language pathologist.
- Speech-language pathology assistant.
- Teaching assistant at a Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Program.
- SLHS graduates can also apply for graduate studies in several fields.
