MSc Audiology

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University of Southampton 1 Programme Specification

Programme Specification

MSc AudiologyThis specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learningoutcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if s/he takesfull advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.

Awarding Institution University of SouthamptonTeaching Institution University of SouthamptonAccreditation details British Academy of Audiology/Faculty of Engineering and the

EnvironmentFinal award MSc, PG Diploma and PG Certificate (Audiology)Name of award AudiologyUCAS code N/A

QAA Subject Benchmark or otherexternal reference N/A

Programme Leader Carl VerschuurDate specification was written 03-11-2010

Educational Aims of the Programme

Introductory statement

The aims of the programme are:

To meet your academic needs for registration as a Clinical or Health Care Scientist (for MSc) inthe field of Audiology (clinical pathway only) or to enable your further professional and scientific

development in Audiology and related healthcare disciplines (non-clinical pathway) To provide you with theoretical background for clinical work or research in Audiology and related

disciplines. To provide you with practical training to underpin the theoretical work and ensure that you have

a basic entry level of skill for in-service training To develop your critical faculties, team working and project management skills by undertaking

extended group problem-solving activities and conducting a substantial individual originalresearch project

The Postgraduate Certificate is suitable for you if you wish to study within the academicdiscipline without full clinical training, group problem-solving activities or research project. TheDiploma is suitable for you if you wish to study within the academic discipline and undertakegroup problem-solving activities and clinical training but do not wish to carry out a researchproject.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this programme you will be able to demonstrate:

A systematic understanding of the physical, physiological and psychophysical bases of hearing andvestibular sciences applicable to audiology and related health care sciences.

A basic understanding of general principles of health care sciences, especially in the broad area ofclinically applied physiology.

Understanding of the main assessment procedures used with adults and children in audiology, theirscientific justification and the corresponding evidence base

Basic understanding of acoustics and instrumentation relevant to audiology and related health caredisciplines.

Appreciation of the difficulties experienced by people with problems of hearing or balance, theirconsequences for everyday living


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Detailed understanding of the main methods for rehabilitation of adults and children with problemsof hearing or balance including their underlying principles and the evidence base to support efficacyof interventions and therapies.

Awareness of common methods of medical and surgical treatment of disorders of hearing andbalance, and their effectiveness.

Basic understanding of research methods applicable to audiology including statistical design andanalysis of experiments involving human subjects.

Understanding of the need for a structured scientific approach to patient examination, assessmentand management; how this may require modification to match individual patients.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Lectures Interactive tutorials Self-directed individual study Problem-based learning based around group tasks in relevant scientific and healthcare topicsAssessment methods

Formative assessment via targeted assignments, on-line quizzes, presentations and computing labwork and via other methods indicated above.

Summative assessment via individual assignments Summative assessment via individual reflective writing Summative assessment of formal examination

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this programme you will be able to:

Approach problem solving by identifying information needs and assembling information fromdifferent sources in order to build a clear overall picture of a complex problem and potentialsolutions, particularly as these related to health care science.

Synthesise and analyse information and ideas and to apply creative and original thought in order topropose appropriate new solutions to complex problems.

Evaluate different types of information critically in a variety of different formats (including patienthistory, individual medical reports, research publications, technical manuals, standards, governmentdocuments), appreciating uncertainty and evaluating risks.

Make use of existing theories and concepts and to be able to apply them independently to newproblems and situations.


Lectures Interactive tutorials Self-directed individual study Problem-based learning based around group tasks in relevant scientific and healthcare topics Computing laboratories Practical teaching sessions Formative teaching clinicsAssessment methods

Formative assessment via targeted assignments, on-line quizzes, presentations and computing labwork and via other methods indicated above.

Summative assessement via individual assignments Summative assessment via individual reflective writing Summative assessment of formal seen and unseen examination Summative assessment of research dissertation and development of project management skills

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this programme you will be able to:


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Be an independent learner. Be able to solve problems. Develop relevant information processing skills (including IT skills) including literature searching,

abstracting documents, and collating information for the purposes of technical writing. Manipulate data (including IT skills), including analysis of data, application of statistical methods

and interpretation of results. Communicate information via oral and written presentation, including scientific writing and

professional interaction with patients. Develop skills in decision-making, initiative-taking, self-motivation and direction, personalresponsibility. Manage your time via safe and effective project planning and execution, time management, group

and team working skills.


Problem-based learning modules, which help to facilitate group working skills. IT and information processing skills will be developed via project work, research methods teaching

and computing lab support to taught modules Information processing skills more generally will be developed through research methods and

project teaching, and via problem-based learning modules Communication skills will be developed via group tutorials, practical skills teaching and interactive

case seminars.

Assessment methods

Formative assessment of assignments, clinics and project development work

Subject Specific Practical Skills

You will be able to: Conduct assessments, observe behaviour and responses, record and interpret data in forms

appropriate to audiological and related healthcare science at a basic level of competence. Make simple informed judgements, give basic practical advice and design practical solutions to

problems in the field of audiology. Communicate results, information and ideas in appropriate formats for audiology or related

healthcare science. Demonstrate professional and inter-professional team working ability in the context of health care.

Programme Structure

The programme consists of taught modules and a research project. Taught modules are further dividedinto foundation sciences and advanced modules, with foundation science modules being pre-requisitesfor advanced modules unless you are exempted through accredited prior learning (see below). Theprogramme can be undertaken full-time or part-time. The minimum time for completion of theprogramme will be one year; the maximum time will be five years. For students undertaking the ScientistTraining Programme, delivery will be over three years. You will undertake foundation sciences modulesfor the Postgraduate Certificate. The Postgraduate Diploma and MSc require you to complete furthertaught modules. The MSc also requires students to complete a research project. Foundation sciencemodules are delivered in parallel during semester 1 (October to January), whereas advanced modules aredelivered separately in short concentrated blocks. Advanced modules may be taken individually byexternal students not registered for an award for continuing professional development or by otherstudents within the University of Southampton subject to resources being available.

For all students, the following four foundation sciences modules must be completed during semester 1.An option of completing these modules over two consecutive years is also offered, although progressionto advanced modules can only be undertaken if these have been completed. For those students whoalready have an undergraduate degree in Audiology from an accredited university distance delivery will beavailable for foundation sciences modules.

1. Physiology and psychology of hearing (7.5 ECTS)2. Pathology and the vestibular system (7.5 ECTS)3. Clinical assessment in audiology (7.5 ECTS)


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4. Principles of auditory rehabilitation (7.5 ECTS)

Additional 7.5 ECTS advanced modules comprise the remainder of the MSc programme. You mustcomplete at least four, including module 5, which is mandatory. These have the following commonelements:

-Modules are open to external students with relevant healthcare backgrounds and marketed accordingly.

-Modules are available either via local or distance delivery (distance delivery will be introduced from2012/13 onwards).-Modules normally run via a combination of individual and group work.

5. Applied research methods (7.5 ECTS)6. Diagnostic audiology (7.5 ECTS)7. Paediatric audiology (7.5 ECTS)8. Tinnitus and its management (7.5 ECTS)Additionally, the following modules should be available from the academic year 2012/13 onwards,subject to viability as stand-alone modules for external students.

9. Advanced auditory rehabilitation (7.5 ECTS)10.Auditory processing disorder (7.5 ECTS)11.Paediatric habilitation (7.5 ECTS)12.Management of profound deafness (7.5 ECTS)13.Signal processing for hearing and hearing devices (7.5 ECTS)14.Speech science applied to hearing impairment (7.5 ECTS)15.Relevant clinical physiology modules from other UK accredited HEIs (7.5 ECTS)In order to obtain the MSc, a research project (worth 60 credits; 30 ECTS) must also be undertaken. Forthose undertaking the programme part-time, this will normally be undertaken during the final year duringwhich the programme is completed, although commencement of the project may be earlier than the finalyear, so long as module (5) above has been successfully completed. For those taking the programme full-time the project must be completed during the summer, with a deadline for completion of the end ofSeptember. Successful completion of module 5 (applied research methods) is a pre-requisite for startingthe project.

For all routes, optional exit points are available in the form of: (i) a postgraduate certificate in Audiologyand (ii) a postgraduate diploma in Audiology. The PG certificate is available to students so long as anycombination of 60 credit units have been successfully completed; this will normally mean the foundationsciences modules. The PG Diploma can be obtained as described above, but without the research project(a total of 120 credits; 60 ECTS).

For those following the Scientist Training Programme route over three years, completion of foundationsciences modules will normally entail full-time attendance in semester 1 of year 1. You will thenundertake the remaining modules during the subsequent three semesters (semester 2 of year 1 and bothsemesters of year 2) according to availability of the modules.


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Support for student learning

There are systems for the support of student learning in the Faculty as well as available from centralUniversity facilities.

In the ISVR you will be able to access:

An induction programme for orientation, introduction of the programme and staff, dissemination ofmaterials.

A programme Handbook including guidance on where to identify relevant information on coursestructure, examination and progression rules and other salient information

Online delivery of support materials, lecture notes, discussion boards and quizzes via theBlackboard learning environment.

A personal tutor to assist you with organisational and personal matters. This role is taken over byproject supervisor when research project preparation starts.

Personal e-mail account and e-mail access to staff. ISVR library and study resources. Access to specialist online resources. Access to Hearing and Balance Centre Clinics for practical and project work. Access to School during evenings and at weekends. Access to university Learning and Teaching Support Services. Formal progress monitoring during research project.The University provides:

Library support Access to School cluster of computers with relevant specialist software Computer workstations, including clusters within the Hearing and Balance Centre with specialist

software relating to Audiology and related disciplines. Study skills support provided via the UoS Centre for Learning and Teaching.Methods for evaluating the quality of teaching and

learning

You will have the opportunity to have your say on the quality of the programme in the following ways:

Student evaluation questionnaires for each module of the programme. Acting as a student representative on the School staff-student liaison committee OR providing

feedback to student reps to be reported to the committee. Accreditation at least every 5 years by the British Academy of Audiology Personal tutorial system for students with immediate access by meeting or e-mail Results of anonymous questionnaires from students with formal ratings of each module and lecturer Student representation on School Education Committee and School Board Staff-Student Liaison Committee University Training and Development Programme for staff supportThe ways in which the quality of your programme is checked, both inside and outside the University, are:

Internal Module Reviews and Programme Review annually External Programme Review every 5 years Programme Committee meetings and Module Review meetings. External Examiner reports Annual quality reporting via the Faculty to the University Academic Quality and Standards

Committee. Peer observation of teaching (internal and external staff) Annual staff appraisal (internal staff) Mentoring of less experienced clinical tutors and project supervisors Professional body accreditation/inspection visits Periodic programme review undertaken by the University


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Criteria for admission

The normal criterion for entry is at least a 2i in a relevant science or engineering subject. Applications areindividually assessed. If you do not match the standard profile, but have appropriate academicqualifications and clinical experience, you are encouraged to apply. You may be interviewed before aplace is offered. Interviews normally entail visiting the ISVR. Interviews may be by telephone, for examplefor overseas applicants. In accordance with the Universitys Equal Opportunities Policy, the programme is

open to anyone regardless of age, class, creed, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status,nationality, sexual orientation or caring responsibilities.

Please note: this programme specification provides a concise summary of the main features of theprogramme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieveand demonstrate if s/he takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. Moredetailed information can be found in the programme handbook (or other appropriate guide) or viaBlackboard.

Assessment and Progression

The examination and assessment procedures are available at

www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIVandwww.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionVIII

Referral examinations are held in late August/early September, after the decision reached by the Board ofExaminers following the second semesters examinations.

Research projectThe research project accounts for 30 ECTS credit. The project is independently assessed by at least twoindividuals, the supervisor and an internal examiner. Potential distinction candidates are allocated by anadditional internal examiner.

Students who obtain less than 50% have one opportunity to revise and resubmit the dissertation; thedeadline for resubmission is set by the Examiners in accordance with the amount of work required tobring the dissertation up to the required standard.

Revision History

1 Created 20 April 20102 Revised 16 December 20103 Checked 7 August 2012 C A Verschuur

CONTACT INFORMATION:Carl VerschuurMSc Programme Co-ordinatorTel: +44(0)23 8059 7601Fax:+44(0)23 8059 4981E-mail:[email protected]

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MSc Audiology