Explore this course:

    Applications for 2024 entry are now open. Apply now or register your interest to hear about postgraduate study and events at the University of Sheffield.

    MSc PG Certificate PG Diploma
    2024 start September 

    Language and Communication Impairment in Children

    School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health

    Study language development and communication difficulties to help you support the children you work with, whether it’s in a classroom or a clinic, and learn about the association between oral language and literacy.
    MSc/PG Cert/PG Dip Language and Communication Impairment in Children (distance learning)

    Course description

    This course is designed to give you specialist knowledge of language development and communication difficulties, and enable you to support the children you work with, whether it’s in a classroom or a clinic. It is taught mostly online, by distance learning, although you will also learn in person during lectures, delivered in one and two day study blocks.  

    You will study how children’s language develops, the links between speaking and writing, and the relationship between language and learning. There is also training on how to use evidence to inform your practice. PGDip and MSc students can explore methods of assessing, investigating and managing speech and language difficulties, and focus on specialist topics such as autism spectrum disorders or communication in adolescence. 

    The course is aimed at teachers, speech and language therapists and other professionals working with children and their speech, language and communication. We offer a range of part-time options so you can fit your studies around your other commitments.

    Students on the PGDip and MSc programmes study a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods, so they can keep up-to-date with the latest findings and use this to inform their practice. MSc students apply these skills to their own research project, which may include designing experiments, analysing data and reporting results.

    This course does not lead to a qualification to practise as a speech and language therapist or pathologist.

    Modules

    A selection of modules are available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder.

    PGCert, PGDip and MSc

    Children's Learning

    This module promotes student skills in distance/e-learning, participating in on-line activity and use of e-resources. It presents theories of cognitive development, how these inform our understanding of children's learning and the development of educational practice, and the interaction of learning and language. The individual differences in learning abilities within children in school is considered, including those children who may have significant difficulties across all learning and those who may have specific difficulty with certain aspects of learning. Course content is delivered across a continuum to allow students to develop from their own level of existing knowledge and understanding.

    15 credits
    Language and Communication

    This module describes children's development of language and communication, including aspects of social and emotional development, as well as spoken language. The analysis of different components of language will be explored. Individual differences in language and communication skills are discussed. Theoretical perspectives and research findings about children's language and communication difficulties will be evaluated. Implications for practice are explored, including intervention strategies. Course content is delivered across a continuum to allow students to develop from their own level of existing knowledge and understanding.

    15 credits
    Spoken and Written Language

    This module focuses on the nature of spoken and written language development and difficulties. The relationship between speech, language and literacy is explored. Topics include speech and literacy development, phonological awareness, reading and reading comprehension, writing, spelling and cross-linguistic issues. Theoretical models and practical applications to supporting literacy development in pre and school age children will be studied. Students can choose to either follow introductory units in phonetics and speech development if new to these topics or extend their existing knowledge of phonetics and examine connected speech and prosody.

    15 credits
    Developing an Evidence Base for Practice

    This module develops knowledge, understanding and skills for the promotion of evidence based practice for practitioners in education, health and social welfare contexts. Students will be introduced to levels and types of evidence, develop skills in framing questions about their practice, searching and reading the literature, and in critical analysis. Students will develop skills in evaluating their own practice.

    15 credits

    PGDip and MSc

    Research Methods in Human Communication A

    This module will develop students' knowledge, understanding and skills of the range of research methodologies used in human communication sciences, education and health. The main aim of the module is to allow students to become competent consumers and producers of scientific evidence. Topics will include the qualitative and quantitative research cycle (eg study design, development of research questions), concepts of statistical analysis (eg descriptive statistics, presenting data, selected inferential statistics), qualitative research methods (eg interviews) and case study designs.

    15 credits
    Research Methods in Human Communication B

    This module will expand students' knowledge, understanding and skills of the range of research methodologies used in human communication sciences, education and health. It will further develop their competencies in interpreting and producing scientific evidence. The main aim of the module is to allow students to design and conduct a methodologically and statistically sound research project. Topics will include inferential statistics (parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, effect sizes and strength of relationships, regression), psychometrics (concepts, derived scores and confidence intervals) and qualitative research methods (eg interviews) and qualitative data analysis.

    15 credits

    The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

    Open days

    An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.

    Find out what makes us special at our next online open day on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

    You may also be able to pre-book a department visit as part of a campus tour.Open days and campus tours

    Duration

    MSc: 2 or 3 years part-time via distance learning

    Postgraduate Diploma: 2 years part-time via distance learning

    Postgraduate Certificate: 1 year part-time via distance learning

    Teaching

    This course is mostly taught online. Study blocks for each module take place on campus at regular intervals throughout the academic year. They include lectures, tutorials and practical workshops and are held over one to three days.

    Attendance at study blocks is normally compulsory. However, for part-time, distance learning students not based in the UK, it is recommended but optional.

    Full-time students can also attend other lectures, seminars and practical workshops offered by the School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery.

    Assessment

    You will be assessed through written assignments. MSc students are also assessed through a dissertation.

    Your career

    Graduates leave this course with specialist knowledge and skills that can help them develop their careers – for example through a promotion, or stepping into different types of roles supporting children. It’s also great preparation for a PhD and other kinds of postgraduate training.

    This course does not lead to a professional qualification that would allow you to practise as a speech and language therapist.

    Entry requirements

    For the PGCert/PGDip: an undergraduate degree or a degree-level professional qualification, plus at least two years of experience of working with children.

    For the MSc: minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree and two years of relevant work experience with children.

    We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

    Entry requirements for international students

    Overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component, or equivalent.

    If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the department.

    Fees and funding

    Two-year course

    For the two-year version of MSc Language and Communication Impairment in Children please use our course fee lookup tool.

    Three-year course

    The fee below applies to the three-year version of MSc Language and Communication Impairment in Children.

    Apply

    You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.

    Apply now

    Contact

    ahpnm-enquiries@sheffield.ac.uk
    +44 114 222 2405

    Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

    Our student protection plan

    Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.