University Degree in Speech Therapy

Objectives and Structure

The university degree in speech therapy program aims to train professionals who are able to carry out prevention activities, health education projects and rehabilitative treatment of language, communication and cognition deficits in children, adults and the elderly. The degree program ranges from disciplines such as physics, statistics and general education to the subjects of the specific profession, such as science and medical techniques, neuropsychiatry, linguistics, philosophy of language, physiology, pathology of speech and swallowing, neurological and degenerative cognitive function. The speech therapist works in health care facilities, public or private, in the form of employee or as a private professional. The graduate will also find employment opportunities in the educational sector.

Studying at the Santa Lucia Foundation

The university degree in Speech Therapy is awarded by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata. The situs of the lessons and the related internship is the Hospital of Santa Lucia Foundation, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare (IRCCS), specializing in neurorehabilitation. The Santa Lucia Foundation cares each year more than 2,000 adult patients in inpatient and outpatient treatment and has treated more than 200 children at its Extensive Rehabilitation Outpatient Unit. Great care is taken in rehabilitation programs to the recovery of cognitive function as well as motor, using also virtual reality, augmentative and alternative communication (CAA) and brain-computer interface (BCI). Also as part of the programs cognitive rehabilitation, the staff of the Foundation maintains a special expertise and has performed clinical research in the treatment of patients with neglect disorders.

Degree Program Admittance

Students are eligible for admission to the degree in Speech Therapy with Diploma of Higher Secondary School for five years. The entrance exam consists of a general knowledge written multiple choice test. Applications for admittance must be submitted to the Secretary of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata in accordance with the admittance guidelines and application deadlines published each year by the University.

Attendance and Final Exam

Attendance of both the of theoretical lecture courses and internships is mandatory. Exams can be taken only with an attendance of at least 75 percent of the scheduled hours. The degree course ends with a final exam that has the value of University Bachelors Degree, level I. It is a certified professional degree.