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2026-2027 / LOGO5001-1

General deontology of speech and language therapist

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in psychology and education : speech and language therapy3 crédits 

Lecturer

Adelaïde Blavier, Dominique Morsomme

Coordinator

Adelaïde Blavier

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

General overview:

- Definition of deontology, and its relationship to ethics and morals.
- Conditions that legitimate intervention in laguage evaluation and rehabilitation: requests, the notion of competence, professional ideals, privacy of information shared during professional contacts
- Detailed presentation of a deontological code and its relation to the deontological codes of other professions.
- Deontology in different sub-disciplines (clinical psychology, PMS, expert opinions, psychology of work, scientific research) and in relation to different populations (work by minors, elderly persons, experimental subjects)

For Speech Language Therapists

This course introduces students to the main concepts of professional ethics and ethical reflection as applied to psychology and speech and language therapy practice. The speech and language therapy component covers the professional, legal and ethical framework, the therapeutic setting, listening, therapeutic alliance, requests for care and consent, as well as good clinical practice and ethical reflection. Particular attention is paid to the patient's role, autonomy, clinical judgement and shared responsibility in care.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Show how principles and rules can be applied in real professional situations in accordance with a code of deontology.

For Speech Language Therapy part

By the end of the course, students will be able to identify the main ethical, professional and legal principles relevant to their future professional practice. They will be expected to analyse clinical situations using these principles, distinguish the different dimensions of requests for care and consent, and develop a reasoned reflection on ethical issues arising within the therapeutic relationship.

 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Good level of French required (Erasmus students not accepted)

No specific prior knowledge of professional ethics or ethical theory is required. This course provides a first structured introduction to these topics. Knowledge acquired in previous courses relating to clinical practice and the foundations of the profession will nevertheless help students contextualise the situations discussed.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

No workshop

SLT

Teaching combines theoretical input, examples drawn from professional practice and situations designed to encourage ethical reflection. The speech and language therapy component is organised into three recorded video lectures: professional and ethical framework; therapeutic setting, requests for care and consent; ethics and good clinical practice. Slides and key references are made available on eCampus.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Blended learning


Further information:

Face-to-face, remote or podcast courses. 

Particularities for SLT this year

The course uses a combination of teaching formats. For the current academic year, my speech and language therapy component is delivered online through pre-recorded video lectures, due to my sabbatical leave. Students may contact me by email with any questions or requests for clarification concerning this part of the course.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège


Further information:

Student notes + readings + PowerPoint slide shows

PDF slides, recorded video lectures and the main references used in preparing the course are available on eCampus for SLT students. The section on clinical ethics draws in particular on Mireille Kerlan's book, Éthique en orthophonie : le sens de la clinique. Students are required to read this book in preparation for the open-ended question specifically related to speech and language therapy. Additional references are provided for students wishing to explore specific topics further.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )


Further information:

The final score is based on a written exam consisting of two parts: closed questions (QCM) and open questions. The student must obtain a mark of at least 10/20 on the closed questions (QCM) in order for us to correct the open question(s). If you fail the closed questions, your final mark will correspond to the results you obtained on your closed questions. In the 2nd session, the student must sit both parts again.

Spelling rules: Good command of French is essential for professional practice in speech therapy. If your assignment/report contains more than 5 spelling mistakes (usage and/or grammar), you will automatically receive a failing grade (5/20) in the first session and will need to resubmit it in the second session. In the second session, if your work still contains more than 5 mistakes, 2 points will be deducted from your final course grade (/20).

Two open-ended questions for SLT students:

one common to the relevant student cohorts and one specifically for speech and language therapy students. The open-ended questions are graded only if the student achieves a score of at least 10/20 on the multiple-choice component. The speech and language therapy open-ended question is based on Mireille Kerlan's book and assesses the student's ability to develop a personal, reasoned reflection grounded in their reading, rather than reproduce the book's content verbatim.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

PowerPoint slide shows are on the "my ULg" website

Good level of French required (Erasmus students not accepted)

Due to the sabbatical leave of D. Morsomme, the speech and language therapy component has been revised to facilitate distance learning. The course materials have been updated and reorganised, and the teaching is provided through three recorded video lectures accompanied by the corresponding slides. This arrangement does not alter the learning outcomes or assessment requirements.

Contacts

All questions will be answered during the oral session and will not be answered by email. Any student wishing to ask a question should contact Mrs Blavier during the oral session.

Professeur : Adelaide.Blavier@uliege.be
Professeur : dominique.morsomme@uliege.be
Assistants: Juliette.Destine@uliege.be et manon.delhalle@uliege.be 

For questions concerning the speech and language therapy component, students may contact D. Morsomme by email. Questions concerning other parts of the course should be addressed to the lecturer responsible for the relevant content.

Association of one or more MOOCs