Doctor of Audiology, Au.D.

Learning Outcomes

Graduating Au.D. students will:

• be able to accurately identify, diagnose, prevent, quantify, and treat hearing and balance disorders affecting both children and adults;
• understand the importance of and be able to implement patient- and family-centered, evidence-based approaches to identify, treat, and prevent hearing and balance disorders affecting individuals of all ages; and
• become leaders—nationally and internationally—driving innovation, shaping the future of the profession, and disseminating information about consequences of untreated hearing and balance disorders as well as the importance of early intervention and prevention.

The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) requires 95 s.h. of graduate credit. The Au.D. is the entry-level degree for individuals who wish to work as audiologists in the United States.

The four-year Au.D. program is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in speech and hearing science. Au.D. students must complete the following courses. They may be excused from taking courses whose equivalents they completed successfully during undergraduate study.

Au.D./Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science

For students who are enrolled in the Au.D. program but interested in research, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a combined Doctor of Audiology/Doctor of Philosophy program. This option is appropriate for students who have more applied research interests but would like to work in academics.

The combined program requires 137 s.h. of coursework. Students must satisfy all the clinical practicum experiences required for the Au.D. as well as all of the milestones required for the traditional Ph.D. Completion time for the two degrees varies but is typically seven years. Details on applying for the combined program can be found under Admissions in this section of the Catalog. For more information, contact the director of Ph.D. studies.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.

Admission to the program is competitive and each applicant's credentials are considered in relation to the credentials of others in the applicant pool. Individuals with an undergraduate g.p.a. below 3.00 are rarely admitted.

Students interested in admission to the combined Au.D./Ph.D. program are required to initially apply to the Au.D. program and be admitted. At the end of their second year in the Au.D. program, they may formally request permission to change their degree objective. If the faculty approve and a mentor is available, students transition into the Au.D./Ph.D. program.

The deadline for application is January 15. All applications to the Au.D. program must be submitted through the Central Application Service for Communication Science and Disorders (CSDCAS).

For detailed information regarding evaluation of applicants, application materials and requirements, and other matters, see Graduate Programs on the department's website.

Financial support is based on merit and dependent on availability of funds. For more detailed information, contact the chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

The Au.D. program provides students with excellent preparation for a career as an audiologist. There continues to be a strong demand for audiologists nationwide and it is consistently ranked highly in “best job” surveys. Graduates are often hired as faculty in positions at universities, in industry and clinical positions, and in research settings.