Degree Requirements
Students with bachelor’s degrees in communication science and disorders can complete the program in four years, while students with a master’s degree in Audiology can complete the program in approximately two years. Students applying to the AuD program with a completed master’s degree will be required to complete two years of study with a minimum of 30 credits (typically about 38 credits) to satisfy academic and clinical requirements for the degree. A review of successfully completed graduate coursework in the master’s degree in CSD (focus in Audiology) will be conducted after being admitted to the AuD Program. Students applying to the AuD program with a completed bachelor’s degree (major in CSD) will require four years of study with a minimum of 75 credits (typically about 100 credits) to satisfy academic and clinical requirements for the degree. Students with a bachelor’s degree without a CSD major will have to complete an additional year of post-baccalaureate study. Other requirements include the successful completion of two comprehensive examinations, a mentored research project, and a full-time clinical externship.
Comprehensive Examinations
Students in the AuD program are required to successfully complete two comprehensive examinations before the Doctor of Audiology degree can be awarded. The Comprehensive Exam I is a formative examination that will identify strengths and/or weaknesses in the student’s knowledge base. An ad hoc committee of reviewers administers this comprehensive examination.
In addition, students pursuing the AuD are required to successfully complete Comprehensive Exam II. During this examination, the student will demonstrate an ability to apply theoretical knowledge to a real clinical case with which the student has been extensively involved during clinical training. Comprehensive Exam II will have both written and oral portions. The student will identify a case from the student’s own clinical experience in which they have been primarily responsible for case management. This case will be thoroughly presented in conjunction with in-depth background information, including relevant clinical research on all aspects of the case. A panel of three reviewers will be constituted to evaluate each individual student’s examination performance.
All audiology students in good academic standing are expected to pass their comprehensive examination(s). However, regardless of academic standing, failure to pass either of the above examinations within three examination cycles will result in the student’s dismissal from the audiology program.
