Doctor of Audiology Program: Overview and Admissions

Program Overview

Our Doctor of Audiology program (AuD) is a 4-year plan of study and clinical training that fully prepares students for a clinical career in Audiology.

• Academic coursework covers hearing science and the nature and treatment of hearing and balance disorders across the lifespan.
• Clinical practica in the University of Arizona Hearing Clinics and off-campus placements provide a full array of experiences.
• Our students have the opportunity to engage in research, and many become authors on peer-reviewed publications. (See recent publications with student co-authors).
• A Bilingual Certificate Program is available to students pursing the Doctor of Audiology degree.

Program Description and Requirements

Graduate students in our program prepare an individualized plan of study with guidance from their faculty advisor.A detailed description of the academic and clinical training requirements is included in the Au.D. Student Handbook (AuD Cactus Book).

• Overview of the SLHS Program (Faculty, Courses, Research)
• Doctor of Audiology Student Handbook (AuD Cactus Book) for students admitted in 2012-2013
• Doctor of Audiology Student Handbook (AuD Cactus Book) for students admitted in 2011-2012 
• AuD Program of Study     AuD Milestones
• Course Descriptions
• Technical Standards for Students Planning to go into Audiology

Accreditation and Clinical Certification

• Our Doctor of Audiology degree program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
• You can read the Standards and Implementation Procedures for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology on the ASHA website.
• The Doctor of Audiology program provides the necessary academic and clinical training to meet ASHA Certification requirements, as well as the Arizona Department of Health Services Licensing requirements. See Arizona Department of Health Services – Occupational Licensing.
• Information regarding the licensing requirements for individual states is available from on the ASHA website.

Admissions

The faculty members of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences are committed to providing graduate education, both academic and clinical, of the highest quality.  We are also committed to increasing the number of well‑qualified audiologists whose backgrounds are underrepresented and whose career interests include serving individuals in underserved populations of the state and nation. We welcome applications from individuals with undergraduate degrees in Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences (or Communication Sciences and Disorders) as well as students with degrees from other fields.

Entry to the Au.D. program requires an earned bachelor’s degree. Applicants should have completed at least one course in each of these areas:

• Biological sciences
• Physical sciences
• Social sciences (psychology, sociology or other courses of normal and abnormal human behavior)
• Mathematics
• Statistics

In addition, students need to have completed foundational coursework in speech and language development and disorder. At The University of Arizona, the following two courses fulfill this requirement: Communication Disorders I (Fall) and Communication Disorders II (Spring). Foundation coursework may be completed during the first three semesters of the AuD program, but units will not count towards the AuD unit requirement. For more information, see Recommended Coursework in Preparation for Graduate Study in Audiology.

All applicants must apply on-line through the UA Graduate College and pay necessary fees.

• The application process will include submission of academic transcripts, GRE scores, personal statement and resume, letters of recommendation.
• Each of the components of the application are evaluated and admissions decisions are based on overall composite ratings.
• Guidelines for minimum requirements are indicated below, but note that strong overall composite ratings can override individual scores.
• Overall GPA of 3.0 or better (Graduate School requirement)
• GRE Scores at about the 30th percentile or better
  • Verbal score ~147 on the new scale; ~400 on the old scale
  • Quantitative score ~147 on the new scale; ~570 on the old scale
  • Writing score of 3.5 or better
• Meet the Technical Standards for Students Planning to go into Audiology

You can schedule a visit to campus any time, but we have special 2013 student visitation dates were March 18, 22, and 25. Similar dates will be selected for 2014. Please contact Denise Minopoli (minopold@email.arizona.edu) for more information. The application process for 2013-2014 is now closed.

A Typical Successful Applicant

The typical successful applicant has

• Grade point average of 3.6 or better on the last 60 units
• GRE Verbal score at 50th percentile or better
• GRE Quantitative score at 40th percentile or better
• GRE Writing score of 4.0 or better (50th percentile)
• a well-written personal statement that indicates interest in the field and experiences related to career aspirations
• three strong letters of reference written by individuals who can comment on potential for success in the graduate program and the field of Audiology.

Note that this descriptive information regarding students admitted to our program in recent years, rather than acceptance criteria.

Frequently asked questions about admissions

International applicants should review the UA Graduate College website for specific admission requirements, and should carefully review the Technical Standards for Students Planning to go into Audiology.

Student Outcome Data
Rate of Program Completion in Audiology

Audiology Certification Examination (PRAXIS) Pass Rate

All UA students have passed the Audiology Certification Examination. The average PRAXIS score from UA graduates for the past 4 years was well above the national average (690 vs. 650).

 Employment Rate in Audiology of UA Graduates

All of our students are successfully employed in audiology after graduation

AuD Clinical Opportunities »