Audiology, Au.D.
Minimum Totals for Graduation: 115 hours
Audiology, Post Baccalaureate
Doctors of Audiology are highly skilled in the wide array of diagnostic, remedial and related areas associated with hearing-impaired persons and their families. Although the Au.D. is not a research-oriented degree, students will acquire the knowledge and skills requisite to evaluate/interpret the existing literature, and will be required to synthesize and apply pertinent research knowledge to clinical practice and personal research activities. The first two years of study are devoted primarily to the mastery of the audiological knowledge base. Clinical experience evolves in scope and complexity, with the final two years heavily weighted toward clinical training in a variety of settings with practicing audiologists.
Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards
Admission Requirement Snapshot
Entrance Exam: GRE
Application Deadline: January 15 (Fall)
International Students not from English Proficiency Exempted Countries: TOEFL required - minimum score of 100 IBT, 250 CBT, 600 PBT (some exceptions may apply)
See Admission Requirement Details Below
Admission
The deadline for receipt of all application materials is January 15 for the professional doctoral (Au.D.) program in Audiology. Admission requirements may be obtained from the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders.
The admissions committee will consider the applicant's undergraduate transcript, GRE scores and letters of recommendation. In addition, personal statements and relevant professional experiences will be considered. Applicants from non-English speaking countries must also submit a minimum score of 100 (Internet-based), 250 (Computer-based) or 600 (Paper-based) on the TOEFL. Since an audiologist interacts with patients, an applicant's maturity and interpersonal skills will also be considered. After the initial screening of paper credentials, an interview with each of the most qualified applicants will be used to select the final candidates for admission.
Students normally are accepted into the program on a full-time basis and maintain a course load of approximately 13 credit hours per semester. Exceptions to this are considered on a case by case basis. Each student is assigned a faculty advisor, who will help the student in course selection and monitor his/her progress through the program.
The Audiology program at Central Michigan University is designed to prepare graduates for clinical careers as Audiologists. The Essential Functions and Technical Standards for Audiology establish essential qualities that each individual admitted to the program and graduate of the program must possess. In the event that, during the educational process, a student is unable to fulfill these standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, then the student may be dismissed from the program. Acknowledgment and signatory of the document by the student is required upon admission. It is also reviewed on an annual basis or as appropriately requested by the student, faculty, or clinical supervisor. The document can be accessed at: http://www.cmich.edu/academics/health_professions/Documents/aud_tech_standards.pdf.
Retention Standards
Progress through the program is based upon compliance with university grading standards. In addition, the student must successfully pass comprehensive examinations at the end of his/her third year of the program in order to enroll in AUD 995.
The Au.D. degree will be awarded upon successful completion of course work, clinical practica, comprehensive examination, doctoral project defense, and clinical residency requirements.
Although the curriculum has the flexibility to incorporate the latest advances in the field of audiology, the current curriculum requirements are listed below under Degree Requirements in order of the year they are typically taken.
Students will be placed on probation for:
- Any grade below a C (2.0) or NC (No credit) in any course required in the Au.D. curriculum.
- A semester GPA below 3.0 for courses required in the Au.D. curriculum.
- A cumulative GPA below 3.0 for any semester.
Termination Standards
Students may be dismissed from the program for:
- Failure to satisfactorily complete any assigned academic or clinical remediation plan.
- Failure to meet and maintain any of the Au.D. program technical standards.
- Failure to satisfactorily complete a repeated course at a level of C (or above) or CR (credit) for CR/NC courses the next time the course is offered.
- Failure (grade of C- or E) of any three courses (academic or on-campus practicum) on the Au.D. curriculum.
- A failing final grade on the comprehensive examinations. A failing final grade on the comprehensive examinations means that the student has failed a rewrite and oral examination of one or more of the comprehensive questions. Determination of whether to retain or dismiss the student from the program will be reached by a majority vote of the faculty/staff of Audiology.
- Failure (NC) of any of the fourth year clinical externship courses.
- A lack of professional conduct and/or any behavioral patterns that may jeopardize the safety or wellbeing of patients or others.
- Unethical or illegal activity including, but not limited to academic dishonesty or violations of the AAA and/or ASHA Codes of Ethics.
Program Requirements
Required Courses I (33 hours)
The following courses should be taken in the first year:
| AUD 643 | Disorders of Hearing | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 720 | Anatomy and Physiology Underlying Neuro-otology | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 730 | Experimental Studies in Communication Disorders | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 731 | Diagnostic Audiology | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 740 | Neuroanatomy | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 750 | Advanced Hearing Science | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 752 | Amplification for Individuals with Hearing Loss | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 759 | Introduction to Clinical Practicum: Audiology | 2-6(Spec) |
| AUD 771 | Seminars in Audiology | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 785 | Auditory Processing Disorders | 3(3-0) |
Required Courses II (36 hours)
The following courses should be taken in the second year:
| AUD 754 | Pediatric Audiology | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 757 | Geriatric Audiology | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 763 | Audiological Rehabilitation Considerations in Education | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 764 | Audiologic Rehabilitation for Adults | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 765 | Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 769 | Intermediate Clinical Practicum: Audiology | 3-9(Spec) |
| AUD 773 | Advanced Amplification Fitting Strategies | 3(2-2) |
| AUD 781 | Electrophysiological Techniques in Audiology | 3(2-2) |
| AUD 782 | Evaluation and Management of Vestibular Disorders | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 853 | Psychosocial Aspects of Hearing Loss | 3(3-0) |
Required Courses III (28 hours)
The following courses should be taken in the third year:
| AUD 744 | Occupational and Environmental Hearing Conservation | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 783 | Advanced Electrophysiological and Vestibular Techniques in Audiology | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 849 | Advanced Clinical Practicum: Audiology | 4-12(Spec) |
| AUD 863 | Professional Issues in the Practice of Audiology | 3(3-0) |
| AUD 898 | Doctoral Project | 1-12(Spec) |
| AUD 995 | Clinical Externship | 5-23(Spec) |
Notes:
AUD 898: Students must complete AUD 898 for a total of 6 credit hours. The doctoral project will be an evidenced-based endeavor designed to enhance the student's capacity to be a critical consumer of audiologic research and to create an opportunity for the student to engage in an in-depth study of an area of Audiology. Students may enroll for AUD 898 as variable credit in blocks ranging from 1-6 credit hours. Concurrent with enrollment in AUD 898, the student will select a doctoral project advisor who must have graduate faculty status at Central Michigan University. Prior to initiating the doctoral project, it must be approved by the Division of Audiology Doctoral Project Committee. Upon completion of the doctoral project, the student must submit it to the Division of Audiology Doctoral Project Committee in an acceptable format.
AUD 995: 5 credit hours of AUD 995 in year 3.
Required Courses IV (18 hours)
The following course should be taken in the fourth year:
| AUD 995 | Clinical Externship | 5-23(Spec) |
Note: 18 credit hours of AUD 995 in year 4 (9 each semester).
Total: 115 semester hours