Audiology, AuD

Program Description

The AuD Audiology (AuD) program is designed to prepare professionals to enter the workplace with a high level of skills and knowledge through intensive academic and clinical experiences. Completion of coursework for a Doctor of Audiology requires 9 semesters (Summer I, Fall I, Spring I, Summer II, Fall II, Spring II, Summer III, Fall III and Spring III). The program is designed to prepare a person for a career in the hospitals, private practice settings, industrial settings, medical offices, clinical settings and rehabilitation centers.

The AUD Program in the School of Health Care Professions is a full-time doctoral program requiring a minimum of 98 credit hours based on transcript evaluation, over approximately 3 years consisting of both academic course work and clinical practicum.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Audiology program, a prospective student must apply via the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Services (CSDCAS) (www.csdcas.org). Admissions are based on a holistic review of applicants. In addition to the University standards, core requirements include:

1. A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university.  While a degree in CSD is not necessary, undergraduate course work must include a biology course (or closely related, as determined by the program director), a physics or chemistry course, as well as a mathematics (or a statistics) course.
2. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (4.0 scale).
3. Students must submit three letters of recommendation. At least two of the three must speak to the student’s academic potential for graduate school (i. e., current/former instructors/professors).

See CSDCAS application for additional details regarding elements of the application including due dates and start terms.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 98 semester hours shall be completed, including the following:

1.    Academic course work requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC-A).
2.    Clinical practicum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CCC-A).
3.    Completion of a Doctoral Project or Thesis.
4.    Comprehensive Examinations.
5.    Praxis examination scores must be submitted prior to graduation.
6.    Clinical Externship

Additional Program Requirements

Students must pass both a background/crime records check and drug test prior to their first clinical placement. The program background check and drug testing policy and procedure documents are available in the Graduate Student Handbook.

Retention Requirements

The Doctor of Audiology graduate program retention requirements are intentionally designed to ensure students are meeting competencies required for pre-professional academic and clinical standards.

 

1. To remain in the program, a student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3. 00 in their graduate coursework each semester.
2. The accumulation of more than 9 hours of “C+” or below in academic and/or practicum courses will result in dismissal from the program.
3. No course with a grade below a “C” may be applied to a graduate degree.
4. Any grade of “C-” or below in any course, didactic or clinical, is not acceptable and may be grounds for dismissal from the program.
5. Students must progress satisfactorily through the levels of clinical practicum as defined in the Graduate Student Clinician Handbook. Clinical hours from clinical courses where a grade of “C” or below was earned will not be counted toward required clinical experiences.  Repetition of that level is required prior to advancing to next level. Students may repeat a practicum only once. Dismissal from a clinical offsite or externship experience will automatically result in a grade of “F” and program dismissal unless it can be proven that extenuating circumstances were present.
6. While grades are important, the student’s continuation in the Program is based on the composite picture of the ability of the student to perform satisfactorily in the clinical phase of training as well as the academic components. A student may be at risk for program completion due to issues involving professionalism, ethical conduct, and/or safety. Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for specific information regarding progression pathways and remediation policies.
7. Students who fail to meet the retention requirements may be placed on Academic, Clinical or Professionalism Warning Status. This status may result in the implementation of a remediation process or in program dismissal, depending on circumstances and determination of Audiology Faculty.

The Doctor of Audiology Graduate Program reserves the right to refuse enrollment or program continuation to any student. This refusal will be determined by the judgment of the Audiology Graduate Faculty and Director of the School of Health Care Professions faculty based upon the student’s ability to successfully complete clinical practicum assignments or to assume patient care responsibilities and/or function as a clinician. Additionally, if a student has failed to demonstrate an attitude of professionalism as judged by the Audiology faculty, the student may be recommended for dismissal from the program.

According to the Missouri State University Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities , The Codes of Ethics of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and requirements of the Audiology program, academic integrity and honesty are the foundation of the University community. Students are expected to practice academic and clinical integrity in all assigned work. Students are also expected to be honest in all interactions with other students, faculty, and staff, and be professional in attitude, actions and attire.

The University, and the Doctor of Audiology program, has the inherent right to promulgate appropriate rules and regulations for the orderly conduct of university business and the protection of the health and safety of the University community. Students are expected to comply with all published and stated rules and regulations. If a student is accused of violating any code (academic dishonestly, theft, possession of drugs, etc.) they will be subject to warnings, loss of privileges, probation, suspension, and/or dismissal.