Doctor of Audiology

Audiologist running tests on a kid

About the Degree

Utah State University’s Clinical Doctorate of Audiology (AuD) program is a four-year, 90 semester credit hour post-baccalaureate degree, and is part of the Western Regional Graduate Exchange program (WRGP). The AuD has a required preliminary exam, comprehensive exam, and clinical research project.

Students pursuing a doctoral degree in audiology can have a wide variety of backgrounds including but not limited to bachelor’s degrees in

  • Communicative Disorders
  • Psychology
  • Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Allied Health
  • Business

Students have varied clinical practicum experiences, beginning the first semester, including:

  • diagnostic assessment
  • hearing aids
  • assistive listening devices
  • cochlear implants
  • balance
  • tinnitus
  • auditory processing disorders
  • newborn hearing screening
  • educational audiology
  • Interdisciplinary pediatric services

The department audiology services (Hearing and Balance, Pediatric Audiology, Cochlear Implants) are part of the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence, a state of the art interprofessional center providing comprehensive clinical services across the lifespan.

AuD Admissions and Tuition View Catalog Steps to apply to Grad School Admission Application Audiology FAQ

Contact the Graduate Program Coordinator

Mason Hayes

Mason Hayes

Graduate Program Coordinator / Graduate and Deaf Education Academic Advisor

Phone: 435-797-9094
Office Location: Lillywhite 148

Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) Track

Through early identification and advanced technology, children with hearing loss have more opportunities than ever before to use audition to develop spoken language. Rapid progress in these areas has created a critical shortage of appropriately trained professionals who can meet the unique communicative and learning needs of children with permanent hearing loss and their families.

The Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Utah State University offers an innovative training program to provide in-depth training to graduate students in Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, and Deaf Education. In addition to the standard coursework and requirements for a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree, during the 2nd and 3rd years of the AuD program, students take additional courses and complete specialized practica and field experiences to develop specific knowledge and skills in pediatric audiology.

The program is built on a strong foundation of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary service provision to young children with hearing loss and their families. The primary training site for graduate students takes place right on the Utah State University campus at the Sound Beginnings Program.  Sound Beginnings at Utah State University is an early education program that provides home and center-based services to children with hearing loss whose families want their children to learn to listen and talk. 

Prospective AuD graduate students interested in learning more and/or participating in our LSL training program should indicate their interest via their statement of purpose in their application materials.

The program is funded by federal grants awarded by the United States Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

Course Sequence for LSL in Audiology

Year 2 - Summer

COMD 7250 - LSL Practicum (1 credit)

Year 2 - Fall

COMD 6340 - Strategies for LSL (3 credits)
COMD 6850 - LSL Seminar (1 credit)
COMD 7250 - LSL Practicum (1 credit)

Year 2 - Spring

COMD 6850 - LSL Seminar (3 credits)
COMD 7250 - LSL Practicum (1 credit)

Year 3 - Summer

COMD 7250 - LSL Practicum (1 credit)

Year 3 - Fall

COMD 6720 - Interdisciplinary Implementations of IDEA (2 credits)
COMD 7250 - LSL Practicum (1 credit)

Audiologist

Audiologists are certified and state-licensed professionals with doctoral degrees. This is a profession with extensive job opportunities. Audiologists serve people of all ages, infants to the elderly, to diagnose hearing and balance problems and provide the following types of services:

  • Hearing
  • Balance
  • Sound sensitivities, such as tinnitus, misophonia, and hyperacusis
  • Hearing loss prevention for noise exposure
  • Hearing aids
  • Cochlear implants
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Rehabilitation programs

Audiologists collaborate with other professionals, including Physicians, Teachers, Psychologists, Physical Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Deaf Educators. Work settings include:

  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Industry
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Community centers
  • Private practice settings
  • University clinics

 

MS in Communication Sciences

This is a non-clinical degree that prepares students to enter the Disability Disciplines PhD program strand in Audiology or the interdisciplinary PhD program in Neuroscience at USU. View the program page.

Council on Academic Accreditation | Accredited - Audiology

The doctoral (AuD) education program in audiology {residential} at Utah State University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.