Joint Au.D./Ph.D. Option

Clinical doctorate in audiology degree applicants interested in academic careers and demonstrating the potential for doctoral study may request consideration for admission to the Joint Au.D./Ph.D. option. This option is designed for students who are certain they wish to pursue a Ph.D. and also complete the Au.D. degree. Upon completion, the student will have completed the clinical doctorate of audiology and a doctorate of philosophy in hearing science. This allows maximum efficiency overall and permits the student to pursue research and clinical training simultaneously, rather than sequentially. The purpose of this program is to nurture and guide students with excellent potential while integrating clinical doctorate and doctoral coursework, research, and clinical experiences.

The Joint Au.D./Ph.D. option is designed as a 6-year program. Years 1 through 4 of the student’s program of study will focus on the integration of Au.D. coursework and doctoral-level courses, directed studies, and research. At the end of year 4 (or sooner depending on standing and progress), the student will apply for official entry into the Ph.D. program. Criteria to be accepted to the Ph.D. program include a) cumulative GPA of at least 3.0; b) completion and presentation of the Au.D. research project; c) completion of the pre-dissertation research project (or substantial progress made); and d) acceptable performance on work in research mentor’s lab. If accepted, the student will receive an award letter outlining the appointment for the Ph.D. program. If the student chooses to apply to the Ph.D. program, the division of CSD will assist you with your Ph.D. application and pay your application fee to the Ph.D. program.

Year 4 of the joint will focus on finishing the coursework required for the Au.D. program, continued doctoral-level courses, and directed studies. Years 5 and 6 will focus exclusively on the completion of the Ph.D. program.

Students also complete a 12-month clinical externship required for clinical certification as part of the AuD degree. The timing of the externship will be determined by the student in consultation with the student’s mentor and academic guidance committee.

Each student enrolled will work closely with an academic guidance committee to design an individualized program of study. The performance will be evaluated on a yearly basis. Students in this program will follow the guidelines for both the Au.D. and Ph.D. degrees with respect to Academic Guidance and Degree Requirements.

Interested students should apply to the Au.D. program. Admission to the joint option is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the following core undergraduate classes:

IN ADDITION, ASHA requires students to have a course in each of the following content areas: