AuD-PhD Option

Clinical doctorate of audiology degree applicants who are interested in academic careers and who demonstrate potential for doctoral study in hearing science may request consideration for admission to a special joint Au.D.-Ph.D. program.

This program is for students who are certain they wish to pursue a Ph.D. and earn an Au.D. degree along the way. Upon completion of the program, the student will have completed a clinical doctorate of audiology degree as well as a doctorate of philosophy in hearing science.

This allows for maximum efficiency and permits the student to pursue research and clinical education simultaneously, rather than sequentially. The purpose of this program is to nurture and guide students with excellent potential while integrating clinical doctorate of audiology and doctor of philosophy coursework, research, and clinical experiences.

If you would like to be considered for special admission to the joint Au.D.-Ph.D. program, please provide a brief description of your interest in doctoral study within the body of your essay that accompanies your completed application materials.

More about the Joint Au.D./Ph.D. Option

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 

  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 
  • Completion and presentation of the Au.D. research project 
  • Completion of the pre-dissertation research project (or substantial progress made)
  • 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 department 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 Au.D. 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:

Introduction to Communication Disorders

  • Phonetics
  • Speech Science
  • Hearing Science
  • Anatomy/Physiology of Speech and Language
  • Basic Audiology
  • Language Development
  • American Sign Language I

In addition, ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) requires students to have a course in each of the following content areas:

  • Biological Sciences (human or animal sciences)
  • Physical Science (chemistry or physics)
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences