Audiology - Doctor of Audiology (AuD)

The AuD is the entry-level degree in clinical audiology that emphasizes both clinical competency development and evidence-based practice. Students in the AuD program complete a four-year curriculum that includes academic coursework, clinical practicum and a capstone project. Students take advanced seminars in hearing science, clinical audiology and research methods.

Students have the opportunity to pursue clinical research in both laboratory and clinical settings, with faculty in a wide range of areas including electrophysiology, psychological acoustics, physiological acoustics, diagnostic evaluation and intervention procedures for newborns through geriatrics, advanced amplification, speech perception in noise, assistive technologies, cochlear implants, vestibular assessment techniques and aural habilitation and rehabilitation of individuals with hearing loss. Furthermore, students undertake clinical practica to develop competency across the scope of practice consistent with national clinical certification and/or licensure in audiology. Successful completion of the AuD at CU Boulder meets the requirements for certification in audiology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Currently, the AuD meet the educational requirements for licensure as an audiologist in every state. 

Students will have the opportunity to complete clinical rotations in several different settings including full use of laboratories and suites in the Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences. Clinical rotations occur at sites such as University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) in Denver and the UCH outpatient Boulder clinic, Children’s Hospital Colorado, local school districts and other clinical settings throughout the metro Boulder and Denver area. Students complete fourth-year externships in clinical settings both in Colorado as well as across the United States.

Requirements

Prerequisite Coursework

The AuD faculty recommends that students have undergraduate coursework in speech-language-hearing sciences including content knowledge in audiological evaluation and rehabilitation, hearing and speech science, language development, phonetics, and speech and language disorders. A strong foundation in college algebra and pre-calculus is also expected. A college-level course in statistics is required. 

Students who matriculate in the AuD program are required to document their background content knowledge and to address any missing competencies. See the department's Doctorate of Audiology webpage for a list of prerequisites and a sample course schedule.

Course Requirements

The AuD program requires a total of 89 credits. Below is a list of sample courses that fulfill this requirement.

Plan(s) of Study 

The Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program focuses on providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be independent practitioners. Graduates of this program will have the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills necessary for certification and licensure to be an audiologist. Each student's program is primarily comprised of general departmental requirements, with some options for students to select focus areas or elective courses that address their specific areas of interest. The curriculum and goals of the SLHS AUD program are shaped by the national certification and state licensure requirements. The AUD program is accredited by the ASHA Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in audiology. The AUD plan of study is based on four years of full-time study, including summer enrollments.  The plan of study includes academic coursework and clinical practica during the first three years and a full-time externship during the fourth year.   The plan of study also includes several oral and clinical examinations that students must pass for successful completion of the program.

Dual Degree Program

AuD/PhD in Audiology and Speech, Language and Hearing Science

The department offers students the opportunity to pursue an integrated program of study leading to dual doctorate degrees in the fields of audiology and hearing science. The PhD/AuD dual degree program trains students in both clinical research and clinical practice in audiology. Students in the program gain training that will prepare them to become independent scholars, teach in higher education, conduct research, become certified clinical audiologists and gain leadership skills. The dual degree program allows students to pursue both their clinical training and their research training in a rigorous, intensive and streamlined program.

Learning Outcomes  

By the completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Review and critically evaluate research in audiology and hearing science in order to apply evidence-based decision making to clinical service provision.  
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills across the scope of audiological practice, which includes prevention, identification, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders in a diverse population of patients across the lifespan.
• Demonstrate competency in effective professional communication in both written and oral formats to support provision of equitable and culturally aware audiologic care.