Clinical Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.)

Bloomsburg University's Clinical Doctorate of Audiology is a four-year program placing major emphasis on clinical training and the practical application of research, theory, and technology into clinical practice.

The first two years of the program emphasize didactic instruction and laboratory class work combining theory, practicality and emerging technology. The emphasis in the final two years is on combining the theory with clinical learning experiences. The fourth year is a full year externship with monitoring and advisement by the faculty and staff.

Both academic and practicum experiences focus on the prevention, identification, evaluation and treatment of individuals with disorders of the auditory, balance and related systems. The audiology program includes academic and clinical training in diagnosis, amplification, electrophysiological testing, aural rehabilitation, educational audiology, assistive devices, cochlear implants, industrial audiology, and private practice.

Audiology Program Admission

Admission to the Doctorate of Audiology program is on a competitive basis. Interested students are encouraged to apply early (application deadline is February 1).

Prerequisite coursework and requirements

The graduate school's general admission criteria and the following specific criteria must be met for unconditional admission.

• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00
• Three academic letters of recommendation ALONG WITH the Audiology Recommendation Form
• Personal interview
• GRE: Quantitative, Verbal and Analytical Writing.
• A minimum of three semester hours in each: life sciences, physical sciences, behavioral sciences, mathematics, written and oral communications
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• TOEFL scores for international students
• One-page, typed letter detailing their professional background, experience and rationale for wanting to be admitted to the program in audiology
• Current Resume

Individuals not meeting all requirements: Conditional admission is considered upon recommendation of the faculty.

Audiology Program Retention and Assessment

A student must maintain a QPA of 3.0 with no more than two grades lower than a B- throughout the doctoral audiology program. A grade of B- or lower in any clinical experience will necessitate repeating the course to achieve a grade of B or higher.

Knowledge and Skills Assessment (KASA): Students will have regular and ongoing opportunities to assess their knowledge and skills acquired in the academic and clinical program. Standard 5.3. The results of this assessment will be used to plan and implement program improvements.

Students track their progress in achieving certification standards by completing a form (KASA) every semester so that progress can be reviewed with the faculty and with the academic advisor.

Program Completion Data

Employment Rate in Profession

PRAXIS Examination Pass Rate

Accreditation Status

The doctoral (Au.D.) program in Audiology at Bloomsburg University has been placed on probation 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. A program on probation is not currently in full compliance with the accreditation standards. Programs on probation remain accredited but must demonstrate compliance with the standards within one year.

The CAA found the program to be in partial compliance with the program completion rate. For the complete report, see the CAA Accreditation Decisions website at: http://caa.asha.org/programs/accreditation-decisions/

ASHA evaluates completion rates in three-year increments, and therefore, these rates have included weaker on-time program completion rates for students enrolled in previous years of the program dating back to 2012. At that time, students were required to complete a thesis, which often delayed their graduation. Over the last 3 years, our program completion rates have increased dramatically since incorporating an optional thesis. As an example, our 2016 Au.D. completion rate was 86% and we fully anticipate a continuation of these strong completion rates in the upcoming years. We fully anticipate that the information we will provide in upcoming reports to ASHA will result in a removal of this probationary status in the very near future.

Our Au.D. graduates meet requirements for licensure as audiologists by the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners in Speech, Language and Hearing.