Audiology, AuD

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

For full-time students in the Doctor of Audiology Program, the program duration for the Doctor of Audiology program is 11 to 12 semesters. Upon graduation, a student will have completed the appropriate academic and clinical practicum requirements for State licensure.

Admissions

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution is required; however, the undergraduate degree does not have to be in communication disorders. Transcripts must show successful completion of courses in psychology or social sciences, natural or physical sciences, and mathematics. Limited deficits may be corrected during the graduate program.

For admission into the Audiology Doctorate Program, applicants are required to submit certified scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). An applicant must have either a combined GRE at least 300 (verbal + quantitative) undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 or a combined GRE of at least 294 (verbal + quantitative) and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 to be considered for admission to the Audiology program. Two letters of recommendation are required. Admission to the program is competitive. Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Letters of recommendation and the applicant’s Statement of Intent will be used to adjust the rank-order as appropriate. The Department of Communication Disorders, in accordance with LSUHSC policy gives preference to applicants who are residents of Louisiana. No transfer of credit is permitted for the AuD program.

Types of Admission

Students selected for admission to the Department of Communication Disorders are granted regular admission. With the approval of the Department Head/Program Director, students not seeking a degree, but who wish to take coursework, may be granted non-degree status. Non-degree seeking students are not permitted to enroll in clinical practicum; other restrictions also apply. Students who want full admission must compete in the normal admissions process.

A student will be admitted to either the program in speech-language pathology or audiology. A student may not change programs without the approval of the Department Head. Credits earned as a special student may be applied only to non-background requirements for the AuD degree.

Method of Application

Application is made by completing an application form available from the Office of Student Affairs (504 568-4254) New Orleans, paying the application fee, and submitting additional required information to the Admissions Committee. This includes the following:

Two letters of recommendation
Two official transcripts of all undergraduate work and previous graduate work from accredited colleges and universities
Evidence of previous undergraduate practicum experience that adheres to ASHA guidelines. Include observation experience
Certified scores from the Graduate Record Examination
A brief essay explaining why the student is interested in a career in audiology

Applications to the Audiology program must be post marked by February 15. Audiology students begin their program in the fall semester.

Notification of action taken by the Admissions Committee will be available to all applicants no later than eight weeks after the deadline for application. Registration and payment of all LSU System fees will be completed at the School of Allied Health Professions at the beginning of each semester or term. Note: See “GENERAL ADMISSION POLICIES” of the School for further requirements and procedures relating to admissions.

Standards

Technical Standards

In addition to demonstrated academic ability and other relevant admissions criteria, the School of Allied Health Professions program in Audiology expects all applicants to and students of the program to possess and be able to demonstrate the skills, attributes, and qualities set forth below, without unreasonable dependence on technology or intermediaries. If you are uncertain about your abilities to meet these technical standards, please consult with the Admissions Chair to discuss your individual situation.

Physical health: The student must possess the physical health and stamina needed to carry out the program of Audiology.
Intellectual skills: The student must have sufficient powers of intellect to acquire, assimilate, integrate, and apply information. The student must have the intellectual ability to solve problems and the ability to comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships.
Motor skills: The student must have sufficient use of motor skills to carry out all necessary audiological procedures, both those involved in learning the fundamental sciences and those required in the clinical environment. This includes the ability: (1) to participate in relevant educational exercises and to extract information from written sources; (2) use a computer keyboard to operate laboratory equipment, and (3) access transportation to all clinical and academic placements.
Communication: The Audiology student must have sufficient use of the sense of speech, hearing, and vision to communicate effectively with clients, faculty, staff, peers, and other health care professionals in both oral and written form (e.g., SOAP notes, diagnostic reports).
Sensory abilities: The student must have sufficient use of the sense of vision, hearing, touch, and smell to observe effectively in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical setting. Students must possess the ability to observe both close at hand and at a distance.
Behavioral qualities: The student must possess emotional health sufficient to carry out the tasks above, must have good judgment, and must behave in a professional, reliable, mature, and responsible manner. The student must be adaptable, possessing sufficient flexibility to function in new and stressful environments. The student must be able to critically evaluate her/his own performance, be forthright about errors, accept constructive criticism, and look for ways to improve. The student must show respect for individuals of different age, ethnic background, religion, and/or sexual orientation. The student must exhibit professional behavior by conforming to appropriate standards of dress, appearance, language, and public behavior. The student must uphold the Code of Ethics of the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Code of Academic Conduct of the LSU Health Science Center’s School of Allied Health Professionals.

Each student must continue to meet all of the technical standards set forth above. A student may be denied permission to continue in the Audiology program at the LSU Health Sciences Center should the student fail at any time to demonstrate ALL of the required technical standards.

Academic Standards

Statement of Satisfactory Academic Progress

See standards for the SAHP graduate professional scholastic requirements listed elsewhere in this catalogue. In addition to these general requirements, the Department of Communication Disorders has the following requirements.

The student must satisfactorily complete all requirements for graduation in not more than four calendar years. This requirement may be waived only under extreme circumstances. A written request must be made through the Department Head, for approval by the Dean.
A grade of C or lower in clinical practicum (6701, 7501, 7502, or 7503) is considered unsatisfactory and will result in clinical probation. A student who receives a grade of C or lower will be allowed to enroll in clinical practicum for one semester during which the student may be required to follow specialized remedial procedures. Continuation in the program following an additional C in clinical practicum (consecutive or non-consecutive) must be approved by the Department Head/Program Director. If the student’s clinical practicum grade falls below C, clinic hours accumulated for that semester will not be counted toward the clinic hours required for ASHA certification in accordance with ASHA guidelines.
Students’ academic progress will be reviewed by the Review Committee of the Department of Communication Disorders each semester. The names of those students who have not achieved satisfactory progress for two or more semesters will be forwarded to the Director of Financial Aid for appropriate action. Appeals may be made in accordance with procedures set forth in the section of this catalog/bulletin entitled, “Student Academic Appeals.”

Since the AuD is a doctoral degree and as it is designed to graduate ready-to-practice professional audiologists, LSUHSC AuD students will be held to high academic standards in order to proceed to graduation. Academic coursework is the foundation of good clinical practice.

In addition to the SAHP Graduate Professional Scholastic Requirements and the COMD Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

AuD students are required to repeat any academic course where they obtain a grade of D. The course will be repeated at its next offering. The student must obtain a grade of at least a C when repeating the course or be dismissed from the program. Students may repeat only one academic course in their pursuit of the Doctorate of Audiology.
Students may earn no more than 6 academic credits of grade C regardless of their overall grade point average.
Students earning more than 6 academic credits of Grade C will be dismissed from the AuD program.
A grade of F in any academic or clinical course results in dismissal from the Doctorate of Audiology program.

Academic and Employment Workloads

The usual full-time academic load in the Department is 9 to 14 semester hours during Fall and Spring semesters; and 6 to 9 during the Summer semester. Students with outside commitments may not be able to enroll full-time. It is the responsibility of the student to be available for classes, clinical practicum, and other scheduled activities that may occur anytime from 7:30 AM to 9 PM Monday through Friday and, occasionally, on the weekend or during semester breaks. Activities may include attendance at professional conferences or seminars.

Students With Disabilities

Students with disabilities who require accommodations should check with the Department Head or Program Director early for information about departmental and SAHP procedures.

Curriculum

Each student is expected to be knowledgeable about the departmental regulations and requirements for the AUD degree in audiology. The department will determine the duration and content of each student’s program.

Audiology Curriculum

Licensure and Certification Requirements

Students must satisfy all applicable academic and clinical requirements for state licensure prior to graduation.

Academic Requirements

These represent minimum workload requirements for the AuD degree in Audiology assuming the student has successfully completed an undergraduate baccalaureate program in Communication Disorders or equivalent. A student’s program of study may require the student to exceed these minimum requirements.

Minimum of 82 semester credit hours at LSUHSC; A maximum of six semester hours of credit in independent study courses may be applied to the requirement
Required coursework specified by the Department
Coursework as specified on the student’s individual plan of study

Clinical Practicum Requirements

Audiology requires clinical enrollment each semester.
Academic credit for clinical practicum cannot be applied to the minimum requirement 82 core curriculum academic credits in Audiology.
Audiology students must complete the equivalent of 12 months full time clinical practicum prior to graduation.

Comprehensive Examination

The student must successfully complete comprehensive examinations.

Note:

In the event that any of these requirements has not been met, graduation may be delayed.