Audiology, AuD

Degree Requirements: 120 Credits

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The typical curriculum of the coursework for students is shown below. Both the curriculum and the sequencing may be altered at the discretion of school administration. Courses are typically open only to students enrolled in the program.

* Requirement met through medium other than course

Admission

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Enrollment in the Doctor of Audiology degree program at Pacific University is limited and admission is selective. The Audiology Admissions Committee utilizes a holistic approach in the review of applications for admission, considering such factors as:

• Academic record, including cumulative undergraduate GPA, any post-baccalaureate or graduate GPAs, and GPA for the last 45 semester credits of undergraduate or graduate study – minimum of 3.0 GPA on the last-45 semester credits required for admission
• Undergraduate and any post-baccalaureate or graduate field(s) of study
• Completion of prerequisite courses – grade of “C” or better required on all prerequisites prior to start of program
• Responses to essay questions regarding motivation for audiology and fit with the university
• Letters of recommendation – minimum of three required, with at least one from the applicant’s professor or an audiologist, either of whom can speak to potential for success in an AuD program
• Accuracy, completeness, and professionalism of application
• Writing sample and demonstrated English proficiency
• Observations or other experiences with audiology practice
• Personal interview for selected applicants (invitation only; on-campus preferred) to help determine fit, motivation, and ability to be successful in the AuD program and to help evaluate such attributes as passion for audiology, spirit of teamwork, interpersonal communication, and professionalism

For more information on the admission process and selection criteria, contact the university’s Office of Graduate and Professional Programs Admissions.

Application Process

Applicants should submit the following:

• Central Application Service for Audiology (CSDCAS; available at www.csdcas.org; application fees through CSDCAS may apply)
• Pacific University Supplemental Application (available at www.pacificu.edu/audiology)
• TOEFL test scores, if applicable
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Application fee of USD $25

For more information on the specific application materials, see the School of Audiology’s Apply webpage or contact the university’s Office of Graduate and Professional Programs Admissions.

Prerequisite and Recommended Preparation

Students who enter a doctoral audiology program often have an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders or in the core physical sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics). Students may also have backgrounds in business, education, music, psychology, or the social and behavioral sciences, among other diverse majors. Although no specific undergraduate major is required for admission into the AuD degree program at Pacific University, demonstration of knowledge and skills in core areas, including English composition/grammar, human biology, mathematics, physics/chemistry, social sciences, and statistics, is required prior to beginning the program. In addition to the prerequisite areas of study, additional courses in those and other key areas are strongly encouraged, including business, English, communication sciences and disorders, human biology, physics/chemistry, social sciences, and world languages. The Audiology Admissions Committee may advise a student to pursue additional pre- or post-baccalaureate study in specific areas or consider other preparation to help strengthen an application for admission. For more information on prerequisite and recommended preparation, contact the university’s Office of Graduate and Professional Programs Admissions.

English Proficiency

Demonstrated English proficiency is required of all applicants whose first language is not English. For more information on the English proficiency policy, contact the university’s Office of Graduate and Professional Programs Admissions.

Transfer Credit

Due to the block method of curriculum delivery and the accelerated nature of our AuD program, we are unable to accept transfer credit.

Non-degree Students Taking Courses

Individuals seeking to take individual Audiology courses will be reviewed on a case by case basis, based on availability.

Catalog Year and Readmission

The catalog in effect at the time of a student’s initial enrollment indicates the specific requirements for that student. Students who left the program in good academic standing may re-apply for admission and would re-enter the program under the requirements in effect at the time of readmission. Terms of readmission will be described in detail in the letter received by the Academic and Professional Standards Committee at the time the student left the program. Students who have been dismissed from the program may not apply for readmission.

Program Learning Outcomes

With our program’s purpose always in focus, our intent is that our students will achieve the following learning outcomes: 

• Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of and apply skills across the scope of practice of Audiology
• Describe and apply evidence-based best practices in interprofessional patient-centered care as applied to the practice of Audiology
• Identify professional development and leadership activities that are applicable to their future careers as Doctors of Audiology

Licensure & Occupation Requirements

• Official transcript showing the AuD from a U.S. Department of Education accredited program
• Official score report from ETS passing AUD praxis exam 
• Complete background check
• Professional Development hours of 10 hours per year are required beginning 12 months after degree conferral

Licensure Pass Rates

Updated annually on the School of Audiology webpage:

https://www.pacificu.edu/audiology-aud/student-outcome-data

 

Policies

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Credit/Course Load and Registration

A full-time course load is a minimum of 9 credits and a half-time course load is a minimum of 5 credits. For the AuD Program, students will take between 11 and 18 credits each semester in order to graduate in three years. A student is considered registered only after needed approvals from school administration have been obtained and classes have been entered into the registration system. The university reserves the right to cancel or restrict the registration of students who are delinquent in meeting their financial obligations to the university.

Add/Drop/Withdrawal Schedule

Due to the structure of the curriculum, there is no add/drop period. If a student must leave during a semester, courses that have been completed will receive a grade, and the transcript will show no record of courses that have not started. Once a course has started, withdrawing before 60% of the course has been completed will result in a W grade; withdrawing after the 60% point will result in a No Pass grade.

Audits

Degree seeking students may audit courses if passed previously and the students are returning from a leave of absence. Non-degree seeking students seeking to audit a course will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Time Limits on Degree Completion

A student may take up to five years to complete the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program, and may be dismissed if program requirements have not been completed within five years. All forms of leave (voluntary withdrawals, administrative withdrawals, leaves of absence) may be extended a maximum of 24 months total (either consecutive months or cumulative time) with the approval of the Director. The student may choose to re-apply for admission to the School as a first-year student if leaves exceed 24 months. Upon return after a leave, the student must demonstrate the clinical competencies and required knowledge necessary for continuing in the program.

Honors

Because the Audiology program does not use letter grades, honors awards are not awarded.

Attendance

See Program Handbook

Standards of Academic and Professional Conduct

The School of Audiology faculty is committed to instilling in our students the importance of personal and professional honor and integrity. In our position as a gatekeeper for the profession of audiology, we further intend for our graduates to uphold and maintain the level of confidence and trust the public expects from audiologists as licensed healthcare providers. Upon accepting admission to the Doctor of Audiology program, each student agrees to abide by standards of academic and professional conduct, which include but are not limited to:

• Acting with honesty and integrity in academic and professional activities. Cheating, falsifying data, and plagiarism constitute serious offenses of academic dishonesty. A student must never cheat on an examination, misrepresent their work, or represent the work of others as their own.
• Striving for professional competence.
• Fostering a positive environment for learning. A student will not interfere with or undermine other students’ efforts to learn.
• Respecting the knowledge, skills, and values of all, including fellow students, faculty, preceptors, healthcare professionals, administrators, staff, and patients.
• Respecting the autonomy and dignity of all, including fellow students, faculty, preceptors, healthcare professionals, administrators, staff, and patients.
• Respecting the time of others by being prompt in meeting obligations.
• Seeking treatment for any personal impairment, including substance abuse, which could adversely impact others.
• Promoting the good of every patient in a caring, compassionate, and confidential manner.
• Protecting the confidentiality of any medical, personal, academic, financial, or business information.

Additional information on standards of student conduct is available from the university’s Office of Student Conduct. School administration will address violations of these standards. Violations may result in receiving a grade of No Pass (N) for a didactic or clinical course or an examination or in other disciplinary action, up to and including delay of program, warning, probation, suspension, and/or dismissal from the program.

Grading

The School of Audiology uses a Pass/No Pass system of recording student achievement.

• Pass: designated as “P” on the transcript, for a course or for a didactic comprehensive and/or clinical proficiency examination or other examination or activity, represents a score of 85% or more for the required competencies for that course, examination, or other activity.
• No Pass: Failure to achieve a score of 85% or more for the required competencies for a course may result in a grade of No Pass (designated as “N” on the transcript). Grades of No Pass also may be assigned for unsatisfactory clinical progress, unsatisfactory performance on clinical proficiency examinations, unsafe clinical practice, unsatisfactory performance on comprehensive didactic examinations, academic dishonesty, unprofessional or unethical conduct, other violations of student conduct, failure to satisfactorily complete work to resolve a grade of Incomplete or Work in Progress, or failure to adhere to university or school policies and procedures.

In addition, occasionally these temporary grades are used:

• Incomplete: typically issued only when health or emergency situations prevent the student from finishing all requirements for the course. The major portion of a course must have been completed satisfactorily prior to issuing the Incomplete grade; an Incomplete may not be assigned to allow more time to resolve failing work and avoid a grade of No Pass. The agreed-upon work must be completed within a designated period of time, typically prior to the end of the next semester, otherwise the Incomplete grade will be changed to a grade of No Pass (designated as “N” on the transcript).
• Work in Progress: typically issued only when the nature of the course requirements necessitates more time for completion (e.g., clinical practicum or capstone project requirements). The major portion of a course must have been completed satisfactorily prior to issuing the Work in Progress grade; this grade may not be assigned to allow more time to resolve failing work and avoid a grade of No Pass. The agreed-upon work must be completed within a designated period of time, typically prior to the end of the next semester, otherwise the Work In Progress grade will be changed to a grade of No Pass (designated as “N” on the transcript).

Once a grade of Pass or No Pass has been submitted (electronically or by hand) to the registrar, it is considered final and may be changed within one year only in the case of recording, posting, or computation errors or if so required as the result of an appeal.

Remediation

Remediation may be recommended for a student who needs additional time to address academic difficulties, complete course requirements or demonstrate satisfactory clinical progress. A written action plan with timelines will be developed to direct the remediation process. As most SOA courses are offered once per academic year, a student may need to wait until the following year to remediate a course, thus delaying their degree completion.  Failure to successfully complete remediation may result in dismissal from the program without the option for re-admission.

Evaluation of Student Progress and Academic Standing

Progression of students toward achievement of programmatic outcomes, both didactically and clinically, is monitored throughout the program using various formative and summative methods of assessment, including course examinations, didactic comprehensive examinations, and clinical proficiency examinations.

• A grade of Pass (P) must be attained in each course and each didactic comprehensive and clinical proficiency examination in order to continue satisfactorily through the curriculum. In addition to satisfactory academic and clinical progress, good academic standing in the School of Audiology requires regular and prompt attendance, appropriate professional and ethical conduct, effective interpersonal skills, and adherence to policies and procedures.
• Students who receive grades of No Pass (N) for any course or for any didactic comprehensive examination or clinical proficiency examination, show unsatisfactory clinical progress, demonstrate unsafe clinical practice, have violations of student conduct (including but not limited to academic dishonesty and unprofessional or unethical conduct), or show failure to comply with university or school rules and procedures may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including delay of program, warning, suspension, probation, and/or dismissal.
• Students who have been dismissed from the program may not re-apply for admission.

Appeals

Program decisions regarding academic standing are final. A decision may be appealed only if the student can show that 1) there was an error in procedure; 2) there is new evidence sufficient to alter the decision; or 3) the sanction imposed was not appropriate to the severity of the violation. For information on academic appeals, see the Bylaws of the Pacific University College of Health Professions.

Repeating Courses

Students may repeat a course one time if they have received a grade of No Pass. A second No Pass will cause the student to be reviewed for dismissal.

Leave of Absence (LOA)

A student may request a break in their program for medical or personal reasons, with a pre-arranged return date. Students on an approved LOA retain their admitted status; however, they are not registered and therefore do not have the rights and privileges of registered students. An Action Plan will be created for each student that outlines the plan for return, including any modifications to curriculum. Upon return after a leave, the student must demonstrate the clinical competencies and required knowledge necessary for continuing in the program.

LOA is never used in lieu of suspension or dismissal to avoid academic consequences for substandard performance or inadequate progress. All forms of leave (voluntary withdrawals, medical withdrawals, leaves of absence) may be extended a maximum of 24 months total (either consecutive months or cumulative time) with the approval of the Director. The student may choose to re-apply for admission to the School as a first-year student if leaves exceed 24 months.

Commencement

Commencement for the School of Audiology occurs in August, although degree conferral can occur in January, May, or August depending upon when degree requirements are met. Students are strongly encouraged but not required to participate in the commencement ceremony. All degree requirements must be completed except for externship to be allowed to participate in commencement ceremony.  Questions of eligibility to participate should be directed to the Director of the School.

Calendar

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The calendar is posted on the Audiology Student Resources website: www.pacificu.edu/audiology-aud/student-resources