Doctor of Audiology

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The Profession

Audiologists are healthcare professionals who are experts in the non-medical management of the auditory and balance systems. Audiologists evaluate hearing and hearing loss; recommend, fit, and verify personal amplification systems; and assist in school-based amplification decisions as well as many other activities. Graduates of this program are prepared for positions in a variety of professional settings including hospitals, private clinics, and private practices; community speech, language, and hearing centers; college and university programs; rehabilitation centers; residential institutions; school systems; and industrial settings.

The Program

The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology offers a Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree program through the College of Health Professions at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in a consortium with the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. This unique educational consortium combines the academic and clinical resources of a major medical sciences campus with those of a large, comprehensive, metropolitan university. The Au.D. program is a full-time four year program with one cohort of nine students beginning each fall semester. It consists of a total of 11 semesters including three summers. The program’s mission, goals, and knowledge and skills acquisition (KASA) objectives can be found on the department website.

The curriculum is designed to emphasize the science of hearing, speech, and language; the acquisition of knowledge about human communication disorders; and the study and practice of methods for evaluation and treatment. Practicum experiences are provided in a number of different settings, primarily in the central Arkansas area. Students should expect to travel two to four hours away from central Arkansas for practicum experiences during their second and third years.

Performance-based examinations during the first and second years in the program must be successfully completed to continue in the program. Successful completion of a comprehensive written examination is required prior to placement for the 4th-year externship. Successful completion of a directed research project and a 4th-year externship are required prior to graduation.

Accreditation

The doctoral (Au.D.) education program in audiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/University of Arkansas at Little Rock is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard #310, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Telephone: (800) 498-2071 or (301) 296-5700.

Licensure and Certification

Successful completion of all program requirements qualifies the student to apply for national examinations required for licensure and/or certification. Graduates of the Au.D. program will be eligible to apply to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech Pathology and Audiology for a license to practice audiology in the state. Graduates will also be eligible to apply for optional certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and/or the American Board of Audiology (ABA). Successful completion of the program does not itself ensure licensure and/or certification. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with licensure and certification requirements.

Admissions Requirements

Undergraduate course work in mathematics (college algebra or higher) and in biological, physical, and behavioral sciences is required. A course in statistics is required. Although there are no prerequisite courses in audiology or speech pathology, the program does require that all students have one course in phonetics and one in language acquisition. If these courses are not completed prior to admission, they must be completed during the first year of study in the program.

Two program tracks are offered to students: a post-bachelor’s degree track and a post-master’s degree track.

Application Procedures

The deadline for applications is January 15. Applications not completed by this date or incomplete applications will not be considered in the application process. The application process for the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program is a two-step process: 1) the Gateway for UAMS Students (GUS) Online Admissions Application (OAA) with associated fee must be completed/submitted and 2) the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application System (CSDCAS) application form must be completed/submitted. Applicants should begin the process in the Fall of 2018. Applicants who wait until January to begin the process risk missing the January 15 deadline.

1. Gateway for UAMS Students (GUS) Online Admissions Application (OAA): The program application is required and available at http://healthprofessions.uams.edu/prospective-students/apply/online-application-guide/. A non-refundable application fee of $40.00 is required and must accompany the OAA application.
2. Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application System (CSDCAS) Application: Applicants must apply through CSDCAS at https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#login. Create your application in this portal, pay your application fee, and monitor your application status. You will need to upload and submit a number of documents via CSDCAS. Before starting this process, please carefully read the Instructions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to better understand how the process works and what to expect. If you are reapplying, please review these again as this information may be updated. CSDCAS Customer Service is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. Phone: 617-612-2030; Email: csdcasinfo@csdcas.org.
   1. CAPCSD Application
   2. CAPCSD Application Fee
   3. Official Transcripts: Official transcripts from each college from which you received course credit even if past course work appears on a later transcript. Download the CSDCAS transcript request form and send that to each school’s registrar. Send all transcripts for the program application to the following address:
      
      CSDCAS
      P.O. Box 9113
      Watertown, MA 02471
      Note: If you are admitted to the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program you will also need to provide official transcripts from all colleges you have attended to the UAMS College of Health Professions before you can enroll.
       
   4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores: The Graduate Record Examination (verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing) is required. The GRE must be completed within the last five years at the time of application and include verbal, quantitative, and writing scores. A combination of scores from separate exam dates may not be utilized. To submit your GRE score, provide ETS with the Institution Code: 7504.
   5. Three Letters of Recommendation: Identify three (3) previous faculty members who are familiar with your academic performance and are willing to provide a recommendation. Two of the three should be from faculty members who are familiar with your coursework in the major. Enter the faculty name and email address into CSDCAS to generate a request for a recommendation.
   6. Application Letter. Submit a letter (business format, 12 pt font, and <2 pages) to the AudiologyAdmissions Committee via CSDCAS that includes:
      1. An explanation of your interest in audiology.
      2. Your long-term and short-term goals.
      3. Other information you deem relevant to the committee’s decision-making process.
   7. TOEFL scores as applicable. See http://healthprofessions.uams.edu/files/2017/03/TOEFL-Policy-Waiver-Request-Form-2017-02-28.pdf.

Optional: A limited number of graduate assistant positions are available in the department and with our clinical partners. Decisions about graduate assistantship awards are not made until after an admissions offer is accepted. The graduate assistantship application is posted at http://healthprofessions.uams.edu/programs/audandspeechpathology/doctor-of-audiology/graduate-assistantships/.To apply for a graduate assistantship, an application and the required written essay must be submitted to:

Admission to the program is competitive and based on the following factors:

• Academic achievement
• Academic aptitude
• Leadership and professionalism
• Written and oral communication

Curriculum

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A minimum of 118 semester credits (SC) are required in the program. The following sample degree plan demonstrates a program that meets the credit minimum.