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Gallaudet University was among the first universities to address the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association mandate to universities to convert the entry level clinical audiology degree from a master's degree to a clinical doctoral (AuD) degree. The Gallaudet AuD program was approved in 1998 and graduated its first AuD class in 2002. The purpose of this article is to describe the Gallaudet AuD program, the process of converting from a master's program to an AuD program, the impact of converting the program, and current challenges. It is hoped that this description will be useful to those who are currently developing AuD programs.
Key Words: audiology, doctorate, Gallaudet
Gallaudet University was among the first universities to address the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) mandate to universities to convert the entry level clinical audiology degree from a master's degree to a clinical doctoral (AuD) degree. The Gallaudet AuD program was approved in 1998 and graduated its first AuD class in 2002. The purpose of this article is to describe the Gallaudet AuD program, the process of converting from a master's program to an AuD program, the impact of converting the program, and current challenges. It is hoped that this description will be useful to those who are currently developing AuD programs.
Program Description
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the AuD program are generally individuals who have completed, or are completing, undergraduate training in communication disorders or a closely related field. Admissions requirements are based on undergraduate curriculum requirements established by ASHA. Students who come from other undergraduate backgrounds will have prerequisites to complete before being eligible to apply for admission.
AuD Curriculum
The five components to Gallaudet's AuD program are coursework, clinical practicum experiences, a research project, an externship/residency, and a comprehensive examination.
Coursework and Clinical Practicum Experiences. Table 1 reflects the current AuD curriculum. The content of this curriculum reflects a modified "consensus curriculum" first proposed and developed cooperatively by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Audiology Foundation of America, and numerous university programs and clinical personnel. The curriculum consists of 90 credits of academic coursework and 36 credits of audiology and aural rehabilitation clinical practicum experiences. In addition, because of the unique mission of Gallaudet University to...