Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5355 USA
(269) 387-8045

Doctor of Audiology

IMPORTANT: Admission to our Doctorate of Audiology program is currently suspended through fall 2025. 

Western Michigan University's four-year residential post baccalaureate program in audiology provides academic and practicum experiences leading to the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) Degree. Its primary mission is preparation of professionals who have the knowledge, judgment and problem solving skills necessary to provide high quality services and leadership in audiology.

The goal is to enable graduates to work effectively in an ever changing world. As part of the degree program, students must successfully complete an independent scholarly project, outcomes-based formative assessments, and all requirements for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Certificate of Clinical Competence and/or state licensure.

In addition, those who have not completed an undergraduate or a graduate course in sign language must do so. Those applicants with undergraduate majors other than speech pathology and audiology or who already have a graduate degree and certificate of competence should contact the graduate advisor in audiology.

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Admission requirements

In addition to the information listed below please see our admissions page for instructions and additional requirements for applying. Applicants to the Au.D. program must have:

  • An acceptable undergraduate degree.

  • At least one course or transcript credit in each of the following areas: life sciences, physical sciences, social or behavioral sciences and statistics.

  • Coursework or transcript credit that provides information on basic human communication processes - phonetics, speech/language development and the science of speech and hearing.

  • Coursework or transcript credit in speech, language and hearing disorders.

  • GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study.

  • GRE scores. **Note: GREs are not required for the 2020-21 application cycle.**

Sample program

106 credit hours.

Year 1

Fall

  • Clinical Practice
  • Anatomy of Audition and Balance
  • Psychoacoustics
  • Diagnostic Audiology I

Spring

  • Clinical Practice
  • Hearing Aids
  • Pediatric Audiology
  • Statistics

Summer I and II

  • Clinical Practice
  • Auditory Disorders
  • Industrial and Public Health Audiology
  • Ethics, Counseling, and Professionalism

Year 2

Fall

  • Professional Field Experience
  • Vestibular Assessment
  • Habilitative and Educational Audiology

Spring

  • Professional Field Experience
  • Diagnostic Audiology II
  • Otoacoustic Emissions
  • Culturally Responsive Practice

Summer I and II

  • Professional Field Experience
  • Management of Audiology Practice
  • Geriatric and Rehabilitative Audiology

Year 3

Fall

  • Professional Field Experience
  • Hearing Aids II
  • Independent Research

Spring

  • Professional Field Experience
  • Instrumentation in Audiology
  • Cochlear Implants
  • Independent Research

Summer I and/or II

  • Clinical Externship (12 months full-time)

Year 4

Fall, Spring and/or Summer I

  • Clinical Externship

Program Goals

To educate speech, language and hearing professionals for a diverse and changing population, to advance knowledge through research, to deliver quality clinical services, and to serve as a resource for the community and professions.

The following program goals were developed by the SLHS Faculty and Chair, updated by Audiology Faculty and Interim Chair in Summer 2024 in response to our decreasing number of students due to impending program closure. These goals guide department decision-making through curricular and assessment processes referenced through the below specified benchmarks: 

  1. Graduate the two remaining AuD students who will meet or exceed professional standards. 
    a. The remaining students will successfully complete their externships and graduate during the 2024-2025 academic year. 
     
  2. Graduate AuD students who will be prepared for audiology service provision across a variety of settings throughout the state of Michigan and beyond. 
    a. Exit survey data over the last 5 years will indicate employment in a variety of settings. 
     
  3. Graduates will demonstrate professional competencies related to ethical conduct, collaboration, and cultural linguistic responsivity. 
    a. The SLHS community will create a pre-professional environment in which at least 90% of all students feel respected and included (as evidenced by results from DEIB survey) 
    b. Graduate students at all levels who can a) define and recognize at least one form of systemic inequity, b) recognize and respond to microaggressions, and 
    c) advocate for self to someone in position of relative power based on a combination of coursework, professional interactions, DEIB survey results, and/or externship documentation. 
     
  4. Close the Au.D. program while maintaining a strong audiology influence at Western Michigan University 
    a. 90% of MA-SLP students will graduate with audiology experience. 
    b. The undergraduate program will graduate at least three students annually who are interested in pursuing audiology as a career. 
    c. Close the Au.D. program as of fall 2025