Audiology Doctorate (Au.D.)

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The Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) program is a four-year post-baccalaureate program consisting of three years of didactic coursework and on- and off-campus clinical rotations and a fourth year, full-time, external clinical placement. Students also are required to complete a research experience during their third year of study. The master’s (M.A.) education program in speech/language pathology and the doctoral (Au.D.) education program in audiology at the University of South Dakota are 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, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 toll free or 301-296-5700.

Doctor of Audiology: Total 115-121 credit hours

Major Area Coursework

DCOM 528 - American Sign Language I (C) 3 cr hrs *Unless taken at the undergraduate level.
DCOM 535 - Language Disorders of Children 3 cr hrs *Unless taken at the undergraduate level.
DCOM 595 - Practicum 1 to 6 cr hrs (9 credit hours required) 1-2 credits each, 6 terms on campus
DCOM 712 - Professional Issues and Advocacy 1 cr hrs
DCOM 713 - Psychoacoustics 3 cr hrs
DCOM 714 - Signal Processing 3 cr hrs
DCOM 715 - Audiology Practice Management 3 cr hrs
DCOM 716 - Advanced Topics in Aural Rehabilitation 2 cr hrs
DCOM 717 - Embryology and Genetics Related to the Auditory System 2 cr hrs
DCOM 718 - History of Audiology 1 cr hrs
DCOM 719 - Speech Pathology for Audiologists 1 cr hrs
DCOM 720 - Hearing Loss Prevention Care 1 cr hrs
DCOM 722 - Amplification I 3 cr hrs
DCOM 723 - Hearing Loss Prevention across the Life Span 2 cr hrs
DCOM 725 - Vestibular Diagnosis 2 cr hrs
DCOM 726 - Anatomy and Physiology of the Peripheral Auditory System 3 cr hrs
DCOM 727 - Pediatric Audiology 3 cr hrs
DCOM 728 - Neuroaudiology: Anatomy, Physiology, and Electrophysiologic Techniques 3 cr hrs
DCOM 729 - Pathologies of Hearing 2 cr hrs
DCOM 730 - Central Auditory Processing Disorders 3 cr hrs
DCOM 740 - Cochlear Implants 3 cr hrs
DCOM 741 - Hearing Assistive Technologies 2 cr hrs
DCOM 742 - Diagnostic Audiology 3 cr hrs
DCOM 743 - Otoscopy and Cerumen Management 1 cr hrs
DCOM 744 - Ethics in Audiology Clinic 1 cr hrs
DCOM 745 - Vestibular Treatment 2 cr hrs
DCOM 746 - Aging Auditory System 1 cr hrs
DCOM 747 - Outcomes of Children with Hearing Loss 2 cr hrs
DCOM 748 - Educational Audiology 1 cr hrs
DCOM 749 - Tinnitus and Sound Tolerance 2 cr hrs
DCOM 750 - Audiologic Care of Musicians 1 cr hrs
DCOM 752 - Advanced Diagnostics in Audiology 2 cr hrs
DCOM 757 - Counseling in Audiologic Clinical Settings 2 cr hrs
DCOM 759 - Integrated Clinical Methods 1 cr hrs (11 credit hours required) 1 cr each
DCOM 760 - Implantable Hearing Technologies 1 cr hrs
DCOM 762 - Advanced Amplification 2 cr hrs
DCOM 763 - Medical Audiology 1 cr hrs
DCOM 764 - Pharmacology and Ototoxicity 1 cr hrs
DCOM 769 - Industrial and Forensic Audiology 1 cr hrs
DCOM 787 - Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders 3 cr hrs
DCOM 888 - Individual Research in Communication Disorders 1 to 6 cr hrs (4 credit hours required) 2 semesters
DCOM 794 - Internship in Communication Disorders 1 to 12 cr hrs (6 credit hours required) 2 semesters/3 cr each
DCOM 796 - Field Experience: Externship in Audiology (C) 9 cr hrs (15 credit hours required) 3 semesters, 5 cr each

Note:

All graduate students working toward the completion of graduate degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders must meet the academic and clinical practicum requirements for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in their area of emphasis (Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology) by the end of their degree program. The ASHA requirements may be waived for international students. In addition, all graduate students are required to pass a comprehensive examination in the final semester of their graduate study. The Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty will determine the content, form, and the length of the examination. Specific academic and clinical practicum requirements for the degrees and national certification are contained in the department’s Student Handbook. Consult your advisor or the department chairperson.

* Items marked with an “*” can be taken at the undergraduate level and can range from 3-15 credit hours. If all five courses are fulfilled at the undergraduate level, the total number of credit hours required for this degree will equate to 115 credit hours. If none of the courses are fulfilled at the undergraduate level, the degree will require 130 credit hours.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will exhibit knowledge and skills in the areas of foundations of clinical practice, including professional codes of ethics, credentialing, and health care and educational service delivery systems.
Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate and apply knowledge and skills regarding methods of prevention and identification of auditory and vestibular disorders.
Students will conduct and interpret behavioral/ psychophysical, electroacoustic, and electrophysiologic evaluation/diagnostic procedures for individuals suspected of disorders of auditory, balance, communication, and related systems.
Students will develop, implement, and monitor the effectiveness of setting-appropriate treatment plans for individuals with auditory, balance, and related communication disorders with measurable and achievable goals that meet clients’/patients’ needs.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of principles and practices of research, including experimental design, statistical methods, and application to clinical populations.
Graduates from the AuD program will demonstrate sufficient knowledge to meet national certification requirements.

Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification

The University of South Dakota as of July 1, 2020, cannot confirm whether any particular course or program meets educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, contact the academic department offering your major or CDE at 605.658.6152 or by email at cde@usd.edu. USD is working to comply with these requirements and will provide up-to-date information as it becomes available.

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the State Authorization webpage below.

Information about State Authorization & Professional Licensure