Frequently Asked Questions about the
Doctor of Audiology (AuD) Degree at Northwestern University
- How many students are accepted into the AuD program each year?
- How early may I submit an application?
- When is the application deadline?
- What application materials must be submitted?
- What grade point average is required for admission to the program?
- What Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required for admission to the program?
- What institution code do I use to have my GRE and/or TOEFL scores sent to Northwestern University, Doctor of Audiology Program?
- Are factors other than GRE scores and GPA important in admissions decisions?
- Are there any prerequisite courses required for admission?
- What kind of financial aid is available to AuD students?
- If I am accepted to the AuD program, is it possible for me to attend part-time?
- Is it possible to begin my AuD studies in a quarter other than Fall?
- Can I be admitted to the AuD program without an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders?
- If I already have a master’s degree in audiology, can I be accepted into the AuD program?
- How long will it take to earn the AuD degree?
- How many courses do AuD students take?
- Are any courses offered by distance learning?
- Will I have to complete a dissertation?
- What is the difference between the AuD and PhD with emphasis in audiology?
- What clinical experiences can I expect?
- Who teaches AuD courses?
- If I earned observation or practicum hours during my undergraduate studies, will I be able to count them?
- Can I transfer credit for graduate courses taken elsewhere?
- What are the job prospects for audiologists?
- What are the fees and tuition for the AuD program?
- What is the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Doctor of Audiology students?
1. How many students are accepted into the AuD program each year?
Approximately 52% of applicants are admitted each year. Average class size is 12 students.
2. How early may I submit an application?
October 1.
3. When is the application deadline?
February 1.
4. What application materials must be submitted?
You must submit an application form, official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended, GRE scores (and TOEFL if you are an international student), two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
5. What grade point average is required for admission to the program?
A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required. The average GPA for admitted students is 3.70 on a 4.0 scale.
6. What Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required for admission to the program?
Verbal, quantitative, and analytical scores should be submitted. No minimum GRE score is required for admission. The average combined verbal and quantitative score for admitted students is 1190.
7. What institution code do I use to have my GRE and/or TOEFL scores sent to Northwestern University, Doctor of Audiology Program?
Northwestern University, Doctor of Audiology Program’s institution code is 2550. Do not use a department code.
8. Are factors other than GRE scores and GPA important in admissions decisions?
Yes, letters of recommendation from individuals who can assess a candidate’s ability to be successful in graduate studies and the applicant’s personal statement describing interest in Audiology and in attending Northwestern are considered in admissions decisions.
9. Are there any prerequisite courses required for admission?
Applicants are expected to provide evidence of undergraduate courses in life science, behavioral science, and physical science; mathematics/statistics; and oral/written communication.
10. What kind of financial aid is available to AuD students?
Funding possibilities include the Hugh Knowles full-tuition scholarship and partial tuition scholarships awarded on a merit basis. Low interest loans are available to qualified applicants.
11. If I am accepted to the AuD program, is it possible for me to attend part-time?
No, this is a full-time, four-quarter per year program.
12. Is it possible to begin my AuD studies in a quarter other than Fall?
No, the curriculum is sequential in nature with information in one quarter forming the basis for instruction and clinical practice in subsequent quarters.
13. Can I be admitted to the AuD program without an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders?
Yes, but your plan of study will need to be modified and probably extended depending on the types of undergraduate courses taken. There are a number of prerequisite courses that must be completed before progressing to the course offerings for the AuD degree.
14. If I already have a master’s degree in audiology, can I be accepted into the AuD program?
No, the AuD program is designed to meet the needs of post-baccalaureate students.
15. How long will it take to earn the AuD degree?
You should be able to complete the AuD program in three years, if you have an undergraduate background in speech and hearing science.
16. How many courses do AuD students take?
You will enroll in four courses per quarter, four quarters per year during the first two years of the AuD program, followed by a full-time, externship during the third year of the program.
17. Are any courses offered by distance learning?
All courses (with the exception of some practicum placements and the externship) are offered on campus.
18. Will I have to complete a dissertation?
No, you will complete a three-quarter series of courses culminating in a Capstone Project. Capstone Projects are conducted under the direction of a faculty member and focus on clinical populations and issues.
19. What is the difference between the AuD and PhD with emphasis in audiology?
The PhD prepares individuals to become independent investigators who are typically employed in academic and industrial settings. The AuD prepares individuals to become independent clinicians and supervisors of clinical practice who may be employed in clinic, hospital, and university settings and in private practice.
20. What clinical experiences can I expect?
Students are exposed to a broad range of clinical experiences. In addition to the NU hearing clinic, in Evanston, we currently have off-campus affiliations with schools, private practices, hospitals, physician groups, and rehabilitation facilities throughout the Chicago area. Clinical experiences include hearing evaluation, hearing aid selection and fitting, cochlear implants, electrophysiologic assessment, vestibular assessment, and hearing loss management (aural rehabilitation).
AuD courses are taught by faculty in clinical audiology and hearing science, psychologists, neuroscientists, engineers, otologists, educators, private practitioners, audiologists working in the hearing aid industry, audiologists working in the cochlear implant industry, and staff audiologists.
22. If I earned observation or practicum hours during my undergraduate studies, will I be able to count them?
Undergraduate observation and/or practicum hours can be counted towards certification requirements.
23. Can I transfer credit for graduate courses taken elsewhere?
A minimum number of hours may be transferred, as determined during development of your plan of study.
24. What are the job prospects for audiologists?
Job prospects are excellent in the coming years. See the ASHA website and the AAA website for relevant information. Statistics from the Bureau of Labor identify audiology as a profession on the "fast track for growth."
25. What are the fees and tuition for the AuD program?
There is a lab fee of $150 per year for the first and second year. Tuition for the 2010 - 2011 academic year is $10,398 per quarter. There are four quarters per year for a yearly tuition of $41,592. Tuition goes down to one third of the current tuition during the third year when students are on their externships.
26. What is the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Doctor of Audiology students?
Review the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy [pdf]
For more information, contact Ms. Celeste Lee at 847-491-4541 or c-lee6@northwestern.edu.
The Northwestern University Doctor of Audiology degree program is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Council on Academic Accreditation.
