Degree Requirements

The AuD requires a minimum of 75 credit hours of academic coursework and 45 credits for clinical practicum. Graduate course credits may be transferred to this department only on approval of the AuD Advisory Committee and the Graduate School. It is expected that full-time students will complete their academic coursework within three years of enrollment in the AuD program.

The student must complete the following coursework as part of the qualifications for admission to candidacy:

• Students will take series of required courses in CDS (51 credits) and electives (18 credits) either in CDS or other departments.
• Competence in the use of research tools is required (9 credits). Students will complete a course in research methods (3 credits), at least one 3-credit statistics course, and either an Independent Study (CDS 600) or CDS 699 Doctoral Theory and Research.
• Students who enter the program without a background in speech-language pathology and audiology are required to complete a core of courses within the discipline.  

• CDS 387 Psychoacoustic Science  
• CDS 480 Clinical Observation and Participation
• CDS 522 Diagnostics (may take this course for graduate credit)

Please contact the audiology program advisor for details.

A general course of study for the entire AuD program. It is intended as a guide to help students in planning their course of study each semester.

A minimum 3.0 GPA must be maintained in academic courses and successful performance in clinical practicum must be maintained as indicated by a Satisfactory (S) grade on an individual's grade report. See the probation policy for details in the event this criteria is not met.

All doctoral students are expected to be engaged in the department's activities, so consequently are expected to attend full time. A minimum of two academic years of full-time residency is required. Please note that university regulations stipulate that all graduate work credited to the doctoral degree must be completed within seven years of the first registration date in the doctoral program. Students must maintain continuous registration until the degree is conferred. (Summers are not counted, one credit each semester is sufficient).

Students will register for clinical practicum in each semester during the first three years of the program. During the first and second years of the AuD program, students are closely supervised as they work on simulations or with patients. As students develop more expertise, clinical judgment, and confidence, they assume more responsibility with a greater degree of independence for case management.

Following the second academic year, students must successfully complete a clinical practical exam (The Gateway Exam) prior to being assigned to an externship placement.

Following three years of academic and practicum work, students will engage in a full time fourth-year externship dedicated to clinical practice. This placement can typically take place at any approved site within the United States that includes supervision by an audiologist with ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence.

Gateway Examination: At the end of year 2, students must pass a practical exam that evaluates basic clinical skills and knowledge. The goal of this exam is to determine if each student has the basic technical abilities and interpretive skills for them to go to clinical placements outside of the UB clinic

Comprehensive Examination: During year 3 of the AuD program, students must pass a written comprehensive examination and a hands-on clinical practice exam. The written comprehensive exams will include both essay and objective questions.

ASHA Examination: Students do not need to pass the ASHA (Praxis) examination prior to graduation. In most cases, students will be encouraged to take the ASHA examination during the spring semester of their third year of the AuD program. Passing of this examiniation is required if the student wants to practice after graduation. 

 The AuD program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, and graduates of the program will be eligible for clinical certification and state licensure. Certification requires the completion of 25 hours of clinical observation and basic competency in a vast array of clinical and academic knowledge and skill areas.

Each student must complete a clinical research project in an area of interest to the student. During the second year of the program, the student will identify a Research Advisor, who will help the student form a Research Committee (at least 3 faculty, including the Research Advisor - 3 committee members must hold the status of Graduate Faculty). A research proposal must be approved by the Research Committee prior to starting the project, and upon completion of the project, the final written report must be presented to the Research Committee and orally presented to the departmental faculty at a public forum. The required paperwork used is below.