Doctorate of Audiology

Degree Requirements Degree Works

Note: Degree requirements effective for enrolled students beginning Fall 2023. All enrolled students, including matriculating students prior to Fall 2023, can review their degree program requirements and track progress to degree completion with our degree audit and advisement tool, Degree Works.

Admission to the Doctorate of Audiology program is competitive. Interested students are encouraged to apply early. Application deadline is February 1, 2025.

Applications to Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg's Au.D. program are managed by the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application System (CSDCAS). The applicant portal opens in early August and can be accessed using this link:

CSDCAS Portal

Materials to be submitted through CSDCAS include:

• A one-page, typed letter detailing your professional background, experience, and rationale for seeking admission to the AuD Program
• Three letters of recommendation from references who have knowledge of your academic and/or clinical background.
• Current resume.
• GRE scores not required.

Prerequisite coursework and requirements

• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
• A minimum of three semester hours in each: life sciences, physical sciences, behavioral sciences, mathematics, written and oral communications
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• TOEFL scores for international students.
• Individuals not meeting all requirements: Conditional admission is considered upon recommendation of the faculty.
• The deadline for receipt and verification of all application materials is February 1 of the year that you plan to begin the graduate program. Applications are only accepted for fall semester enrollment.

Early Admission

The Doctorate of Audiology Admissions Committees offer early admission into the programs based on the evaluation of an applicant’s ability and readiness for graduate work. The committee may offer early admission to students who meet the strict criteria established by the programs.

Articulation Agreements

• CU-Bloomsburg - Temple University Articulation Agreement
  The Commonwealth University- Bloomsburg Doctorate of Audiology program established an articulation agreement with Temple University Speech, Language, and Hearing Science Department to accept a limited number of undergraduate students from Temple University Speech, Language, and Hearing Science Department into the Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg Doctorate of Audiology program who meet the strict criteria established by the agreement.
• CU-Bloomsburg – William-Paterson University Articulation Agreement
  The Commonwealth University- Bloomsburg Doctorate of Audiology program established an articulation agreement with William Paterson University Department of Speech-Language Pathology to accept a limited number of undergraduate students from William Paterson University Department of Speech-Language Pathology into the Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg Doctorate of Audiology program who meet the strict criteria established by the agreement. 
• CU-Bloomsburg – Shippensburg University 3+4 Articulation Agreement
  The Commonwealth University- Bloomsburg Doctorate of Audiology program established an articulation agreement with Shippensburg University BS in Health Sciences to accept a limited number of undergraduate students from Shippensburg University BS in Health Sciences into the Commonwealth U- Bloomsburg Doctorate of Audiology program who meet the strict criteria established by the agreement.

This track is for students interested in completing an individualized research project as part of their program requirements, under the direction of an Audiology faculty member. Students seeking permission to complete a research project as part of their program requirements are recommended to speak with the Au.D. Graduate Coordinator/Advisor as early in the program as possible for guidance on initiating the process.

>> AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability

• Organization: American Association on Health and Disability
• Description: Graduate or undergraduate students with a disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act can apply for this scholarship. They must also be pursuing a degree in public health, disability studies, audiology, special education, rehabilitation engineering, or other fields that have an impact on individuals with disabilities.
• Amount: Up to $1,000
• Deadline: March 1, 2024

>> AMBUCS Scholarship Program

• Organization: National AMBUCS, Inc.
• Description: This scholarship is open to graduate students earning a degree in speech language pathology, hearing audiology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
• Amount: $600 to $6,000
• Deadline: May 1st annually

>> American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Graduate Student Scholarship

• Organization: American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation
• Description:
  • General Graduate Student Scholarships – 
    • Applicants must be accepted for, or enrolled full-time in, a graduate study in a CAA accredited CSD program in the US for general graduate student scholarships
  • Endowed Scholarships –
    • International Student Scholarship- for international students studying in the US. Only non-US citizens are eligible.
    • Minority Student Scholarship- for students who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group and are US citizens.
    • NSSLHA Scholarship – for undergraduate senior students with active National NSSLHA membership who will begin grad study in the fall.
• Amount:
  • Up to 15 general graduate student scholarships of $5,000 each
  • Up to nine Endowed scholarships of $5,000 each.
• Deadline: May, annually

>> Autism Science Foundation Pre- and Postdoctoral Training Awards

• Organization: Autism Science Foundation
• Description: This award goes to graduate students or postdoctoral fellows who want to conduct research into almost any research area, including speech and communication disorders, as long as they relate to autism.
• Amount: $35,000 (for predoctoral students) or $50,000 (for postdoctoral students)
• Deadline: December 8, 2023

>> CAPCSD Frances J. Laven Scholarship

• Organization: CAPCSD (Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders)
• Description: This award is intended for graduate students in a professional program (Master’s SLP, Master's AuD, or SLPD) who have shown exemplary service. Examples of service may include, but are not limited to, community service, service to the department or university, or service to the greater discipline. Students must be enrolled in a professional graduate program at a CAPCSD member institution.
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: December 1, 2023

>> Continued Achievement Scholarship

• Organization: American Academy of Audiology Foundation
• Description: This scholarship is awarded to two (2) students who show exceptional promise in providing outstanding patient care as a clinical audiologist. The recipient must be a full-time graduate student enrolled in an audiology graduate program in good standing at a U.S. university.
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline: April 30th

>> Empowering Students Scholarship

• Organization: American Academy of Audiology Foundation
• Description: This scholarship is awarded to six students who show exceptional promise as a clinical audiologist. The recipient must be a full-time graduate student enrolled in an audiology graduate program in good standing at a U.S. university.
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: May 31st

>> Graduate Student Scholarship

• Organization: American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation
• Description: Any student who’s enrolled in a graduate-level communication science and disorders program may apply. A select number of scholarships will be reserved for certain types of applicants, such as international, disabled, and minority students.
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: May 19th

>> Jerry Northern Scholarship in Pediatric Audiology

• Organization: American Academy of Audiology Foundation
• Description: This scholarship is for students interested in pediatric audiology. Recipients must be full-time graduate students enrolled in an audiology program and in good standing at a U.S. university. Applicants must be in at least their second academic year in the graduate program and have completed at least one course in pediatric audiology.
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: May 31st

>> Judith Blumsack Scholarship

• Organization: American Academy of Audiology Foundation
• Description: This scholarship is awarded to a student who demonstrates outstanding clinical skills and who shows promise in terms of clinical research and service to the hearing health community. Recipients must be full-time graduate students enrolled in an audiology program and in good standing at a U.S. university. Students must be in at least the second year of their program when the scholarship is awarded.
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 30th

>> Karlind T. Moller Cleft/Craniofacial Scholarship for Speech Pathology/Audiology Students

• Organization: American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association
• Description: The scholarship helps graduate and undergraduate speech-language pathology and audiology students fund their research projects that involve patients with cleft lip/palate or other craniofacial conditions.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: November 10, 2023

>> Master Clinician Network Scholarship

• Organization: The Master Clinician Network
• Description: This scholarship goes to a member of National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing (NBASLH) who has demonstrated leadership potential with reference to increasing diversity in the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: January 10, 2024

>> NBASLH Student Research Award

• Organization: National Black Association for Speech-Language and Hearing
• Description: Full-time students enrolled in an ASHA-accredited program are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants must be members of the NBASLH and submit a research paper that addresses a topic of scientific or scholarly merit dealing with issues relevant to communication sciences and disorders and audiology impacting the African-American, Caribbean, African, and/or Afro-Latinx population.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: January 10, 2024

>> Preparing Students for Academic Research Careers (SPARC) Award

• Organization: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Description: The primary goal of this scholarship is to help students who want to engage in a research-oriented career in a field relating to communication sciences and disorders. This scholarship is only open to graduate students and upper-class undergraduates.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: April 30th

>> Sadanand Singh Memorial Scholarship

• Organization: American Academy of Audiology Foundation
• Description: This scholarship is awarded to one minority or international student who shows exceptional promise in audiology research. The recipient must be a full-time graduate student in audiology and in good standing at a U.S. university
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: April 30th

>> Sertoma Communicative Disorders Scholarship

• Organization: Sertoma, Inc.
• Description: Funded by the Sertoma Annual Fund, this scholarship is intended for graduate students enrolled in an accredited audiology or speech-language pathology program. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have at least a 3.5 GPA.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: March 31st

>> Von Drach Memorial Scholarship

• Organization: Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association (PSHA)
• Description: This scholarship is available to full-time students working towards a degree that will result in professional-level certification in speech-language pathology, audiology, or educating the hearing impaired within Pennsylvania. Applicants must be a member of the PSHA.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: February 2024

Audiology (Au.D.) Student Handbook

Student must maintain a QPA of 3.0, with no more than two grades lower than a B- throughout the doctoral audiology program. A grade of B- or lower in any clinical experience will necessitate repeating the course to achieve a grade of B or higher.

Knowledge and Skills Assessment (KASA): Students will have regular and ongoing opportunities to assess their knowledge and skills acquired in the academic and clinical program. The results of this assessment will be used to plan and implement program improvements. Students track their progress in achieving certification standards by completing a form (KASA) every semester so that progress can be reviewed with the faculty and with the academic advisor.

On-time Program Completion Rates

Praxis Pass Rates

Employment Rates of Graduates

Practicum opportunities are available through the Audiology Clinic located in Centennial Hall on the Bloomsburg campus and through other affiliated agencies. Affiliations are also in place with more than 80 hospitals, clinics, public schools and private practice settings. 

Services offered at the on-campus Audiology Clinic: 

• Diagnostic evaluations – Pure tone air/bone conduction, speech audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex studies, and otoacoustic emissions.
• Electrophysiologic evaluations – Auditory evoked potentials, stacked auditory evoked potential, steady state evoked potential, electrocochleography, visual evoked, and somatosensory evoked.
• Hearing Aid/Assistive Devices –Selection, verification, and orientation of digital technology and assistive devices across the lifespan. 
• Hospital Clinic – Newborn hearing screening, occupational medicine, and in and out patient services. 
• Aural Rehabilitation – Habilitative and rehabilitative services and counseling with a patient-centered focus across the lifespan.
• Central Auditory Processing – Evaluations and interventions.
• Cochlear Implant Clinic – Selection, programming, and troubleshooting.
• Electrophysiology Clinic Diagnostic Testing – otoacoustic emissions, auditory evoked potentials, visual evoked, somatosensory evoked, stacked auditory evoked potential, electrocochleography, and steady state evoked potential.
• Tinnitus Clinic – Diagnostics, intervention services that include sound generators, counseling, and tinnitus retraining therapy.
• Vestibular/Balance Clinic – Diagnostic (videonystagmography, rotational chair, dynamic computerized posturography, vestibular myogenic evoked potentials) and rehabilitative services.

Contact the Clinic at 570-389-5380 for an appointment.

• Q. What is a typical week like for an audiology student? 
  A. Each week expect to have one, half day dedicated to the clinic. 48 hours before you see your patient(s) on your clinical day, you must complete a staffing, which is paperwork that helps you to prepare for appointments. After your appointment, you must complete the report within 24 hours and take care of the additional paperwork that is related to the appointment. Outside of clinic, you have 4 classes to attend, Monday through Thursday. During the week, you will be studying, preparing to see patients, and working in a GA position/job if you choose. If you manage your time wisely and prioritize schoolwork effectively, you will have the remaining time for leisure and fun. More information.
• Q. What are classes like? 
  A. Each semester you will have 4 classes with one related to what you are doing in the clinic. Classes are typically scheduled 5-8 pm. You will also have classes during the summer semester, some of them being morning classes. Refer to the curriculum outline for what classes you will be taking each semester. 
• Q. Are GA positions available? 
  A. Graduate assistant positions are available in 5-, 10-, and 20-hour positions. You can choose to work in the department as a clinic GA, or with a faculty member. There are also positions available campus-wide. Depending on how many hours you work, the corresponding stipend and tuition coverage will be granted. Refer to the CU-Bloomsburg GA website to see what positions are available on campus. Dr. Z will provide the information if you are interested in holding a GA in the department. 
• Q. Where do I live in Bloomsburg? 
  A. Bloomsburg is a college town where many affordable housing options are available. You should first consider if you want to live alone or with others. Do some research on apartment complexes to see if that type of housing fits your needs. You can also contact landlords in the area and explain to them that you are a graduate student looking for housing. Some landlords reserve housing for only graduate students, so don’t be afraid to ask! Refer to the off-campus housing resource through the University to receive more information. 
• Q. Can I park my car on campus? 
  A. Some students decide to live within a mile of campus where they walk to class/clinic and others live further away where they receive a parking pass and drive to campus. You can fill out an application to obtain a parking pass prior to the semester you plan to start. There is a reserved parking lot for commuters behind the library where you will park. Parking anywhere on campus is free after 5pm during the fall and spring semesters. For more parking information, refer to the university parking information website. 
• Q. What is clinic experience like? 
  A. Our clinic is a full-service facility that provides a broad range of audiological services to the community. You are in clinic from the start of your first semester and begin accumulating supervised hours that apply to licensure and certification. You will have one, half a day per week, morning or afternoon, to see scheduled patients. You will share your clinic day with a partner, and you communicate with your partner to determine what patient you will see. You will have one of our two supervisors with you while seeing patients. They are there to help and guide you through each appointment. We have a variety of patients come to our clinic including patients for audiological evaluations, hearing aid appointments, balance, tinnitus, auditory processing disorders, and more! You will stay at our university clinic until the end of your second year. Third year you will be out in the community at various facilities to expand your knowledge and skills. Your fourth year you can choose to go anywhere in the country to hone your abilities and skills and acquire most of your required hours. Watch this video to tour our clinic! 
• Q. Why is Bloomsburg a good fit for me? 
  A. Bloomsburg’s audiology program has so much to offer for an affordable price! We offer the research and IONM tracks to personalize your training, as well as state-of-the-art equipment in our on-campus clinic. You will interact with a variety of patients and get hands-on experience from as early as the first week of your first semester. Outside of the program, Bloomsburg is a small college town and a tight-knit community with many activities to participate in and areas to explore. Even though we are located in rural Pennsylvania, there are endless opportunities for success! Advice for accepted students:
  • Come visit us! Contact Dr. Zalewski (tzalewsk@commonwealthu.edu) to schedule a visit to see our facilities and the campus.
  • Contact current audiology students to answer any of your questions!
  • Make a pros and cons list of each school to weigh out your options o Include things like tuition cost, availability GA positions, patient experience, and many more. 
• Q. Do I need to have an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology in order to gain admission? 
  A. No- it’s an excellent fit for students from a number of undergraduate majors. Some of the more common applicant majors are Biology, Health Science, Pre-Medical Sciences, Exercise Science, and Chemistry. 
• Q. Is the GRE required for Admission?  
  A. No- the GRE in not required for admission into the Au.D. program.