Audiology

The accelerated AuD program at Northwestern University prepares you to become an independent practitioner across a variety of healthcare settings including private practice, medical clinics, hospitals, and university settings. Accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) and consistently ranked among the top programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the AuD program prepares you to meet the challenges of audiologic practice today and tomorrow.

Approximately 15-18 students join the program each year, allowing us to ensure an outstanding faculty-to-student ratio. You will work closely with faculty who are world-renowned leaders in hearing loss diagnosis and management, speech perception, psychoacoustics, amplification devices, cochlear physiology, auditory neuroscience and electrophysiology, and auditory learning. Through academic courses, supervised clinical practicums, and a mentored capstone research project, you will learn and work with the latest advances in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with hearing and balance disorders.

Most courses are taught on the Evanston campus in the Frances Searle Building, a facility designed for instruction in communication sciences and disorders. State-of-the-art clinical facilities and experienced clinical instructors at the Northwestern University Center for Audiology, Speech, Language, and Learning (NUCASLL) ensure outstanding practicum experiences from the very first day in the program.

You will also have opportunities to gain experience with diverse clinical populations by participating in practicum at more than 30 off-campus sites. These include hospitals, specialty clinics in balance disorders and hearing conservation, private practices, research and development facilities of leading hearing aid manufacturers, and schools. Experts from other universities, private practice, and industry are frequently invited to campus to discuss the clinical implications of their research with students.

The foundational strengths of the School of Communication's AuD program include:

• The opportunity to work closely with faculty who are established international leaders in their fields
• A plan of study that develops knowledge and skills across the scope of practice for audiologists based on a strong foundation of basic science
• Extensive practicum experiences from the beginning of the program with clients of all ages and all types of hearing and balance disorders in NUCASLL and a variety of Chicago-area settings
• Emphasis on evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and clinical problem solving through applied research during individual Capstone Projects mentored by faculty and other experts

REQUIRED COURSEWORK:

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

Requirements

The Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) is a web-based application service used to apply to the Northwestern University Doctor of Audiology program.

• Required Materials: All application materials should be sent directly to CSDCAS with the following exception. TOEFL scores should be sent by ETS directly to Northwestern University, Doctor of Audiology program using institution code 2550.
• English language proficiency: If your native language is not English, you must certify your proficiency in the English language in one of the three following ways:
  • Provide official transcripts verifying an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution, where the language of instruction is English.
  • Provide official transcripts verifying a graduate degree from an accredited institution, where the language of instruction is English.
  • Score 100 total or higher and 26 or higher on the Speaking section on the Internet Based TOEFL (IBT) and have ETS send your official scores to institution code 2550 no older than one year.
• Foreign Transcripts: Foreign Transcripts must be evaluated by an evaluation service. We recommend World Education Services, Inc. (WES).
• CSDCAS Application Deadline:  All application materials must be received by January 15.  It is the applicants’ responsibility to ensure that all application materials reach CSDCAS by the deadline.
• CSDCAS Address: All official transcripts must be sent to CSDCAS at the address below:

CSDCAS Verification Department
P.O. Box 9113
Watertown, MA 02471 

Scholarships

Hugh Knowles Doctor of Audiology Scholarship

The Knowles Hearing Center and the Doctor of Audiology Program are pleased to offer a full tuition scholarship to an outstanding student each admission cycle. The Knowles Hearing Center's mission is to support excellence in hearing research, teaching and clinical training. This scholarship will be awarded to a student who demonstrates the highest potential for academic success. The scholarship is for full tuition for the three years of the program. Recipients must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.3/4.0. Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis, dependent upon academic performance. A separate application is not required for the Hugh Knowles Doctor of Audiology Scholarship. Nominees for this award will be contacted for a telephone interview.

Partial Tuition Scholarships

A limited number of partial tuition scholarships are awarded. Final scholarship decisions depend on the total number of scholarships available and the number of qualified applicants for these awards. Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis dependent upon factors such as academic performance, financial need and availability of funds. Those who wish to be considered for need-based funds must complete the FAFSA by March 1.