Four years (11 semesters); three years of academic course work with short-term clinical practicum experiences and a fourth year externship.
How many students are in each class?
Each class usually consists of 9 students.
Can out of state students apply and be accepted?
Yes, out of state students can apply and be accepted.
When can I come for a tour of the campus?
Consider signing up for one of the scheduled Open Houses. We offer Open Houses online via Zoom and also in person, if Covid restrictions allow. If those dates will not work, we would be happy to schedule an alternative visit, if possible. Call us at 501-320-7300.
Can I work while going to the graduate program in audiology?
We encourage students to focus on their studies, but if they must work, limit the number of hours worked per week to no more than 5 to 15 hours. This will certainly apply to students who have a graduate assistantship.
What hours will I be in attendance at school while enrolled in the audiology program?
Students will be busy in graduate school with both classroom and clinic demands on their time that would require them to be on campus or at their clinical sites. Most program-related activities occur during normal work hours (8 am to 5 pm), but there may be times when a course or clinical practicum extends into the early evening. On occasion, there will also be required events that occur on weekday evenings or weekends. These will be announced in advance.
What is the deadline for admission applications?
February 1
When do classes begin?
Students are admitted once a year for the fall semester and classes begin in August.
Is it “hard” to get accepted into the program?
Admission to the program is competitive and based on the following factors: academic achievement, academic aptitude, leadership and professionalism, and written and oral communication. The way we gauge these factors is based on a variety of information: minimum overall undergraduate GPA or GPA in the major/last 60 hours of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, recommendation letters, your personal statement and resume, and interview if requested.
Should I send a college transcript for all college coursework?
Yes, it is a requirement for admission. More importantly, we require transcripts from all post-secondary institutions where you have taken college or graduate level courses.
Is financial aid available?
Interested individuals may contact the Student Financial Services Office (telephone 501-686-5451) for information concerning available grants, loans and scholarships in the College. Contact 501-320-7300 for information regarding a limited number of graduate assistantships and other forms of financial assistance in the department.
Do I have to have every prerequisite course completed before I can apply for admission?
At the time of application (deadline: February 1), all prerequisite course work does not have to be completed. Undergraduate students usually apply during their senior year, and some applicants may have come from programs unrelated to audiology or speech pathology (see next question).
What undergraduate courses are recommended?
Applicants must have earned at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university. Undergraduate-level course work with one undergraduate class, with a grade of C or better, in each of the following areas is required: mathematics (college algebra or higher), statistics, biological science, physical science, behavioral science.
Phonetics and language acquisition are also required, but these two pre-requisites do not have to be completed prior to enrollment. They must be completed prior to fall of your 2ndyear in the Au.D. program.
Pre-requisite courses do not count toward the total hours for the Au.D. program.
If I am past the traditional college age, am I too old to enter the profession of audiology?
There are no age requirements for admission to our program or the profession of audiology.
Is audiology a field for women only?
There are no gender requirements for this profession.
Are audiologists at risk for Infectious diseases?
Audiologists are at no greater risk than any other health care professional. Policies and procedures for infection control are consistent with universal precautions as standard of care for both on-campus and off-campus clinical rotations.
How many students are admitted to the program and how many apply?
Each year we admit between 8 and 12 students. Since the inception of the AuD program in 2006, we typically receive between 40 and 100 applications during each admission cycle.
Is the program clinical or researched based?
We implement evidence-based practices for all clinical experiences. Students have the opportunity and are encouraged to participate in research activities in the department. All students are required to complete a capstone research project.
Is the program more focused in one area over the other? (e.g., geriatrics vs. pediatrics; hospital vs. private practice, etc.)
Student practicum experienced will be tailored to meet certain minimums, with some flexibility shaping the clinical experiences towards the student’s long-term goals. The Au.D. is a generalist degree and our program offers a variety of clinical experiences and provides students with a well-rounded education.
What makes your program stand out from other programs?
The clinical and research resources of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Additional support for this program comes through other cooperating clinical partners within the Little Rock urban area and around the state, including Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the Central Arkansas Veteran’s Healthcare System. The program is accredited through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and is also accredited by ASHA as a continuing education sponsor.
Our Au.D. program is unique in Arkansas in the following ways:
It is the only Au.D. program in the state of Arkansas.
There is a balanced mix of Ph.D. and Au.D. faculty who provide both clinical and classroom teaching.
All Au.D. students complete a small-scale mentored capstone research project (not a thesis or dissertation). A thesis option is available to interested students.
Our department offers a Ph.D., which may be pursued jointly with the Au.D. Students may begin Ph.D. application after being admitted to the Au.D. program and completing at least the first two years of Au.D. study.
