Doctorate

A doctoral degree is the entry-level requirement for employment as an audiologist. Doctoral degrees for audiologists are categorized as either a clinical doctorate or a doctorate in philosophy. The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program at CSUN is a clinical doctorate, which emphasizes both academic instruction and clinical instruction, as well as being practice oriented.

The Doctor of Audiology program provides academic instruction, clinical instruction (assessment, treatment, rehabilitation) and participation in research investigations in the areas of normal hearing and balance, as well as disorders of hearing and balance. The program progresses students’ knowledge and skills for patient-centered care for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hearing, balance and a range of auditory disorders that occur in people across all ages of life. The program also emphasizes advancement of students’ knowledge and skills for existing and emerging technologies that are associated with the field.

Because the scope of practice for audiologists emphasizes treatment rehabilitative services, counseling and guidance to patients, the program’s pedagogy heavily emphasizes skill discovery and skill practice. This pedagogy is emphasized in both academic instruction as well as clinical instruction.

The program’s philosophy and curriculum are constructed to align with the Standards of the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education (ACAE), which is associated with the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), as well as with the Preferred Practice Patterns for the Profession of Audiology identified by the Council of Academic Accreditation in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (CAA), which is associated with the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

Completion of the Doctor of Audiology program enables students to satisfy academic and clinical requirements for:

1. License in the State of California (and most states) to practice in medical, rehabilitative or private practice settings.
2. Education credentials for employment in public schools.
3. Professional certification by the Council for Clinical Certification through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program is designed for those individuals who have already demonstrated leadership ability in diverse educational settings. The program will admit candidates who meet the academic requirements for the Ed.D. degree program and who possess personal qualities and professional experiences that suggest a strong potential for success as doctoral candidates and as educational leaders. Normally, the P12 leadership candidate will already hold an administrative services credential.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree prepares students for licensure as physical therapists. The program requires three academic years and three summers to complete. Full-time enrollment is necessary, including the summers. All students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the program. To be eligible for licensure, both the didactic and clinical components of the DPT degree must be successfully completed.

Students are required to commute to affiliating hospitals and clinics for some professional courses, and some form of transportation is necessary. Students are also required to provide their own uniforms.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.