Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
At the time of application, individuals should have completed or be in the process of completing the baccalaureate degree at accredited institutions. The baccalaureate degree must be completed before commencing work at Rush University. Students entering the program must have transcript credit for at least one college-level math or statistics course, at least one course in the behavioral/social sciences, at least one course in the biological sciences and at least one course in the physical sciences. Although not required, the following course work is strongly recommended: advanced college-level math, research methods, psychology, and physics. Applicants should check the program Web page for additional information about prerequisites.
Admission is granted for the fall semester of each year. The application file includes a completed application with essay, application fee, three letters of recommendation from individuals acquainted with the applicant’s academic background, official transcripts from all universities attended and official scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not obtained a college degree from a U.S. institution must submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
The generally applied minimum standards for acceptance into the AuD program are a 3.0 undergraduate GPA overall (on a 4.0 scale) or a 3.5 GPA in major courses. GRE scores (verbal and quantitative) above the 50th percentile are recommended. The department Admissions Committee makes all admissions decisions.
Technical Standards for the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Programs
Rush University is committed to diversity and to attracting and educating students who will make the population of health care professionals representative of the national population.
Our core values - Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Excellence (ICARE) - translate into our work with all students, including those with disabilities. Rush actively collaborates with students to develop innovative ways to ensure accessibility and creates a respectful accountable culture through our confidential and specialized disability support. Rush is committed to excellence in accessibility; we encourage students with disabilities to disclose and seek accommodations.
The following technical functions are required of all students enrolled in the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology programs:
Acquire Information
• Acquire information from demonstrations and experiences in courses such as lecture, group, and physical demonstrations.
• Acquire information from written documents and computer systems (e.g., literature searches & data retrieval).
• Identify information presented in accessible images from paper, slides, videos with audio description, and transparencies.
• Identify information presented in images from paper, slides, videos and transparencies.
• Recognize and assess patient changes in mood, activity, cognition, and verbal and nonverbal communication.
Use and Interpret
• Use and interpret information from assessment techniques/ maneuvers. Use and interpret information related to physiologic phenomena generated from diagnostic tools.
Motor
• Possess psychomotor skills necessary to provide or assist in holistic Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology care and perform or assist with procedures and treatments.
• Practice in a safe manner and appropriately provide audiology and speech-language pathology care and assessment in emergencies and life support procedures and perform universal precautions against contamination.
Communication
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and families.
• Communicate effectively with faculty, preceptors and all members of the health care team during practicum and other learning experiences.
• Accurately elicit information including a medical history and other information to adequately and effectively evaluate a population’s, client’s or patient’s condition.
Intellectual Ability
• Measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize data related to diagnosis and treatment of patients and populations.
• Exercise proper judgment and complete responsibilities in a timely and accurate manner according to the audiology and speech-language pathology role.
• Synthesize information, problem solve, and think critically to judge the most appropriate theory, assessment or treatment strategy.
Behavioral
• Maintain mature, sensitive, effective relationships with clients/ patients, families, students, faculty, staff, preceptors and other professionals under all circumstances.
• Exercise skills of diplomacy to advocate for patients in need.
• Possess emotional stability to function under stress and adapt to rapidly changing environments inherent to the classroom and practice settings.
Character
• Demonstrate concern for others.
• Demonstrate integrity, accountability, interest and motivation.
• Demonstrate intent and desire to follow the Rush University and Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Code of Ethics.
The technical standards delineated above must be met with or without accommodation. Students who, after review of the technical standards, determine that they require reasonable accommodation to fully engage in the program should contact the Office of Student Disability Services to confidentially discuss their accommodation needs. Given the clinical nature of our programs, time may be needed to implement the accommodations. Accommodations are never retroactive; therefore, timely requests are essential and encouraged. To learn more about accommodations at Rush University, please contact:
Marie Ferro-Lusk, MBA, MSW, LSW
Manager, Office of Student Disability Services
Rush University
600 S.Paulina St.AAC 440
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 942-5237182 183
Academic Probation
Academic probation is assigned to a student who earns a single-term academic grade point average (GPA) between 2.5 and 2.99 (A = 4.0), and/or whose cumulative academic GPA falls between 2.5 and 2.99 at any time. The academic GPA is calculated for all non-clinical coursework. A remediation plan to address probation will be developed by the student’s academic advisor and the student and will be documented in the student’s program file. A student must earn a single-term academic GPA of 3.0 or greater at the end of the semester for which the student is on academic probation and a cumulative academic GPA of 3.0 or greater by the end of the first academic year to continue in the program. A student who incurs a semester academic GPA below 3.0 after being removed from academic probation will be dismissed from the program, even if the cumulative academic GPA is 3.0 or greater.
A student who earns a grade of D or less in a required course must repeat that course or an approved equivalent. In a repeated course, the new grade will replace the earlier grade in the cumulative academic GPA. Failure to receive a grade of C or greater in a repeated course will result in dismissal from the program. A student who earns a grade of D or less in two or more required courses, regardless of the grade earned in a repeated course and regardless of the cumulative academic GPA will be dismissed from the program.
A student who earns a single-term academic GPA of less than 2.5 at any point during his/her course of study will be dismissed from the program.
A student who fails to meet the stated criteria for the comprehensive examination will be dismissed from the program.
A cumulative academic GPA of 3.0 or greater is required for graduation.
Clinical Probation
Clinical probation is assigned to a student who earns a grade of C or less in a clinical practicum, internship or externship. Although the clinical contact hours may be used to meet CFCC (ASHA) certification requirements, the student is required to repeat the clinical education course before progressing further in the clinical sequence.
A remediation plan to address clinical probation will be determined by the student, the student’s academic adviser and the clinical education manager, and will be documented. Failure to achieve a grade of B or higher in any subsequent clinical education course will result in dismissal from the program.
The faculty reserves the right to request the withdrawal of any student whose conduct or performance demonstrates lack of fitness for continuance in a health profession. Any such student not voluntarily withdrawing will be dismissed from the program.
Interrupted Program
Students who wish or need to interrupt their program must fulfill the following requirements:
- Meet with their academic adviser and the program director to work out a plan of action before leaving the program
- Complete all degree requirements within four years (master’s program) and eight years (doctoral program) of the beginning of the first term in which the full-time student is enrolled in the department
- Follow all appropriate leave of absence/withdrawal procedures and policies as defined by Rush University
Academic Appeal and Grievance
See the Communications Disorders and Sciences Student Manual for the policy on academic appeal and grievance, and for other policies. The department follows procedures outlined in the College of Health Sciences Student Academic Appeal and Grievance Procedures. Students who wish to file a complaint related to compliance with an accreditation standard may contact the Council on Academic Accreditation:
Chair, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Blvd., Suite 310
Rockville, MD 20850
(800) 498-2071 or (301) 296-5700
Research Activities
Faculty members are involved in interprofessional and translational research in the areas of audiology, hearing science and speech-language pathology. Projects include cochlear implant processing, working memory and communication, adult speech disorders, dysphagia, neurogenic communication disorders, language and literacy in children, quality of life and hearing aids, aging and hearing loss, language disorders and second language learning, and many other topics related to human communication and swallowing.
Faculty members publish in professional journals and present at international, national and state meetings. Summaries of faculty research and professional activities are available on the department’s webpage. Students are encouraged to participate in the research process, including development of hypotheses, data collection and presentation or publication of results.