The Best Audiology Programs

Audiologists work with people of all ages to detect, diagnose and treat various types of hearing problems. Because of the specialization of the field, skilled audiologists are almost always in demand at hospitals, treatment centers, private practices and long-term care facilities throughout the country. Several universities have top-notch audiology programs, and below is a list of the top three, based on 2008 rankings found in U.S. News & World Report.
  1. Vanderbilt University

    • The Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at Vanderbilt, originally founded in 1951, offers a first-rate program with numerous degrees in the field, including a master's degree in speech-language pathology (M.S.-SLP), master's in education of the deaf (M.D.E.), doctor of audiology ( Au.D.) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in audiology, speech-language pathology and hearing or speech science. The program has also been accredited by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and the Council on Academic Accreditation. Courses include the Anatomy and Physiology of Hearing Mechanisms, Hereditary Hearing Loss, Measurement of Hearing, Psychoacoustics and Educational Audiology and Aural Habilitation for Children. In addition, the doctor of audiology degree is a four-year program for students who are interested in becoming practitioners, while the doctor of philosophy degree is for those who want to be teachers or researchers.

      Vanderbilt University
      Bill Wilkerson Center
      Medical Center East, South Tower
      1215 21st Ave. South
      Nashville, TN 37212
      615-936-5000
      vanderbilt.edu

    University of Iowa

    • The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at the University of Iowa's graduate college offers a master's and a doctor of audiology degree in speech pathology and audiology. The master's-level program is the minimum requirement for those seeking professional employment in the field and can be completed with either a professional or research emphasis. The former is for students who intend to work in the field as audiologists or pathologists and does not require a final thesis; the latter is for those who intend to seek further education or become teachers and does require a thesis that must be defended during a final oral presentation. Coursework includes Phonetics: Theory and Application, Basic Acoustics for Speech and Hearing, Language Development and Hearing Loss and Audiometry. In addition, the doctorate degree offers those looking to work in a clinical environment with a range of more advanced courses in specialized areas like hearing aids, cochlear implants and pediatric audiology.

      University of Iowa
      Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders
      119 Wendell Johnson Speech & Hearing Center
      Iowa City, IA 52242
      319-335-8719
      uiowa.edu

    University of Washington

    • Students will discover a first-class, fully accredited doctor of audiology program offered by the University of Washington's Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, which prepares graduates for professional employment in a myriad of medical settings. During the first two years of extensive training, students receive a broad education in all areas of audiology, while the third year allows them to start focusing on their area of specialization such as educational audiology, geriatric audiology, pediatric audiology or a business focus for those intending to enter a private practice. Various courses include Instrumentation, Balance Assessment, Hearing Conservation, Research Methods, Audiological Rehabilitation and Otoacoustic Emissions. The fourth year centers on full-time clinical placement along with a bi-monthly evening course, the Clinical and Research Forum in Audiology, which provides training and support relevant to advanced topics in applied audiology.

      University of Washington
      Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences
      1417 N.E. 42nd St.
      Seattle, WA 98105
      206-685-7400
      washington.edu

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