In the United States, master’s level audiology training programs have been phased out to be replaced by the four-year clinical doctorate, the Doctor of Audiology degree (AuD), earned after a bachelor’s degree. Salus University Osborne College of Audiology helped steer this course of action for practicing audiologists in the United States to transition from a master’s degree to an AuD degree by offering an online AuD-bridge program from the years 2000 to 2010. Our current goal is to extend a similar program to domestic and international audiologists so that they can maintain high standards of practice by staying in touch with the current state of the science of audiology.
The intended program start date of the AuD Online Bridge degree program is August (fall term) of each year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The Admissions Committee review and selection begins after applicants have sent all the necessary documents to the Office of Admissions (admissions@salus.edu). To receive priority consideration, applicants are encouraged to apply early and complete the application requirements as soon as possible. Please note: Each new cohort will begin every August. Hence, the entire application process may occur over a six month period.
Please note: The admission requirements of a foreign credential evaluation, such as WES (as necessary), TOEFL/IELTS (as necessary), and recommendation letters must be met as soon as possible after submitting the online application.
While a master’s degree prepares audiologists to learn the skills and techniques necessary to provide clinical services for the hearing impaired, the Salus AuD program prepares the audiologists to integrate evidence-based practice and advances in research into clinical practice. The objective of this AuD-Bridge degree program is to develop and deliver post-master’s level education to those seeking a clinical doctorate. Towards that end, we developed a comprehensive didactic curriculum and hands-on practicum courses that permit mid-career audiologists to become better clinicians and consumers of research literature so that they may implement evidence-based techniques in their practice setting.
The AuD Bridge degree program is intended for practicing audiologists who have (a) completed a master’s degree or equivalent (for example, MD in Audiology), and (b) completed a post-graduate clinical fellowship year and at least two years of work experience, or three or more years of experience without a fellowship year.
The AuD degree has replaced the master’s degree in the United States as the profession’s entry-level clinical degree for the practice of audiology. The AuD degree defines the role of the audiologist as an independent professional and provider of audiology diagnostic and treatment services to those with hearing and balance disorders within the medical and healthcare service delivery.
We believe that the first step to achieving professional autonomy is by expanding the knowledge base within the profession and developing competencies to match the demands of the profession. Our curriculum is focused on enhancing the breadth of knowledge in both the current trends and recent advances in the field of audiology, hearing science and diagnostic and rehabilitative technologies, so that practicing audiologists can upgrade their skills towards leveling the capabilities around the world.
The courses and content of the Salus University AuD Bridge degree program were developed with the intent of bringing parity with our residential AuD program, and to ensure that our graduates are prepared to provide the highest standards of service delivery to individuals with hearing and balance disorders.
Requirements for admission into the program are:
- a master’s degree or medical degree in Audiology, or an equivalent,
- one year clinical fellowship and two years of clinical experience in audiology, or
- minimum of three years clinical experience in audiology,
- two letters of recommendation and
- personal goal statement
The Admissions Committee recommends that applicants take the ETS PRAXIS exam in Audiology (Test code number 0341-Audiology). The results of this exam will be used solely as a diagnostic tool to help us create an individualized program of study and will not be used as a criterion for admission into the program. The test should be taken as soon as possible after the application is submitted. You may contact the Director of Distance Education by email at gsundar@salus.edu for further guidance on taking the PRAXIS exam.
International students whose degree was completed outside the US will be required to use an accredited credentialing agency, such as WES or The Evaluation Company, to have a document-by-document evaluation of their transcripts.
International students whose degree was completed outside the US will be required to take the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please visit the Application Criteria page for more detail.
All students will be required to enroll in a minimum of 30 courses. Twenty-eight of these courses are didactic and will be offered online. Students will be required to take two out of the multiple practicum courses that will be offered on our campus in Elkins Park, PA.
Yes. All students are required to enroll and complete the requirements towards 28 didactic courses and two practicum courses. The courses are all advanced level post- masters courses, each with 1.5 academic (semester) credits for a program total of 45 academic credits.
The course calendar has been constructed towards advancing knowledge in the core areas of neurosciences, clinical sciences, rehabilitation sciences and public health and professional issues, with an emphasis on evidence-based practice in each area of study. Each six-week session consists of two courses and the two courses are related to each other to form one unit. We recommend the sequential approach of the calendar so that the student can derive maximum benefit from the comprehensive course of study that has been put together towards a clinical doctorate in Audiology.
This entire post-graduate degree program consists of 30 courses and can be completed in two years. We recommend that students register for two courses in each six-week session. For those who cannot complete the program in two years, the program coordinator will work with the student to develop an alternative schedule. The maximum length of time recommended for program completion is four years.
- A one - time, non-refundable, application fee of $124 applies. Application fee payment is due with the student’s application to the program. Tuition and fees are due the first day of each term. For tuition and technology fee amounts, please click here.
- Tuition is charged per semester credit. The degree requirement is 45 semester credits for 30 courses
- University technology fees are charged per quarter. (Note: the year has four academic quarters and each quarter has two, six-week academic sessions. University technology fees are paid four times per year.)
Yes. Students who graduate from the AuD Online Bridge degree program will receive the same Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree that residential students receive after completing their four year professional doctorate program.
It must be noted, however, that the AuD-Bridge program is delivered only to those who hold a master’s degree and three years of clinical experience. The AuD-bridge program does not include the clinical practicum required for US-based certification or US state licensure. Upon completion of the degree program, the University can only attest to the student’s accomplishment through the AuD Online Bridge degree program and not to the clinical credentials of the audiologist.
The Salus University Osborne College of Audiology has been granted degree-granting authority for the international AuD Online Bridge degree program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Each state in the US has guidelines for issuing audiology license and students who wish to acquire either US certification or US licensure in audiology will need to contact national associations (e.g. AAA, ASHA) for certification rules and individual states for the licensure rules.
All instruction will be delivered via the Internet. All programs will be delivered in English. The AuD Online Bridge degree program includes utilization of Salus Blackboard portal to deliver web-based instruction to students. Instruction will consist of weekly, asynchronous, two-hour teaching and half hour review of postings, combined with asynchronous threaded discussion with students.
The faculty members for the AuD Online Bridge degree program are leading academics and professionals with particular expertise in their field of study, who are internationally recognized and have contributed significantly to the knowledge base of audiology and hearing science.
Students will be given an entire week to log-in, review material for the week, respond to threaded discussions and complete the assignment for the week. There is no specific day and time that the student will have to login. It will be to the student’s advantage however, if they log-in as soon as the lesson for the week is posted, so that the student has adequate time to participate in the threaded discussions and complete the week’s assignment(s).
The students and the instructor will interact via threaded discussions and email. Threaded discussions are prompted and led by the instructor. Students will be required to respond to the instructor’s prompts as well as to the other students’ responses. The instructor will set the parameters of threaded discussion for each class.
Yes. The instructor will assign readings, assignments and tests. Students will be required to abide by the parameters of assessment set by the instructor.
Students must enroll in two courses per session if they want to complete the program in two years. The two courses will be taught on different days of the same week. The two courses will have their lectures and assignments available at the beginning of each week. As each course is 1.5 credits worth, the students are effectively working towards a 3-credit course and the advantage is that it is broken up into two sections. Instructors will teach each course for two hours. Students will participate in threaded discussions and will have reading assignments and other homework assignments. These assignments and homework will not exceed what is required of 1.5 credits for each course.
Students will contact the Salus University Help Desk with technical issues at helpdesk@salus.edu or at 215.780.1444.