Spotlight Saturday: Audiology

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, audiology is one of the fastest-growing professions in the country today, with hearing and balance disorders increasing as the population ages. The central focus of the audiology profession is all auditory and balance impairments and their relationship to disorders of communication. Audiologists identify, assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with impairment of either peripheral or central auditory and/or vestibular function, and strive to prevent such impairments. 

As the first and only College of audiology in the nation, Salus University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA), originally known as the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) School of Audiology, has led in innovative education and early clinical exposure since 2000, and is shaping the next generation of audiologists to enter into the profession. 

Audiology Programs Offered at Salus University
In order to practice in the United States, audiologists must attain their Doctor of Audiology degree (AuD) and become licensed in the individual state in which they are practicing. OCA has a variety of pathways to allow future audiologists to complete their certifications, pass their licensure exams and start practicing in the field.

OCA offers:

• Competitive on-campus tracks in its residential Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program.
• Doctor of Audiology online bridge program, an online education degree for practicing international or domestic audiologists with a master’s degree or medical degree in audiology.
• Master of Science in Clinical Audiology, which is offered for audiology practitioners to advance their knowledge and skills in audiologic care and to experience specialized fellowship training within a specific content area.
• Advanced Studies Certificate programs with concentrations in Cochlear Implants, Tinnitus and Hyperacusis and Vestibular Science and Disorders.

What Sets OCA Apart?

• Interprofessional education and practice
  • Salus University and OCA has a strong commitment to interprofessional education in order to mirror today’s integrated health systems. The interprofessional approach to education fosters communication and a patient-centered approach as well as provides evidence-based practice.
• Hands-on training with state of art labs
  • If you are a hands-on learner, the state-of-the-art labs help you to learn and practice before you can perform in a clinical setting. Take a tour here.
• Integrated biomedical curriculum
  • In this day and age when over-the-counter hearing aids are in the market, OCA's biomedical sciences curriculum is focused on a holistic approach to patient care. The curriculum prepares students for the broadest scope of practice as a primary hearing and balance service provider.
• Early, diverse and in-depth clinical training
  • More than 2,000 early, diverse, and extensive clinical hours.
  • The Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI), serves patients of all age groups.
  • Diverse clinical experience through the clerkship and externship office.
• On-campus clinical facility
  • PEI, located on the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus, is OCA’s clinical learning facility. At PEI, faculty and audiology students provide a comprehensive array of services related to the evaluation, rehabilitation prevention of hearing impairment, as well as the evaluation and diagnosis of balance disorders.
• Merit-based scholarships
  • Up to $15,000 per year, awarded based on GPA. In addition, more than 90 percent of students attending OCA receive scholarships to help with the cost of tuition. 

Apply to the Doctor of Audiology Program:

For the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) on-campus programs, applications should be submitted through Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CDCAS). For those interested in the three-year AuD program, indicate interest in the CSDCAS application.

The processing of applications by CSDCAS begins mid-July, one year prior to the year of desired enrollment. Applications must be submitted on or before July 1 of the year of desired enrollment.

• Student application reviews begin when an application is verified.

• Interviews are scheduled and initiated at the beginning of October.

• Candidates meeting the requirements are admitted on a weekly basis until class capacity is reached.

The AuD Online Bridge Degree Program and Master of Science in Clinical Audiology applications are accepted through GradCAS and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

For the Advanced Studies Certificate Programs, applications should be submitted through the MySalus portal. The application deadline to start the program in the Fall is July 22 and the application deadline to start the program in the Spring is January 22. 

For any questions regarding the admissions process please contact an Admissions Counselor at admissions@salus.edu or 800.824.6262.