College of Education Health and Human Services
School of Health Sciences
www.kent.edu/ehhs/hs

About This Program

The Ph.D. degree in Audiology provides the student with a strong theoretical background and research competencies in communication processes and/or disorders and is ideal for those interested academic and research careers in communication sciences. This program may be undertaken simultaneously or sequentially with the Doctor of Audiology degree. Read more...

Contact Information

• Julia Hyuck | jhuyck@kent.edu | 330-672-0249

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Applications to the Ph.D. in Audiology are not being accepted at this time.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Accreditation

Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

Applications to the Ph.D. inAudiology are not being accepted at this time.

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university (not necessarily in speech-language pathology and audiology)
• Minimum 3.000 GPA on a 4.000-point scale (minimum 3.500 graduate GPA is recommended)
• Official college transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 120 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

This collection of coursework relates to the students' main areas of interest. It typically consists of lecture classes, seminars and independent studies. Included within the 24 credit hours are 4 credit hours of colloquium and 3 credit hours of research design. The colloquium provides information about areas that are of common interest to doctoral students regardless of specialties. Included are such topics as grant and manuscript writing, clinical and departmental administration, supervision and professional presentations.

²

Courses that complement the students' interests in the cognates may be taken in other program areas (such as psychology, business, biology, counseling and special education); within speech pathology and audiology; or from an affiliated medical school.

³

Upon admission to candidacy, each doctoral candidate must register for SPA 84199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for SPA 84199 for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter SPA 84299, each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Comprehensive Examination

Students who have not completed a master's thesis are required to complete and defend a research project prior to taking their comprehensive examination. Students must maintain a minimum 3.000 overall grade point average throughout the program. After completion of doctoral coursework, students take the candidacy examinations, consisting of both written and oral portions. The written portion entails 16-20 hours of writing on material studies within the major and minor concentrations as predetermined by the examination committee. The oral portion occurs two to four weeks later and can cover pertinent general information in addition to that covered on the written portion. Successful completion of these examinations culminates in "admission to candidacy" and allows the candidate to begin work on the dissertation.

Clinical Setting

For any clinical practicum (on campus or off campus) in speech pathology or audiology that requires candidates to be placed within the on-campus speech and hearing clinics, school or agency setting, the SPA program requires candidates to complete Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCII) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check and submit the results to authorized personnel at their assigned clinic/school/agency before the beginning of their placement or the first day of the semester in which the practicum will take place. Authorized school/agency personnel will determine whether a candidate may participate in practicum in the off-campus setting. The BCII and FBI background checks are good for one year and the candidates will need to complete one each year that they are in graduate school.

Electronic fingerprinting is available for BCII and FBI in 221 White Hall and should be completed one month prior to clinical practicum. Candidates are responsible for fees incurred for this requirement. For more information on this policy contact the Clinical Coordinators for the Speech and Hearing Clinics. Visit the Ohio Department of Education website for more information about background check requirements for those wishing to hold pupil personnel licenses in Ohio. Contact the Office of Professional Conduct at the Ohio Department of Education for specific information about the results of the background check.

Licensure Information

Candidates seeking Audiology licensure are required to pass Praxis II test Audiology.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate competency within one major and two cognate areas of expertise.
2. Demonstrate skills necessary to develop, implement and evaluate a line of individual research.
3. Demonstrate oral and written communication skills and synthesis / application of materials needed to teach within a clinical and/or didactic context.

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Audiology provides the student with a strong theoretical background and research competencies in communication processes and/or disorders and is ideal for those interested academic and research careers in communication sciences. This program may be undertaken simultaneously or sequentially with the Doctor of Audiology degree.

Students may be in the Ph.D. program on a part-time basis; however, all students must meet a residency requirement with two consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment prior to acceptance into candidacy.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.