Prerequisite Courses for Prospective AuD Students
Although prerequisite courses do not need to be completed before applying to the program, admission will be contingent upon successful completion of all prerequisites before the start of classes. The audiology program requires prerequisite content in the following areas (the number in parenthesis is the number of the course that we offer at Ohio State. (OSU Course descriptions can be found in the Course Catalog under Subject Area "Speech and Hearing Science")
- At least one course in college-level algebra/trigonometry or higher college level math course
- At least one course in college-level physical sciences
- A course in phonetics and phonetic transcription (SHS 3320)
- A course in normal language development (SHS 3330)
- An introductory course in audiology (SHS 4540)
In many places, including Ohio State, the introductory course in audiology has pre-requisites in the areas of acoustics/psychoacoustics and anatomy and physiology of the ear. We allow students to “skip” those pre-requisites and move directly into SHS 4540 IF they are willing to complete background work on their own in conjunction with the SHS 4540 class. Please be aware that this places a significant burden on the student, especially on those who do not have a strong science and math background.
Some students are more comfortable taking the full range of pre-requisite coursework. Those students should add the following two courses to the courses listed above:
- A course in basic acoustics (SHS 3340)
- A course in anatomy/physiology of the ear and psychoacoustics (SHS 4440)
Options for Completing the Prerequisite Courses
1. Continuing Education. Some students choose to enroll as continuing education students for a year before entering graduate school (either at Ohio State or any other school that offers an undergraduate degree in communication disorders). This has the advantage of allowing students to complete the full complement of courses at a more “leisurely” pace, while paying undergraduate fees.
2. Online Education. Some students choose to take the courses via distance education through OSU or other universities that offer comparable courses. The Department of Speech and Hearing Science at OSU has a Summer Prerequisite Bridge Program which offers many of the pre-requisite courses online. The page is typically updated in January for the upcoming Summer Term. We have designed a sequence of courses offered Summer Session that will allow students to complete some of the prerequisite courses prior to beginning the program in the fall.
3. Electives for an undergraduate degree. If a student is still working on their undergraduate degree and they are at a university that has some or all of the courses available, the courses can be taken as electives – a degree in speech and hearing is not necessary. If all courses are not offered, the remainder can be taken on-line.
Please direct questions regarding prerequisites to Graduate Program Coordinator, Sarah Wendel, at wendel.13@osu.edu.