*We are waiving the GRE requirement for applications at this time.

Pre-Requisite Information

• All applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree in communication disorders or related field (speech and hearing science; communication sciences and disorders; audiology; speech-language pathology; speech pathology; speech pathology and audiology, etc.) from a regionally accredited institution. Students are expected to have obtained a broad general education as a background to graduate study. Undergraduate course work in mathematics and basic and applied sciences is strongly encouraged.
• Students who do not have a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders or related field (speech and hearing science; communication sciences and disorders; audiology; speech-language pathology; speech pathology; speech pathology and audiology, etc.) may be required to “level” prior to consideration for admission. Please see leveling program information under "academic programs". The prerequisite coursework below will be listed on the final tab of the CSDCAS application to our Doctor of Audiology Program. Please notice that some courses may not be applicable to your undergraduate curriculum. Required courses may be taken prior to (leveling) or concurrent with graduate coursework (accelerated leveling – dependent on the number of missing courses or other applicable background you have as an incoming student). Determination of suitability for accelerated leveling will be made by the program director on an individual basis. Students with bachelor’s degrees in other areas who wish to apply are urged to contact the program director (Dr. Lilian Felipe at audiology@lamar.edu) as early as possible to determine the need for leveling or accelerated leveling.

Symbol Legend – ⁺ both degrees, ^* Au.D. only, ^{^} SLP only

• Other pre-requisite information can be found within the application process below.

Application Requirements

Please use your name as it appears on your state-issued ID (or passport) on your applications and on all other communication with Lamar University. Note: The following two steps have a finalized deadline of February 1st, however, for documents to be verified and processed we recommend submission no later than mid-December.

Complete Application With Two Steps

Please complete your application to the Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.) by completing the following two steps:

1. Go to Apply Texas and complete an application. This application includes your biographical, education, and residency information. Au.D. applicants will receive a waiver of the Apply Texas fee. Simply choose any payment option and the waiver will be applied by the Lamar University Graduate Admissions department.
2. The following website: https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login will lead you through the application process that allows you to submit your transcript(s), letters of recommendation, and personal essay. 
   • Transcripts: Submit OFFICIAL transcripts from ALL universities you have attended to the CSDCAS portal. All applicants must have a minimum of a 3.0 overall GPA as calculated by CSDCAS (or WES for International Applicants). You will be prompted to download a form that requests official transcripts from each college or university you have attended. You will also be prompted to enter individual classes you have taken on the CSDCAS portal. Both steps need to be completed. Your transcripts must include grades from the Fall semester of your senior year (or last attended semester). We recommend sending in transcripts for previously attended institutions as soon as possible, and sending in Fall transcripts for the currently attended institution as soon as Fall grades are posted (if you must submit for other deadlines prior to receiving fall grades, be sure to include Fall coursework as "In Progress" and Spring coursework as "Planned" and then complete Academic Update as soon as you have received fall grades).
   • NOTE: You must map your prerequisite coursework on the final tab of the application. Please notice that some courses may not be applicable to your undergraduate curriculum. Required courses may be taken prior to or concurrent (accelerated leveling) with graduate coursework. Determination of suitability for accelerated leveling will be made on an individual basis (if you have questions about your eligibility based on pre-requisites, please email audiology@lamar.edu for the pre-requisites audit form). Please enter all that are applicable including in-progress or planned courses.
   • Personal Essay: All applicants should provide a 1-2 page written personal statement. This statement gives you an opportunity to present yourself to us and share information about who you are. To help us get to know you better, we would like you to choose 3 of the following attributes you feel you can demonstrate through activities or events that are strengths that you will bring to your graduate education and 1 attribute that you feel is a weakness detailing why it is a weakness and how you will leverage your strong attributes to compensate or what remediation you plan for this weakness.
     • Critical Thinking Skills
     • Collaboration/Teamwork
     • Life-long learning
     • Professionalism
     • Communication Skills (written, oral, interpersonal)
     • Time Management/Goals & Priorities setting
     • Self-Reflection & Action
     • Resilience
     • Conflict Resolution
     • How to Be a “Mentee”
   • Any unusual aspects of your academic history should be explained in this statement as well.
   • The personal statement should be uploaded under “Documents.”
   • Begin uploading documentation to your CSDCAS application early! All CSDCAS applications must be VERIFIED by CSDCAS by February 1. A verified application means that it has been e-submitted, payment has been received, and ALL documentation (ALL official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and your personal statement) has been received and verified.
   • Although our deadline for receipt and verification of your application is February 1, we recommend that you e-submit your application at least three to four weeks in advance of the February 1st deadline to allow time for verification. CSDCAS cannot verify your application until all official transcripts have been received, so be sure to get those documents submitted as early as possible. (Please send transcripts in early Fall for all previously attended institutions and as early in December as possible for the currently attended institution. If you have e-submitted and been verified prior to the completion of Fall coursework, please utilize Academic Update.)
   • Regularly check your CSDCAS portal to monitor your application and the receipt of all supporting documents.
   • It is YOUR responsibility to monitor the status of the CSDCAS application and ensure that all materials are received and verified by the deadline.

An incomplete application cannot be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

International Applicants

• *INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS or students receiving their undergraduate degree outside of the United States:
  • Please note that we recommend the use of World Education Services, Inc. for transcript evaluations as this company's evaluations are accepted by both the CSDCAS portal and Lamar University. Application evaluations should be sent to CSDCAS directly.
    • While CSDCAS does not require international applicants to complete transcript entry for verification, the Lamar University Audiology program does require you to complete this component in order to maintain equity and parity with domestic applicants with regard to GPA calculations. Please contact audiology@lamar.edu for a form to complete this process.
  • Once admitted, students are required to submit a health certificate from a U.S.-based physician or health service certifying that they are free from tuberculosis. Any subsequent travel outside of the US may require additional tuberculosis testing. Students must also have health insurance. In order to qualify for an F-1 visa, applicants must submit an affidavit of support and a financial statement that demonstrates that no financial support, aside from an assistantship, will be required for the applicant and his/her dependents to reside in the U.S. 
  • Once an international student is academically accepted, he or she must immediately contact the International Admissions office to complete a financial guarantee form and submit it with proof of funds for I-20 processing. An applicant's first I-20 will be sent via express courier at no charge. Any subsequent courier costs for I-20 documents will be the responsibility of the applicant.  
• Before attending on-campus classes, students who are under age 22 must either receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis or meet specific criteria for declining a vaccination. Get more information on complying with this requirement pursuant to Texas Senate Bill 1107. 

Following LU receipt of verified application, applications will be reviewed and scored via a rubric-based procedure, and high-scoring candidates will be invited for an interview. 

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

If admitted to the program, official transcript(s)/transcript evaluation(s) showing your receipt of degree must be submitted directly to Lamar University Graduate Admissions to complete the enrollment process. More information will be provided to you at that time should you be accepted to the program. 

The application portal will open July 15th and will close February 1st for the annual Fall cohort. 

For further questions, please contact audiology@lamar.edu.

In order to earn a Doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.), the student must complete both theoretical and clinical aspects of the course and acquire minimum of 99 credit hours.

Academic coursework occurs in the first three years of the Au.D. Program. Students are required to complete a preliminary written exam at the completion of their first academic year and every year thereafter through the third academic year.

Students may choose to complete a clinical research project in addition to the clinical coursework progression. Clinical experiences begin in the first semester of the program.

• First year students are placed in the university clinic for 1 to 2 days per week.
• Second year students are placed 2 days per week offsite
• Third year students are placed 3 days per week at off campus sites

Externship for Fourth Year

After completion of the academic portion of the program, students will complete an externship year of clinical placement in their fourth year of the program. Placement for this clinical experience is made in conjunction with the clinical coordinator and program director for audiology.

Considerations for the fourth-year externship include student's clinical area of interest and clinical experience needs outlined in the student's clinical plan of study. This placement typically takes place outside of the Beaumont community. Requirements for the academic and clinical portions of the program will be reviewed annually with students during academic and clinical plan of study meetings.

Details About Curriculum and Courses

The following table provides details about the curriculum and the courses offered in different stages of the Au.D. program.

Clinical Practicum

A variety of practical opportunities are available at the Speech and Hearing Center on campus and currently in over 20 off-campus sites throughout Beaumont, Houston, San Antonio, Lake Charles, Shreveport and Biloxi. These outstanding off-campus clinical sites include hospitals, schools and private practice settings.

In- House Clinical Practicum

• Hearing Evaluation: Diagnostic testing includes pure-tone and speech audiometry, acoustic immittance measures and pediatric testing with VRA.
• Hearing Aid Clinic: The clinic focuses on the selection, verification and orientation of amplification and assistive listening devices to increase the communication function of each individual.
• Deaf Co-Op: Conducted in public school settings, which allow the students to learn hearing aid troubleshooting as well as assistive listening device selection and maintenance.
• Electrophysiology Clinic: Diagnostic testing using OAE, ABR and SSEP are used in the differential evaluation of hearing disorders.
• Vestibular/Balance Clinic: Assessment includes VENG, EENG and vestibular rehabilitation therapy.
• Industrial Hearing Conservation: This clinic includes monitoring hearing in the industrial setting and providing sound measurement and hearing conservation services.
• Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) Clinic: This clinic provides full diagnostic evaluation of auditory processing problems along with counseling of family members and school personnel.
• Aural Rehabilitation: Group and individual therapy is provided to enhance listening, speech reading and communication abilities.

Technical Standards

The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) has identified several technical standards in the 2007 Technical Standards document. The faculty of the doctoral program at Lamar University considers these standards to be of paramount importance to successful study in a clinical doctorate program and for entry level into independent practice in the field of Audiology. Minimum technical standards for students wishing to pursue the clinical doctorate in Audiology at Lamar University include:

• Critical Thinking: All students must possess the intellectual, ethical, physical, and emotional capabilities required to undertake the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the faculty. The ability to solve problems, a skill that is critical to the practice of Audiology, requires the intellectual abilities of measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Successful graduates of the program must be able to integrate knowledge into practical skills.
• Communication Skills: A candidate should also be able to speak, to hear, and to observe patients in order to elicit information. The candidate must have a strong command of the English language, evidenced in writing and oral communication.*
• Auditory-Visual Ability: Candidates must also be able to observe a patient accurately by vision and hearing, both at a distance and close at hand without visual cues. This ability requires the functional use of audition and vision.
• Mobility and Fine Motor Skills: A candidate should be able to execute movements reasonably required to move from area to area, maneuver in small places, calibrate and use small equipment, and provide patients with general care.
• Interpersonal Abilities: A candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities required for the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, families, and colleagues.

English Proficiency Requirements

• TOEFL or IELTS scores (if required) should be submitted through CSDCAS and to Lamar University directly. Use TOEFL Code C122 to send the official score to CSDCAS and 6360 to send the score to LU.
  • TOEFL and IELTS minimum scores are based on the ASHA Committee on Language Proficiency (2019)
    • TOEFL Internet-Based: Total=minimum of 83 and 26 on the spoken segment
      • TOEFL Internet-Based: Total=preferred 105 and 26 on the Speaking and Listening segment
    • IELTS=minimum of 6.5 and 7 on the spoken segment
      • IELTS=preferred 7.5 and 7.5 on the Speaking and Listening sections
    • *Duolingo is NOT accepted as evidence of language proficiency for the Speech & Hearing Sciences programs

Additionally, if a student whose native language is not English is accepted into Lamar University's Speech and Hearing Sciences graduate program, and if there is evidence that this student is having exceptional difficulty with one or more of the tasks required in clinical service delivery (e.g., speech perception, speech/language modeling, comprehending speech or language produced by individuals with communication disorders, writing clinical reports, counseling families, etc.) the student will be asked to address these differences through a remediation plan (e.g., therapy for accent reduction, perceptual training, etc. as needed).

Please consult tables below to see success in student outcome data. We currently meet or exceed accreditation requirements for the reported rates.

Program Completion Rate

PRAXIS Pass Rates

NOTE: Doctor of Audiology graduates must take the PRAXIS examination prior to licensure and certification but are not required to complete the PRAXIS prior to graduation. 

Employment Rate of Graduates

NOTE: Number and percentages reflect the audiology graduates employed in the profession or pursuing further education in the profession within one year of graduation.

This information is based on ASHA’s State-by-State guide. (https://www.asha.org/advocacy/state/)