Length of Program
Auburn University operates on the semester system; each semester lasts 15 weeks. Full-time graduate and doctoral students attend courses offered through the Department of Communication Disorders continuously through fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students may enter the program during fall semester only.
Students with Undergraduate Background in Communication Disorders
A student's undergraduate background influences the time required to complete the graduate degree in Communication Disorders. Generally, full-time students in speech-language pathology graduate with a master's degree in five academic semesters, including a 15-week off-campus field experience. Students in audiology graduate after eleven academic semesters, including a Clinical Residency during which they will work full-time for a period of nine months in the final year of the program.
Students without Undergraduate Background in Communication Disorders
Persons with a Bachelor's degree in a field other than Communication Disorders may enroll in the Department of Communication Disorders. Naturally, some prerequisite courses must be taken to prepare the student for graduate study in the communication disorders. The student's plan of study must conform to the certification requirements of ASHA. With careful scheduling and scheduling of undergraduate prerequisite courses, the student may be able to complete the master's degree in about three years, and the audiology doctorate in about four and a half years. The advisor will work with the new student in selecting prerequisite courses.