Academic audiology education is at a crossroads. The profession must prepare graduates to practice confidently as Doctors of Audiology and keep pace with advances in clinical care, technology, and scope of practice, while confronting rising tuition, faculty shortages, and inconsistent enrollment, impacting students and programs. At the same time, there are ongoing debates about the length, return on investment, and overall sustainability of the Au.D. degree, and whether trends in moving from four-year to three-year training models will serve to advance or constrain the profession.
This 90-minute session will bring together leading academicians from across the country to examine whether current educational models are meeting the needs of students, the profession, and the public. Panelists will explore opportunities to strengthen doctoral preparedness, align curricula and clinical experiences with evolving practice expectations, and attract a broader pool of talented, academically prepared students with the potential to become exceptional clinicians and leaders.
Attendees will be able to:
- Describe the major workforce, financial, faculty, and institutional challenges affecting the future of audiology education.
- Describe educational and clinical training models that support doctoral preparedness, evolving scopes of practice, technological innovation, and potential three-year Au.D. pathways.
- Identify strategies to attract and prepare a broader pool of talented, academically prepared students while strengthening the accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of audiology education.
