Audiology Program

Pre-professional track

Pre-audiology professional track 

What is a pre-professional track? 

A pre-professional track,  like the pre-audiology track, is not a major. Instead, it is a pathway that we work with you to create by selecting courses, etc., so you are best prepared to apply to a graduate program in audiology. You can typically choose from a variety of majors. 

Why pursue a career in audiology? 

As an audiologist, you'll help protect your patients' hearing and health by preventing, diagnosing, and treating all kinds of hearing, balance, and auditory disorders. Hamline's audiology pre-health track will provide you with countless opportunities for hands-on research, support you in graduate program applications, and prepare you for an audiology career.

Audiologists are healthcare professionals who provide patient-centered care related to hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for people of all ages. They frequently work with other medical specialists, speech-language pathologists, educators, engineers, researchers, and allied health professionals.

Hearing and balance disorders are complicated diagnoses that can affect every facet of a person's life, from medical, psychological, and physical impacts to adverse social, educational, and employment outcomes. Your classes and internships will prepare you for work in various settings, including hospitals, schools, government agencies, and industries that need to maintain hearing conservation programs for workers.

Graduate degree programs in audiology

Depending on your interests, you might consider pursuing either a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. A Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree is a clinical doctorate focused on preparing students for clinical practice and certification as audiologists, while a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree prepares students for careers in research and/or teaching. These programs typically take four to five years to complete.

Audiologists need a doctoral degree and must be licensed in all states. State licensure laws allow individuals with either a PhD or AuD to work as clinical professionals, provided that they have met all the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA) clinical education requirements as part of their degree program. 

In some universities, the AuD degree is the only degree that provides sufficient knowledge and supervised clinical training to obtain state licensure to practice audiology. A student who wishes to obtain only a PhD degree should check what additional requirements they need to practice clinically. Requirements for licensure vary by state.

Prerequisite coursework

Many programs prefer, but do not require, that their applicants have coursework in speech and hearing sciences. Students interested in pursuing doctoral studies in audiology often choose undergraduate degrees in speech and hearing sciences, communication disorders, or natural sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics). Prerequisite coursework varies by school. Please check admission requirements for the schools of your choice.

Relevant exams

Students applying to graduate programs in audiology must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Learn about the GRE.

Application resources

Contact information