Audiology (AuD)

Pitt Audiology students learn to provide audiology services in real-world settings from day one of their graduate program. The AuD program prepares students to meet the challenges of service delivery in the 21st century, serving patients across the lifespan and the scope of practice.   

In Clinic 1, occurring during year 1, students develop core clinical skills while providing supervised audiologic services at the UPMC Center for Audiology and Hearing Aids. Students also gain community-based experience through the Pediatric Hearing and Speech Education: University of Pittsburgh (PHASE UP) program, providing supervised hearing and speech screenings to pediatric patients. These experiences are designed to build the foundational clinical skills essential for audiology practice. 

In years 2 and 3, students transition to Clinic 2 for more advanced clinical practicum experiences. The program is affiliated with more than 40 clinical sites throughout western Pennsylvania, where students engage in supervised experiential learning. Across these diverse placements, students develop clinical competencies while working with patients across the lifespan and with a wide range of hearing and balance disorders. Clinical experiences occur across a variety of practice settings, including: 

• hospitals (inpatient and outpatient) 
• residential geriatric settings 
• schools 
• private practices 
• specialty clinics 

In year 4, students complete a full-time externship focused on developing independence in clinical skills, knowledge, and decision making, leading to eligibility for professional licensure and certification. Externship opportunities are available at clinical sites nationwide. Students secure their externship through a competitive application and interview process, with faculty guidance and support throughout.