Innovative Models of PhD Education Facilitate AuD to PhD Education

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Innovative Models of PhD Education
Facilitate AuD to PhD Education

• John Ferraro, Kansas
• R. Steven Ackley, Gallaudet
• Dan Halling, James Madison
• Scott Griffiths, Florida
• Loretta Nunez, ASHA

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Current Options for Students Pursuing a
University Degree in Audiology/Hearing Sciences

• AuD
• PhD

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Current Accreditation Statistics

• 252 institutions of higher education sponsor
  CAA-accredited or candidate programs
• 243 speech-language pathology
• 71 audiology
• 2 Institutions of higher education sponsor
  ACAE-accredited programs (3 institutions
  undergoing accreditation process).

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Number of Schools of Optometry in the U.S.

• 17

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Number of US Institutions with Research Doctoral
Programs in Audiology 49

• 42 offer both research doctorates and entry-level
  clinical doctorates in audiology/hearing
  sciences.
• 1 ScD
• 1 Research EdD

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According to a recent ASHA Academic Needs
Assessment Survey, the three most serious
problems faced by academic members were

• Recruitment of PhD students
• Difficulty recruiting faculty
• External funding accessibility

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ASHA 2006 Audiology Survey
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Basic Premises

• The future of our profession is intimately tied
  to its scientific foundations. These foundations
  are the bases on which we have achieved our
  professional autonomy.
• With data showing low enrollment in PhD programs
  in audiology and hearing sciences coupled with an
  aging professoriate, graduate programs in
  audiology need to develop innovative approaches
  for attracting students to consider
  university/research careers.

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Where Do We Start?

• Birth?
• Pre-school?
• Elementary school?
• Middle school?
• High School?
• University
• Undergraduate program Graduate school

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Basic Premises

• Most students pursuing degrees in audiology are
  seeking the AuD and usually have no initial
  interest in the PhD.
• Graduate programs need to consider novel
  approaches for attracting students to consider
  obtaining the PhD - in addition to the AuD, not
  in lieu of it - and facilitating the completion
  of both degrees in a reasonable amount of time.

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Factors that Inhibit/Prolong the Completion of
Both AuD and PhD Degrees

• Students must first complete the degree
  requirements for one degree before they can
  enroll in the other degree program (i.e., you
  cant be enrolled in more than one doctoral
  program at the same time).
• Completion of the second degree usually requires
  additional academic-, research- and/or
  clinic-related coursework and experience.
• Students often seek outside employment in the
  profession after completing one degree and can
  only afford to enroll part-time for the second
  degree.
• Separation of the degree programs does not take
  advantage of the overlap in current AuD and PhD
  curricula.

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Enrollment Models for Bridging AuD PhD
Education
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Sequential Study

• Student completes one degree before moving on to
  the other.

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Simultaneous Study

• Overlapping coursework from both degrees at some
  point along the educational continuum

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Dual Degree Track

• Admit and enroll students for the purpose of
  pursuing both degrees beginning with year one of
  the graduate education program or allowing the
  transition to the dual degree track later in the
  curriculum.

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Dual Degree AuD-PhD Track at the University of
Kansas Intercampus Program in Communicative
Disorders

• Admit and enroll students for the purpose of
  pursuing both degrees beginning with year one of
  the graduate education program or allowing the
  transition to the dual degree track later in the
  curriculum.

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Highlights of the KU Dual Degree Track

• Takes advantage of overlap in AuD and PhD
  curricula (core courses).
• Students can select electives and other courses
  for one degree that will meet specific
  requirements for the second degree and vice
  versa.
• The research projects that AuD students are
  required to complete can be designed to provide
  pilot data for an eventual dissertation study if
  the student and mentor know early on that the
  student is interested in obtaining both degrees.
• Some of the clinical hours required for the AuD
  may be obtained during completion of a PhD study
  that involves the administration of clinical
  tests to a patient population.

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General Goal of the KU AuD-PhD Program

• To prepare translational/clinical scientists
• - and science-based clinicians

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The Scientific Method
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Non-Traditional Courses Recently Added to
KU/KUMC AuD Curriculum
Courses offered by other Departments
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Expanding Graduate Curriculum Requires

• Availability of courses outside of major area
  (e.g., those usually associated with a medical
  center campus).
• Faculty with expertise to teach non-traditional
  courses.
• Adequate prerequisite background of students.
• A FOUR-YEAR AuD PROGRAM.

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References

• Ferraro, J., and Nunez, L. (2008) Emerging Models
  of AuD-to-PhD Education. ASHA Leader, October
  Issue
• ASHA , AAA and CAPCSD websites, GOOGLE.

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Thank You (and Rock Chalk Jayhawk)