Audiology Degrees
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Salaries For Degrees in Audiology
Those who majored in Audiology can be employed in a variety of occupations. It is impossible to say what you personally will do with a degree in Audiology, our survey panel picked the following jobs as likely options:
Students with a degree in Audiology are considered well prepared for becoming Audiologists.
The median salary for people with a degree in Audiology is $52,032.24. The lifetime value of this degree is approximately $1,288,531.00.
Salaries are highly dependent on individual negotiating skill, years of related experience, policies at your employer, location, and more. The estimates we show on these pages are just that: estimates. Your individual experience will likely vary.
Where does this come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a unit of the US government, classifies all workers into some 800-odd occupational categories. We paid a team of freelancers to solicit their opinion on what type of degree a holder of each type of job would likely have majored in. For pairs which had a high degree of consensus, we created a link between the degree and the job.
From this, we calculated the average salary for Audiology degrees and converted it into a lifetime value. We then compared it against other degrees at the same level of schooling (such as associate's, bachelor's, or master's), so that you can make informed educational and employment decisions.
Thinking of pursuing a degree in Audiology? This article will walk you through what it means to get a degree in Audiology. We will look at what you can expect to learn as a student studying Audiology, what kind of online schooling is available to someone studying Audiology, as well as what kinds of offline schools are available. We will also look at famous Audiologists and their contributions to the field of Audiology. Is a degree in Audiology right for you? Let’s find out.
What Can a Student Studying Audiology Expect to Learn?
Audiologists diagnose and treat communication problems related to hearing. Deciding to pursue an education in Audiology is an exciting choice that requires a lot of schooling, to cover all the aspects of this diverse and dynamic field of study. Typically, students studying Audiology will go through 7-8 years of schooling and obtain a master’s degree, however some choose to go the distance and earn their doctoral degree.
Deciding to pursue a degree in Audiology is a serious choice. It means lots of schooling to gain the knowledge and expertise needed for this complicated and dynamic field. Because of the complex nature of this field, Audiology is not offered on an undergraduate level. Students will often receive their undergrad in a related field, such as communication sciences. This will lay the groundwork and provide the introductory courses necessary to obtaining a Master’s in Audiology. A Master’s degree is necessary to work as an Audiologist.
Audiologists work with patients that have problems with their hearing and hearing disabilities. During your years of schooling you will learn and become fluent in American Sign Language. You will gain hands on experience in clinics and neuroscience labs with audiometric testing. Audiometric testing is the way Audiologists pin point a patient’s hearing problem. Students will gain experience administering and interpreting these tests.
Learning patient care and treating problems related to hearing and balance is the largest aspect of an education in Audiology, however, there are many other aspects of the field that students will learn. Students will branch into Speech Pathology to learn the connection between speech, Audiology, and communication skills.
Students studying Audiology will also study the legal, ethical, psychological, and business aspects of the field. It is important for Audiologists to understand the business and ethical practices of working with patients that are hearing impaired. Business and leadership skills are an asset to Audiologists. Coursework will focus mainly on linguistics, phonetics, psychology, speech and hearing, math, biology, and the physical and social sciences. Graduate coursework will get into the more refined aspects of anatomy, auditory and balance problems, as well as normal and abnormal communication development.
Accredited Online Schools Offering Accredited Audiology Programs
If you feel that a degree in Audiology is right for you, but you don’t wish to attend a formal university or campus setting, than online schooling, or distance learning may be right for you. There are many different colleges and universities that offer online courses that can help you work toward your degree in Audiology.
Earning a Bachelor’s degree is the first step in the process of studying Audiology. You can get your Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Studies- Speech and Language Therapy online at Ashford University. Ashford University will jump start your education in Audiology by teaching you the various aspects of law and ethics in the health care community related to individuals with disabilities. Earning your Bachelor’s Degree brings you one step closer to becoming an Audiologist.
Central Michigan University offers a doctor of Audiology degree through distance learning. You’ll be able to sleep well at night knowing that all of their distance learning courses are offered by nationally recognized audiologists and clinicians. Through scheduled internet chat sessions, email, electronic bulletin boards, and instructors, available by email and phone, you will be able to complete each 12 week course.
University of Northern Colorado’s College of Natural and Health Science offers and online doctor of Audiology degree. This fully accredited institution boasts excellent academic, research, and clinical preparation. This 127 credit hour course of study is finished off with a capstone research project.
Colleges and Universities Famous for their Audiology Courses
If you prefer a formal classroom setting, than an education on a University campus may be right for you. Perhaps you want to attend a school that is renowned for its courses in Audiology. Attending a renowned accredited University will get you noticed in the professional world when you strike out to get your first job in the field of Audiology. In 2008, U.S. News posted a list of the top Audiology Universities in the country. The following schools are the top three schools listed on the U.S. News list.
Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee is renowned for its Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences. Students attending Vanderbilt can choose from a wide variety of degreed programs in Audiology. Vanderbilt is an accredited institution, founded in 1951. Each year, more than 50,000 patients visit Vanderbilt for problems related to hearing and balance.
If you are looking to get your undergrad and graduate degrees both at the same school, you may be interested in the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City. Their undergraduate degrees offer students the opportunities for internships, introductory courses, seminars, and research. A graduate degree in Audiology from University of Iowa offers specialized curriculums, focusing in medical audiology, acoustics of speech, swallowing disorders, and stuttering.
The University of Washington is located in Seattle, and also provides students with the opportunity to earn their Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees with programs that are highly specialized. Specializations at the University of Washington include psychoacoustics, hearing science, speech and language acquisition, and human communication disorders.
Famous Audiologists
If you Google the keywords, “Famous Audiologists,” you might not recognize many of the names that come up, but it is important to know that the names that do appear are people that have dedicated their lives and work efforts to helping people with hearing problems and disabilities. The first name that appears is Dr. Donald Hood, a Canadian Audiologist famous for bringing Audiology into private practice in Canada. When he was starting out in the field of Audiology, most Audiologists worked in hospitals. Private practice was unheard of until the 80’s. Dr. Hood built his business by prescribing and selling hearing aides to his patients, always maintaining integrity and not prescribing hearing aids to those who did not need them. Dr. Hood’s practice grossed more than a million dollars last year.
Sources
- “Audiology Students.” AUDNET Inc. America’s Audiology Network.
- “Fact Sheet for Audiology.” American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
- Michael Currie. “Dr. Donald Hood, Frontier Audiologist.” MichaelCurrie.com
