Applies to: Au.D. students who start in our program during the Fall 2023 semester or after.
When: This comprehensive exam is administered during the Au.D. student's second year, the Friday before dead week—Spring Semester.
Rationale: The purpose of this exam is to ensure the clinical readiness of each Au.D. student prior to their third year in the program and to satisfy the UNL Office of Graduate Studies requirement for the Master’s degree.
Exam Structure: The written exam will consist of 2-3 clinical cases. Questions about the clinical scenario will be asked and the pertinent information needed to answer the questions will be provided.
Nature of Clinical Cases: The exams cover academic and clinical knowledge that students have gained during the program. The clinical cases may involve the following areas:
- Diagnostic situation (auditory, vestibular or both) that will involve the student having to request and interpret the correct tests to achieve the correct outcome for the specific patient's situation.
- Rehabilitation, treatment, and other referrals.
- Pediatric and adult patients.
Nature of the Single Short-Answer Questions: These questions are on topics relevant to the clinical cases. All questions are designed for a brief answer format. These short-answer questions are integrated into the clinical case studies, as appropriate, and may involve information regarding basic audiological/vestibular concepts or clinical decision analysis.
Grading Structure: A minimum of two faculty members will independently grade each exam. Each faculty member will assign the points earned according to a rubric. The final percent score will be averaged. A passing score is 85% or better.
Non-pass Results:
- Students must develop a remediation plan, in consultation with an assigned faculty member.
- Students can retake the examination up to two times.
- Unless approved by the committee, students will need to successfully pass the examination the following summer term, by the end of July.
- Retake examinations will consist of new case studies.
- Students must pass the examination to continue to the third year of the Au.D. program.
- Failure to pass the retake examination can result in termination from the program and the student will not be eligible to earn the Master’s degree.
Examination Materials: A pool of clinical cases and single questions has been developed by the Audiology faculty. The clinical cases and single questions are kept on file and comprise a pool for rotation in various combinations.