Admissions

The Fall 2026 application period will open October 1, 2025.

Overview

The Audiology Doctorate (AuD) is a 4-year professional degree offered jointly by San Diego State University (SDSU) and the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). For students interested in clinical practice in speech-language pathology, please apply to the SDSU Master of Arts degree with a concentration in speech-language pathology.

Program Structure

Audiology Doctoral (AuD) students are admitted only in the Fall term of each year. It takes four years to complete the program. The Audiology Doctorate is full-time and intensive. Due to the scheduling and sequencing of the courses, we do not allow students to complete the program on a part-time basis and we cannot accommodate transfer students from another AuD program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the program must meet the general requirements for admission to both universities, as outlined in the current catalogs of SDSU and UCSD. Applicants must also meet the special requirements of this program. These currently include: 

• Overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better in undergraduate courses and any graduate courses completed and good standing in the last institution attended. Please note that the average GPA of admitted students is typically much higher (3.7 to 3.8).
• NOTE: The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required. GRE scores will not be considered or reviewed.​

Prerequisites

The Program encourages applicants from a variety of undergraduate disciplines. Although not required, we strongly recommend that students with backgrounds other than Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences provide evidence that they understand what a career in audiology entails; clinical observations and/or audiology coursework, for example, would be suitable evidence. An undergraduate degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences is not required, but there are several prerequisites that must be completed by all students, preferably before enrolling.

• Statistics (one course)
• Biological Science (one course)
• Physical Science (one course)
• Social/Behavioral Science (one course)
• American Sign Language (one course)

Though not recommended, deficiencies in these areas may be completed after admission to the program if approved by the Admissions Committee.

Admissions Process

Students are admitted in the Fall only. Applications for admission to the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctor of Audiology (AuD) Program are reviewed by a panel of faculty members from both SDSU and UCSD. 

Applications will only be reviewed if they are complete and all required materials have been received by SDSU, UCSD, and CSDCAS. The committee cannot review incomplete applications. It is up to the applicants to monitor receipt of all required materials and follow-up as needed. 

After an initial review of materials, a majority of applicants will be invited to schedule a Zoom interview. This will be a brief, informal conversation. It is an opportunity for you to ask questions and for us to get to know you. You do not need to prepare for the interview. 

The number of new admissions is targeted at 10-11 students per year to be selected from a pool of qualified applicants. Admission is based on consideration of all application materials and the relative merits of individual applicants among all eligible applicants. 

Admission decisions are made in late February. Notifications of admission decisions will be emailed the first or second week of March. 

The AuD program does NOT allow deferred admission. Admitted students who are unable to begin the program in Fall 2026 must reapply in a subsequent year and will have no guarantee of being admitted.

Background Check Required Before Enrollment

Our program requires that admitted students pass a background check prior to beginning the program. Background screenings may include checking state and federal criminal records and sex offender registries. If your background screening shows that you have a criminal record or are listed as a sex offender, you may not be able to secure clinical placements. This background check would be conducted after students accept an offer of admission and before they begin the program. The state of California may deny licensure for individuals who have been found guilty of committing acts that are contrary to public health and safety.

Application Instructions

Begin the process early to ensure consideration of your application. 

Importantly, complete applications include materials submitted in three simultaneous but largely independent systems–we’ll call them Parts A, B and C. You’ll submit transcripts separately for each step (more details below). 

• Part A: CalState Apply is open starting October 1 and represents your application to San Diego State University. The deadline to submit is December 1 (11:59pm Pacific). This application fee is $70. You will follow the status of this application, as well as receipt of your transcripts, via your my.SDSU account. See Part A, below, for more information.
• Part B: CSDCAS is open starting October 1 and includes the primary material for review by the admissions committee. The deadline to submit is January 12 (8:59 Pacific). You will follow the status of this application via your CSDCAS account. The deadline for submissions of all application materials, including letters of recommendation and transcripts is January 12. Hard copies must be postmarked by January 12. CSDCAS application fees and fee waivers are detailed here. See Part B, below, for more information.
• Part C: UCSD’s Graduate application is open starting September 3 and includes the same primary materials for review, allowing for joint consideration at both campuses. The deadline to submit is January 12. Note that your application fee for Part C will be waived when you select the Joint Doctoral Program in Audiology. See Part C, below, for more information. 

Throughout the application process, please monitor the three submission portals, and follow all instructions provided. 

Part A: Submit the CalState Apply Online Application by December 1, 11:59 p.m., PST 

Start the Cal State Apply Application to get your SDSU Student ID

• General instructions for Cal State Apply Graduate Admissions can be found the sdsu graduate admissions page.
• Please note: There is a $70 fee for the application.
• Begin your application to San Diego State University via Cal State Apply at least three weeks before the  December 1 deadline. It takes up to three weeks to receive your SDSU Student ID, a personal identification number that is unique to you. The Student ID is required to complete your application.
• Once you receive your Student ID, you can set up your my.SDSU account. Submit your application materials to SDSU via my.SDSU. 

Complete the Cal State Apply Application After Receiving Your SDSU Student ID

Approximately 10-15 days after submitting the Cal State Apply application, SDSU will email you your permanent SDSU Student ID number and instructions on how to set up your my.SDSU account. A my.SDSU account is the primary SDSU e-Services online account used to access important student services, including Application Status Check, Updating Email/Address, Applying for on-campus housing, and My Registration Information. Receipt of your Student ID indicates that Graduate Admissions has received your Cal State Apply application, has set up your electronic file, and is now prepared to receive and process your transcripts. If you already have a Student ID, it will not change; you will use the same Student ID number. 

• Indicate “Audiology (AuD)” as your Major/Program Objective.
• Indicate “Doctorate” as the Degree Objective.
• You do not need to choose a credential program in the Cal State Apply application. Unless you are applying to another CSU program that does not require a supplemental application, you do not have to complete the Transcript Information, Experiences, and Achievements sections of Cal State Apply as those items will be addressed in the supplemental CSDCAS application.

Submit Official Transcripts and Test Scores to SDSU (Dec. 15, 2025; No Exceptions)

Do not begin submitting transcripts until you have received your SDSU Student ID. Otherwise, your transcript may not be linked to your application and will not appear in your record. Be consistent with the name you use when submitting applications, transcripts, and test scores, otherwise, your application and documents cannot be matched by SDSU Graduate Admissions. 

• Submit proof of English proficiency (International applicants) if required (see requirements here)
• Submit all your official transcripts from all schools attended (university, junior/community colleges, and study abroad institutions) to Graduate Admissions at SDSU. This is in addition to the transcripts required by CSDCAS (Part B, see below). Electronic transcripts MUST come directly from your school. Electronic transcripts sent by students will not be accepted. Transcripts must be received (not postmarked) by December 15.
• Do not wait until the end of the Fall term to submit your transcripts; we do not expect to see grades from the most recent Fall semester.
• For U.S. applicants, transcripts may be sent electronically. More information about requesting transcripts can be found at the end of this web page.
• For SDSU students: Students who will receive their undergraduate degree from SDSU do not need to submit an SDSU transcript to SDSU Graduate Admissions as they can access those transcripts electronically. SDSU transcripts and all other transcripts DO need to be submitted to CSDCAS by all applicants.
• For international applicants: paper transcripts are required for some countries. Refer to Requirements by Country on the Graduate Admissions website. ​

Send one OFFICIAL hard copy of each transcript DIRECTLY to: Graduate Admissions, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-8225 

OR send Electronic Copy: If your school offers an option of selecting a recipient from a drop-down menu when requesting electronic transcripts, choose SDSU from the menu. If SDSU is not an option on the pulldown menu, ask your school to send to: [email protected]. Electronic transcripts MUST come directly from your school. Electronic transcripts sent by students will not be accepted. 

International applicants – Electronic applications may not be accepted, depending on the country of origin. See the section “Special Instructions for Applicants with International Coursework” below.

*Special instructions for Applicants with International Coursework* 

International applicants are strongly encouraged to read the requirements posted on the SDSU International Graduate Admissions website. 

If you have international coursework, you must have your school send SDSU Graduate Admissions one official original-language copy of all records of academic coursework and proof of degree. For each document you must also send a certified literal English translation, which can come directly from the school itself or from a professional, certified translator. The translation must contain all information shown on the original-language documents. 

CHINESE INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTS: Degrees from China must also be verified by the China Academic Degrees & Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC).

Students need to monitor their status of the Cal State Apply application and check to make sure that all transcripts were received. Applications and materials are monitored via my.SDSU. For questions regarding transcript receipt, please contact SDSU Graduate Admissions. 
For technical assistance with Cal State Apply, please contact [email protected] or 857-304-2087

Submit Proof of English Proficiency to SDSU (if necessary) 

The GRE is no longer required, however, proof of English proficiency is still required from applicants who received or will receive their undergraduate and/or post-baccalaureate degree at an international institution (regardless of citizenship status) where the primary language of instruction was not English. 

*Must be received electronically by Enrollment Services by January 12th*. It takes ETS 10-15 days to send test scores to SDSU, so please plan accordingly. Doctor of Audiology applicants must meet the requirements for BOTH SDSU and UCSD. 

• Both SDSU and UCSD will accept TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or DuoLingo English test scores as proof of English proficiency.
• SDSU requirements are located on the sdsu graduate admissions page (see Step 5) and the UCSD requirements are located on the ucsd graduate admissions page. The requirements for UCSD are higher than SDSU’s. Below are the minimum scores that are accepted for UCSD.
  • TOEFL: 85 (iBT)
  • IELTS: 7
  • PTE: 65
  • DuoLingo: 120

MONITOR the status of your Cal State Apply application 

Students are expected to log on to my.SDSU to monitor the status of their Cal State Apply application and the receipt of transcripts and English Proficiency scores. Do not assume that materials have been received by the Graduate Division.

For technical assistance with Cal State Apply, please contact [email protected] or 857-304-2087

Part B: Submit the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized (CSDCAS) Application by January 12, 8:59 p.m., PST 

Complete the all required fields of the application 

• Complete the online application as soon as you receive your SDSU Student ID number, which may take up to three weeks after submitting the Cal State Apply application (Part A). You do not need to wait for your Fall 2025 grades. It is important to apply early so that all materials will be received by the January 12 deadline.
• Enter your course grades manually (required part of the application). If you use the grade entry service offered by CSDCAS (for entry of your grades), please be advised that this may delay receipt of your application by one month. We recommend that you enter your grades yourself to avoid delay and the increased likelihood that your application will not be complete by Jan 12.
• Complete all other parts of the CSDCAS application, including the experiences section.​

Request materials: Letters of recommendation, official transcripts 

• Request that materials be sent to CSDCAS as soon as you receive your SDSU Student ID
• Please make sure to submit official transcripts for ALL post-secondary institutions (community colleges, universities) to CSDCAS. Manual entry of your grades is also required as part of your application. CSDCAS uses the official transcripts to verify your entries. Note: Official transcripts must be submitted to CSDCAS in addition to the transcripts required by SDSU.
• We require a minimum of three letters of recommendation. Students should request a minimum of two academic references from people who can write about the potential for success as a graduate student (e.g., professors)​

Write and upload your resumé and applicant essay 

• ​Write and submit your resumé 
• Write and submit your applicant essay using the prompt in the CSDCAS application instructions (no more than 3 pages, double spaced)

Submit your CSDCAS application 

• Students must submit the CSDCAS application; some students fill in the application but forget to finalize the submission. We are unable to review applications that have not been submitted.
• ALL MATERIALS (completed CSDCAS application, transcripts, letters, essay) must be received by the January 12 deadline.​

MONITOR Receipt of Requested Materials 

• You will be able to follow the status of your application through CSDCAS to ensure that all transcripts and letters of recommendation are received. Students are strongly urged to monitor the status of their CSDCAS applications and follow-up as needed to make sure that all materials are received by the January 12 deadline.

CSDCAS HELP – QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CSDCAS APPLICATION

• Customer Service Phone: (617) 612-2030 Open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST.
• Customer Service E-Mail: [email protected]

Part C: Submit the UCSD application by January 12.

You’ll be asked to upload duplicate documents to your Part C submission, including your statement, letters of recommendation and transcripts. Note that transcripts submitted to UCSD may be unofficial.

Where to find more information:  

Different sources will be better equipped to provide information throughout the application process. Some recommendations are provided below:

• Information about CSDCAS and CalState portals are often best directed to the respective customer service contacts.
  • CSDCAS:
    • Customer Service Phone: (617) 612-2030 Open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST.
    • Customer Service Email: [email protected]
  • CalState Apply:
    • Customer Service Phone: 857-304-2087
    • Customer Service Email: [email protected]
• SDSU Graduate Admissions can be found here: SDSU Graduate Admissiosn
  • Their virtual front desk is often a helpful starting point for questions about SDSU’s transcript processing: SDSU Gradute Admissions Contact
• UCSD Graduate Admissions can be found here: UCSD Graduate Admissions Prospective Students
• To learn more about the Joint Doctoral Program in Audiology, please review our AuD Homepage.
• For questions about the Audiology Program curriculum or prerequisite requirements, please contact the Audiology AuD Program Admissions Chair, Dr. Peter Torre at (619) 594-4787 ([email protected])
• For questions about the application process, please contact the Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Ms. Aletia Prevo at (619) 594-7746 ([email protected])

Summary of Application Deadlines

• Dec 1 - Part A: Cal State Apply due
• Dec 15 - Official transcripts due to SDSU’s Graduate Admissions
• Dec 15 - English proficiency scores submitted to SDSU’s Graduate Admissions (if applicable)
• Jan 12 - Part B: CSDCAS Application due, including official transcripts
• Jan 12 - Part C: UCSD Application (with unofficial transcripts) due 

Pre-Admission Disclosure for Licensure and Credentialing Programs

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or taxpayer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements.

Information concerning licensure requirements are available from the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board

Information concerning certification requirements are available from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association