My name is Caroline Flint and I am pursuing my Doctorate in Audiology at Nova Southeastern University, located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program at NSU is a four-year program, with the fourth year being a 12-month externship. In the first year of the curriculum, the foundational courses are taught which includes the basics of diagnostics and amplification as well as the science behind audiology and acoustics, among other courses. Some of these courses also include a lab course and this provides hands-on experience and practice to reinforce what was learned in class. Our clinical experiences in the program begin in the third semester which allows students to have a solid understanding of the clinical tasks performed and the meaning behind each assessment. Because of this, I felt very prepared to begin the clinical components of the program. Our clinical experiences take place first in the NSU Audiology Clinic, seeing both pediatric and adult patients, and then extend to other practices in the area during the third year.
The NSU Audiology program offers many resources to its students. A mentor program is implemented which pairs new students with students in other cohorts in order to help navigate the program. Students are also assigned a faculty advisor, though each of the faculty members are accessible for assistance. The student lab in the clinic is available for students to practice when needed as well. Additionally, involvement and leadership opportunities are available through the NSU chapter of the Student Academy of Audiology. The NSU Audiology program engages in research as well and encourages student participation. NSU also provides outstanding clinical opportunities. In my third year, I had the opportunity to intern at practices in three major counties in the area (Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade), each in different settings.
In addition to the academic and clinical components, this program also emphasizes professionalism as well as interprofessional education. The Doctor of Audiology program at NSU has prepared me well for my externship and future career in audiology, and my passion for the field has been strengthened throughout my audiology education.
