Audiology major

Audiology: courses, careers, and where to study

Audiology trains you to diagnose hearing and balance disorders, measure how the ear works, and fit devices like hearing aids and cochlear implants for patients of all ages.

Audiology is the study of hearing and balance and how to evaluate and manage the disorders that affect them. Students learn how sound physically behaves, how the outer, middle, and inner ear and the auditory nerve carry signals to the brain, and what goes wrong in conditions like hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. You spend time on the science of acoustics and the anatomy and physiology of the ear, then move into hands-on measurement: running hearing tests, interpreting audiograms, performing middle-ear and inner-ear assessments, and recommending devices such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive listening technology. Coursework also covers aural rehabilitation, teaching patients and families practical ways to communicate and make the most of remaining hearing, and includes specialized work with infants, children, and older adults. Unlike speech-language pathology, which centers on speech, language, and swallowing, audiology focuses specifically on the ear, hearing, and the balance system; and unlike a hearing-aid dispensing certificate, it covers the full diagnostic scope of ear and balance disorders.

In the United States, working as a clinical audiologist generally requires a clinical doctorate in audiology plus a state license, and that doctoral path is the typical entry-level credential for the field rather than a bachelor's degree alone. Programs are built around supervised clinical training: students complete graded practicum placements and a longer culminating clinical experience, often called an externship, where they evaluate and manage real patients under a licensed supervisor before they can practice independently. Prospective students should verify a program's accreditation status and their state's specific licensure requirements, since these govern who may diagnose and treat patients. Graduates work in settings such as hospitals and ear-nose-and-throat clinics, private audiology and hearing-aid practices, schools and early-intervention programs, rehabilitation centers, and research or device-manufacturing environments, with some focusing on pediatrics, cochlear implants, or balance disorders.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of audiologists, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $92,120 and projects employment to grow about 9.5% from 2024 to 2034; a doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.