katiet

I can answer your question because I am a current AuD student at UNL. It is true that I will be awarded an "MS in speech pathology and audiology" at the end of my third year. The title of the degree is simply a formality because the graduate college lumps the two programs together. I can assure you that the programs of study are completely separate (well except for one 1-credit class that is taught jointly: counseling). The reason that the MS is awarded to AuD students is because in some states, audiologists are required to possess a minimum of a Masters degree in order to hold a temporary license, and that is sometimes needed for a fourth year externship. At least that is how it has been explained to me. Are you referring to an undergrad degree in speech path? That won't shorten your program time, but there are some prerequisites to the program that you probably already have covered. Students coming in with other degrees have to take a few extra courses to make up for those.