CA AB2317

Authorizes California State University to award the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree as an exception to the Master Plan for Higher Education, which previously reserved doctoral degree authority exclusively for the University of California.

Requires the Au.D. degree to be distinguished from UC doctoral programs and focused on preparing audiologists to provide health care services consistent with Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology standards.

Mandates student fees for CSU Au.D. programs not exceed rates charged for state-supported audiology doctoral programs at the University of California.

Requires CSU to fund program startup and operations from existing academic program budgets without diminishing undergraduate program quality or reducing undergraduate enrollments.

Limits the authority granted to the discipline of audiology only and prohibits Au.D. program enrollments from diminishing enrollment growth in CSU undergraduate programs.