M.A. in Deaf Education: Advanced Studies

The Advanced Studies in Deaf Education master of arts program is designed specifically for teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students who have state licensure in deaf education or provisional CED certification (or the equivalent) and who are currently working in the field. This is a self-paced, individualized degree program offering specializations based on the interests of the candidate and his/her educational background and teaching experience with deaf and hard of hearing students.

Admissions Procedures

Applicants for the M.A. in Deaf Education: Advanced Studies must complete the application procedures and meet the requirements for graduate study at Gallaudet University. Visit the Graduate Admissions web site for more information and a checklist of application requirements. Detailed program information and course descriptions are also available in the Graduate Catalog.

DEADLINE	DATE
First Date for Consideration of Application:	Rolling Admissions
Last Date for Completed Application:	No set date

Program Specific Requirements

ASLPI score of 2 or above. Applicants must have at least sufficient signing skills to be considered candidates. The degree to which students' current level of signing will allow them to be successful in the classroom will be determined during the application process.
Three Letters of Reference

Prerequisite Coursework

A bachelor's degree in deaf education from an accredited institution with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Prior Professional Experience

Provisional-level CED certification or state licensure in the education of deaf and hard of hearing students

Program of Study

Program Requirement

Candidates in the Advanced Studies program are required to complete a capstone project that will result in a product and presentation. Each candidate works with the advisor to establish a committee of three, including the advisor and two faculty members, and to develop a capstone proposal, due to the committee no later than November 1. The capstone proposal must include: (1) a justification for the project; (2) goals and learning outcomes; (3) learning activities; and (4) assessments of the learning outcomes. The proposal must also specify the nature of the product and a plan for the presentation. The committee will meet with the candidate to review and approve the proposal within two weeks of the submission. An approved capstone proposal must be signed off by the MA program director no later than December 1. The capstone project, including the presentation, must be completed on or before April 15th.

Course of Study

The advanced studies course of study is individually designed by the student and advisor within the following framework (approximate credit hours indicated):

Advanced foundations in education (16 credits covering the following 5 areas):
- EDU 771 Trends in Special Education (3)
- EDU 707 The Structures and Applications of ASL/English in the Classroom (4)
- EDF 720 Introduction to Research (3)
- EDF 731 Home, School, and Community Collaboration for Diverse Learners (3)
- DST 714 Critical Pedagogy (3)
Bilingualism (6);
Professionalism (Content areas or Specializations) (11-12)