Ph.D. in Critical Studies in the Education of Deaf Learners

The Doctor of Philosophy in Critical Studies in the Education of the Deaf Learner emphasizes critical pedagogy as the foundation for advocacy in the education of deaf individuals. Graduates are prepared to be agents of change in their roles as practitioners, administrators, teacher educators, and researchers through a critical examination of educational, social, and political issues. Our doctoral program provides a balance between a required core program of study and an individualized study in a concentration area in which the student plans a course of study with the guidance of the faculty advisor. In completing the concentration area requirements, the student engages in independent study courses, seminars, and research internships directly applicable to the area of research pursued. To succeed in the doctoral program in education, students must possess a high degree of initiative, self-direction, and commitment to inquiry. Upon completion of all program requirements except the dissertation, students in the doctoral program may apply to be awarded an Education Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) degree. The Ed.S. degree is typically awarded after two to three academic years of full-time study, and is not a terminal degree. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is awarded upon successful completion of the dissertation requirements.

Admissions Procedures and Requirements

Applicants for the Ph.D. in Critical Studies in the Education of Deaf Learners 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:	As reviewed
Last Date for Completed Application:	April 15

Program Specific Requirements

GRE or MAT scores
American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI)
American Sign Language and English fluency
Three Letters of Reference
Interview (on campus preferred)

Prior Educational Background

MA in Field Related to Professional Goals

Prior Professional Qualifications

Minimum of 3 years experience with deaf children and youth (preferred)

Transfer Credit Hours

A maximum of 12 post-master's semester credit hours taken before admission to Gallaudet's Ph.D. program may be transferred to Gallaudet's Ph.D. program on the condition that:

course grades are B or better
courses are relevant to the planned program; and
credits have been earned within five years prior to admission into the doctoral program.
A maximum of 12 additional credits of coursework may be transferred into the Ph.D. program after admission on the condition that: (1) the coursework was pre-planned and pre-approved by the Department of Doctoral Studies Committee, and (2) the sum of all transfer credits applied toward the P.D. core coursework does not exceed 24 credits.

Program of Study

Core Courses

EDU 810 Doctoral Seminar in Scholarly Discourse (2)
EDU 820 Proseminar I: Critical Pedagogy in Education (2)
EDU 821 Proseminar II: Critical Pedagogy in Education (2)
EDU 860 Education Policy and Politics (3)
EDU 885 Critical Studies in Language, Culture, and Literacy (3)
EDU 889 Seminar in Critical Curriculum Studies (3)

Research Courses

EDF 801 Principles of Statistics I (3) 
EDF 810 Advanced Research Design I (3) 
EDF 812 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
A minimum of one of the following:

EDF 802 Principles of Statistics II (3) 
EDF 811 Advanced Research Design II (3) 
An Advanced Qualitative Research course (3)

Concentration Area Coursework

Students take 21 semester hours of coursework in their concentration area of study. Concentration area coursework may be taken through universities in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area or other accredited universities.

Practica/Internships

Students may complete a 2-credit practicum in university instruction and up to four 2-credit research internships designed to develop competencies in teaching and research as a part of or in addition to the concentration area of studies.

Dissertation

Every student must complete a dissertation for the doctor of philosophy degree. The dissertation must incorporate a research design capable of addressing a theoretical problem in education of deaf children and youth. Over the course of the program, students must register for a minimum total of twelve (12) credits (EDU 900). After twelve hours are accrued, the student must register for at least one additional credit of EDU 900 until the dissertation is successfully defended.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination consists of written and oral components and is scheduled after two semesters of full-time study or when the student has accrued between 18-30 hours.

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination consists of written and oral parts and is scheduled on completion of formal coursework. It must be passed prior to the dissertation proposal defense.

Advancement to Candidacy

To be eligible for candidacy, students must have completed all program requirements except the dissertation, including:

(a) Completion of all coursework grades of B or better;
(b) Successful completion of the comprehensive examination;
(c) Attaining a grade point average of 3.25.

Doctoral students must reach candidacy within five years of matriculation, and successfully propose and defend a dissertation within five years after candidacy.