15-Month Summer/Online Masters in Sign Language Teaching

The Department of American Sign Language and Deaf Studies offers a M.A. degree in Sign Language Teaching. This program is designed to prepare future sign language teachers, who will provide exemplary leadership in the sign language teaching field. Students will be introduced to key theoretical and methodological issues involved in sign language instruction including curriculum development, assessment, and incorporating Deaf culture into the language curriculum. In addition, students will undertake a teaching practicum and internship under the supervision of a cooperating teacher. An electronic portfolio is required at the completion of the program, which represents the culmination of the student's academic performance.

Admissions Procedures and Requirements

Applicants for the M.A. in Sign Language Teaching 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:	October 15th
Last Date for Completed Application:	February 15th or until all possible slots are filled. Students are accepted on a rolling basis.*

*Students are admitted to the Sign Language Teaching masters program once a year, in the summer.

Program Specific Requirements:

Documentation of prior professional development:

Introduction to education and/or related courses
Deaf history and culture
Sign language linguistics, discourse and structure
Classifiers and/or depiction
Fingerspelling and numbers
Non-manual signals and markers
Other relevant courses and professional development will be considered.
ASLPI score of 4 or above (and 3+ or above for other signed languages)

You are required to submit evidence of your American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) score of 4 or above to the coordinator. For teachers of other signed languages, you will be required to submit evidence of your ASLPI score of 3+ or above to the coordinator. The fees for the ASLPI are outlined on this website: asldes.gallaudet.edu/fees.xml. The ASLPI fee is waived if you are a current, full-time Gallaudet student.

To schedule an ASLPI interview, please email aslpi@gallaudet.edu and ask to be added to the list for a Spring interview. We will process your application regardless if you do not have an ASLPI score. If we recommend you for admission to the Dean, we will add an ASLPI contingency to your admission.

Please send the documentation of your required prior professional development and your ASLPI score to the Sign Language Teaching MA program coordinator at: SignLanguageTeaching@gallaudet.edu

Graduate Admissions Requirements:

Please complete the following requirements as outlined on the Graduate Admissions website:

Online graduate application
Goal statements (emailed to GradApplications@gallaudet.edu)
Submission of all official postsecondary transcript(s)
Three letters of recommendation (Follow this link, too, for further instructions)

Mail the official transcript(s) and letters of recommendation to:
Graduate Admissions
Kendall Hall 101
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue NE
Washington DC 20002

When your online graduate application, goal statements, all postsecondary transcript(s), and three letters of recommendation are on file at Graduate Admissions, you will be contacted by the Masters in Sign Language Teaching screening committee for a video interview.

If the department decides to recommend you for admission to the Dean of Graduate School, the Dean will make the final decision regarding your application.

Financial Costs for Program

Since this program is primarily summer/online, the full-time tuition for US citizens will be $6,385 for Summer 2012 and $760 per credit for Fall 2012 and Spring 2013. Summer 2013 tuition has not been announced yet. The program is 39 credits in total, starting with 12-15 credit hours during your first summer in the program. The approximate minimum cost for the entire program will be $23,000 for US citizens, not including fees, room and board. Financial assistance may be available but is not guaranteed.

Program of Study

Summer I (On Campus)

ASL 709 Sign Language Media Production (3) 
ASL 724 Sign Language Linguistics for Sign Language Instructors (3) 
ASL 741 Methods of Sign Language Teaching (3) 
ASL 743 Curriculum Development for Sign Language Instruction (3)
ASL 760 Assessing Sign Language Skills (3)

Fall I (Online)

LIN 510 Introduction to First and Second Language Acquisition (3)

Spring I (Online)

ASL 770 Sign Language Planning and Advocacy (3)

Summer II (On Campus)

DST 705 Sign and the Philosophy of Language (3)
DST 710 Literary Traditions in the Deaf Community (3)
DST 714 Critical Pedagogy (3)
ASL 795 Special Topics in ASL and Deaf Studies Digital Media and Marketing (3)

Additional Required Courses (to be taken during the program at your discretion)

ASL 752 Sign Language Practicum* (3) (face-to-face or online, taken either Summer, Fall or Spring semesters)
ASL 762 Seminar in Sign Language Teaching (3) (online, taken either Fall or Spring semesters)
ASL 790 Sign Language Teaching Internship* (3) (face-to-face or online, taken either Summer, Fall or Spring semesters)

*Teaching practicum and internship can be completed during the summer, fall or spring semester after completing the core courses (ASL 709, 724, 741, 743 and 760). The practicum and internship site and cooperating teacher must be approved by the department in advance.

Summer 2012

June 10 - July 20 (with break from June 30 - July 8) 
Practicum and Internship opportunities provided from July 23 - August 3 and/or August 6 - 17**

Summer 2013

June 9 - July 19  (with break from June 29 - July 7)
Practicum and Internship opportunities provided from July 22 - August 2 and/or August 5 - 16**

**Optional-- practicum/internship may occur during the summer, fall or spring semesters at your home area.

Email SignLanguageTeaching@gallaudet.edu if you have questions about the program.