School of Human Services and Sciences
Dr. Daniel Koo, School Director

Overview

Dr. Julie Mitchiner, Program Director

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers and their Families: Collaboration and Leadership Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program is a hybrid program (online and on-campus instruction) that provides professionals from a wide range of disciplines with current evidence-based knowledge and skills for working with families and their very young children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The content and teaching of the program is interdisciplinary and provides an overview of professional and ethical practices, communication and language(s), families, and developmental assessment and programming. Candidates will acquire leadership, advocacy and collaboration skills that promote age and developmentally appropriate outcomes for infants and toddlers. All coursework and experiences reflect principles of diversity including understanding and appreciation of language diversity (ASL and English, as well as other home languages). This 7-course graduate certificate can be taken in conjunction with another graduate program at Gallaudet or another university, or as a post graduate program for professionals who have current or prospective employment in a program for deaf and hard of hearing infants, toddlers and their families.

The program focuses on the acquisition of knowledge and skills in four broad content areas. These areas include: 1) Professional and Ethical Practices, 2) Communication and Language, 3) Families, Cultures and Communities, and 4) Development, Assessment and Programming. Units of instruction are developed and taught by professionals with expertise in working with infants, toddlers and their families from a wide array of disciplinary backgrounds including, ASL and Deaf studies, communication studies, counseling, education, linguistics, psychology, speech-language-hearing, and social work. Bilingual (ASL – English) principles and philosophical perspectives are infused into the curriculum content and delivery of coursework and experiences. Each course will be offered for graduate or professional studies credits and will be co-taught by faculty from different disciplines. Units of instruction are developed and taught by professionals with expertise in working with infants, toddlers and their families from a wide array of disciplinary backgrounds including, ASL and Deaf studies, communication studies, counseling, education, linguistics, psychology, speech-language-hearing, and social work. Bilingual (ASL – English) principles and philosophical perspectives are infused into the curriculum content and delivery of coursework and experiences. Each course will be offered for graduate or professional studies credits and will be co-taught by faculty from different disciplines.

The program consists of 18 credit hours. The first course is a hybrid summer course of three-days on campus followed by online coursework. The second course is also during the first summer and is completely online. The next four courses are online during the fall and spring semesters. The seventh and final course begins with an online portion and concludes with a three-day on-campus seminar. The program includes an individually designed capstone project. The capstone project must be completed before the awarding of the certificate.

Online courses provide access to information through American Sign Language and English (e.g., presentations will be available through American Sign Language and spoken English or English captions).

The certificate in deaf/hard or hearing infants, toddlers, and their families program is not intended to lead to licensure and does not lead to licensure in Washington, D.C. Gallaudet University has also determined that the program also does not meet professional licensure requirements in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Admissions Procedures

Applicants for the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers and their Families: Collaboration and Leadership may apply for either graduate or professional studies training (PST) credits. All applicants must complete the application procedures and meet the requirements for graduate study at Gallaudet University. Applicants for professional studies training credit should visit the Center for Continuing Studies website and applicants for graduate studies should visit the Graduate Admissions website for more information and a checklist of application requirements.

Program Specific Requirements

• Evidence of professional program, certificate, or license held or in process of obtaining OR evidence of current or prospective employment related to deaf and hard of hearing infants, toddlers and families.
• In lieu of the goal statements, applicants must attach a one page written essay (or 5 minute signed video) to their application that discusses why they are interested in obtaining a certificate focused on deaf and hard of hearing infants, toddlers and their families.
• One letter of recommendation.