Program Overview

Become fluent in American Sign Language and work with deaf or hard-of-hearing children and adults in a variety of settings, including education. Qualified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and educators who work with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals are in demand across the country in a variety of job settings. Students seeking their Bachelor of Science in Education in Deaf Studies will choose an area of focus from fields like educational/ASL interpreting, counseling, family studies and psychology. All students in the program will graduate ASL fluent and with firsthand experience in educational settings through immersive internships. Through coursework and other experience, undergraduates also cultivate a thorough understanding of and respect for deaf culture.

Learning Outcomes

• Critical Thinking; Students will summarize, synthesize, and critically analyze ideas from multiple sources in order to draw well-supported conclusions and solve problems.
• Ethics and Social Responsibility; Students will make reasoned ethical judgments, showing awareness of multiple value systems and taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions. They will apply these judgments, using collaboration and leadership skills, to promote social justice in their local, national, and global communities.
• Identity and Culture; Students will demonstrate sensitivity and tolerance of complex social identities, including deaf identities, and the interrelations within and among diverse cultures and groups.
• Knowledge and Inquiry; Students will apply knowledge, modes of inquiry, and technological competence from a variety of disciplines in order to understand human experience and the natural world.
• Language and Communication; Students will use American Sign Language (ASL) and written English to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, for a variety of purposes, and in a variety of settings.