Education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (M.S.)
Administered by the Department of Exceptionality Programs
Effective Fall, 2008
Students graduating with an M.S degree in education of the deaf/hard of hearing from Bloomsburg University are eligible, upon completion of the application process, for national Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) certification, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Certification and licensure as a teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing from the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing.
Admission. Applicants with bachelor's degrees in early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education and special education have appropriate educational backgrounds for entry into the program. **Note: students without an undergraduate degree in education (e.g. elementary education, special education, or secondary education), are required to take 5 education courses (15 credits) before being eligible for the graduate program.
Undergraduate area of concentration in education of the deaf/hard of hearing:
70.101 Introduction to Exceptional Individuals
72.200 Introduction to Audiology
74.201 History, Education and Guidance of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
74.153 Introduction to Sign Language
75.155 American Sign Language I
75.226 American Sign Language II
74.305 Introduction to Instructional Methods for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
74.461 Deaf Hard of Hearing Technology-based Observations/Interactions Across the Country
Students who anticipate applying for admission to the graduate program in education of the deaf/hard of hearing are strongly urged to elect the following elective courses:
74.325 Practicum with the Deaf/Hard of Hearing at Camp Hero
74.254 The Deaf Culture
74.255 American Sign Language III
74.256 American Sign Language IV
All applicants to the graduate program in education of the deaf/hard of hearing are encouraged to complete an introductory course in statistics or its equivalent and the following: (Students may take these, some as general education electives)
A bachelor's degree with a QPA of 3.0 the education of the deaf/hard of hearing area of concentration and an overall QPA of 3.0 are required. If either QPA is below 3.0, the student may be admitted on a provisional basis and must earn a QPA of 3.0 or better upon completion of 9 to 12 semester hours in graduate-level courses. No Cs may be earned during the provisional period.
Applicants must submit a one-page, handwritten letter, stating professional background, experience and rationale for wanting to be admitted to this master's program. Three letters of reference from individuals who have knowledge of the applicant's academic and teaching background are required. For confirmation purposes, the letters must contain the name, address, position and telephone number of the writer.
Applicants must make arrangements with the program coordinator for an interview.
The Praxis Series or the Graduate Record Examination will be required of all applicants.
There is one entry point for full-time enrollment in this graduate program - summer semester. The application deadline for summer enrollment is March 15 Application for admission as a part-time student is not restricted and may be made at any time. There is no quota for students interested in entering the program on a part-time basis. Part-time students are required to meet with the program coordinator to design a curriculum sequence and time line.
Retention. Graduate students are required to earn a QPA of 3.0 with a maximum of two Cs for retention in this master's program. If a C is earned in a practicum course, the course must be repeated and a grade of B or better earned.
Requirements
All graduate students must complete a departmental paper (thesis or non-thesis) and successfully pass a comprehensive examination administered during the semester the student plans to graduate. Upon graduation, students are academically prepared to apply for licensure in Pennsylvania and to pursue state and national certification as a teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing. Additionally, students are granted a provisional national certification by the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) upon formal application.
The following is an example of a full-time curriculum sequence:
Summer Session (total of 12 weeks)
- 74.560 Practicum with the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- 74.564 Speech for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- 74.566 Language for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing I
- 74.567 Language for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing II
Fall Semester
- 72.500 Auditory Training and Speechreading
- 70.575 Seminar in Current Issues in Special Education
- 74.569 Curricular Subjects for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
- 74.562 ASL and Signed English in Educational Settings
Spring Semester
- 74.570 Student Teaching with the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Summer Session (total of 6 weeks)