EdM in Education of the Deaf

The EdM sequence in Education of the Deaf is a one-year, and a half-year, full-time specialization for students who wish either to enhance their current careers by acquiring knowledge and experience in Deaf studies or to attain the background necessary for further graduate study or a career change.

The graduate program in the Education of the Deaf is a teacher-training program leading to a licensure for teaching Deaf children in a variety of school settings. The program is based on a bilingual/bicultural (ASL and English) approach to instructing Deaf students. Students develop an understanding of how to best support Deaf children’s language, literacy, and academic development by taking courses that cover linguistics, language acquisition, cognitive development, and acquisition of English through reading.

The coursework is based on the streamlined version of the requirements for obtaining a licensure in Deaf Education. The program is designed for students who are interested in working in the field of Deaf Education. Teachers of the Deaf may also use the additional course credits toward the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) requirement for professional and ongoing certification. Coursework may be tailored for more emphasis in one of the following areas: ASL and ASL linguistics, Deaf culture and history, Deaf literature and education, counseling, linguistics, psychology, literacy, or bilingual/bicultural education.

Students interested in doctoral work in these areas should refer to the description of the EdD in Developmental Studies under Literacy & Language Education. Alternatively, a PhD in Applied Linguistics may be earned in the Boston University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Prerequisites

Coursework in American Sign Language, language acquisition, and general education is required prior to entering graduate-level courses. These prerequisites are offered at Boston University in the summer sessions for the convenience of students who want to complete coursework in a specified time frame. If participation in the summer sessions is not possible, all courses may be taken on the main campus during the fall and spring semesters. Please contact the program office at deafstdy@bu.edu to discuss summer course scheduling for the following prerequisites.

• SED DE 570 American Sign Language I
• SED DE 571 American Sign Language II
• SED LS 565 Introduction to Language and Linguistics
• SED LS 566 Language Acquisition
• SED ME 503 Elementary Math I
• SED ME 504 Elementary Math II
• SED LR 551 Teaching of Reading

Note: SED ME 503 and 504 are usually taken in the summer after completing the first two semesters.

Requirements for Licensure

Students obtain training in using ASL for engaging students in their education and for carrying out instruction based on a dialogic approach. Students are expected to develop ASL competency by taking the sequence of ASL classes up to ASL VI.

Prior to graduation students must pass an ASL proficiency assessment.

In addition to the core coursework, students may elect to take additional coursework in linguistics, curriculum development, the education of students with disabilities, counseling, administration, teaching English as a second language, or bilingual/bicultural education.

Two practicums are required:

• In the first year, students will be required to participate in a community service program and a part-time practicum in initial strategies.
• In the second year, a full-time student-teaching placement is arranged for each student in either a residential school or nonresidential program serving Deaf children.

Completion of the program in Education of the Deaf will satisfy licensure requirements for a future position teaching Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students in Massachusetts and many other states through established reciprocity agreements.

Core Program (Total Credits: 59)

Coursework requirements listed below may be waived with the approval of a program advisor if equivalent coursework has been completed prior to acceptance to the program. The second year of the program consists of part-time coursework to enable students to take advantage of working in schools.

First Semester (Fall)

• SED DE 577 Instructional Strategies and the Deaf Child
• SED DE 572 Psychology and the Deaf
• SED DE 575 Language and the Deaf Child
• SED DE 590 American Sign Language III

Second Semester (Spring)

• SED DE 574 Prepracticum: Initial Strategies
• SED DE 576 Advanced Language and the Deaf Child
• SED DE 555 Literacy Skills in Deaf Children
• SED DE 591 American Sign Language IV
• SED DE 672 American Sign Language Structure

Summer

• SED DE 551 Deaf Literature and ASL Folklore
• SED RS 600 Introduction to Research

Third Semester (Fall)

• SED SE 534 Classroom Management
• SED DE 573 Expressive and Receptive Vocal Processes
• SED DE 592 American Sign Language V (Advanced ASL)
• SED DE 691 Seminar: Literacy and Deaf Students

Fourth Semester (Spring)

• SED DE 678 Practicum Equivalent: Student-Teaching
• SED DE 690 Seminar: Practicum
• SED DE 693 American Sign Language VI (Academic Language)

Research Course Requirement

All EdM students in the School of Education are required to complete one 4-credit course in research methods (i.e., SED RS 600).

Practicums

Students participate in two practicums: the first, part-time for one semester (i.e., SED DE 574); the second, full-time for one semester (i.e., SED DE 678 and SED DE 690). The half-time practicum in initial strategies involves implementing methods to improve the communication skills of Deaf children. The full-time student-teaching practicum is a 16-week placement with Deaf children who are enrolled in either a school or program serving Deaf children.

Competency in American Sign Language

Coursework is offered in American Sign Language (up to DE 593) to develop a level of performance and competency required for the completion of the program. Students must complete an ASL proficiency examination to participate in student-teaching and to graduate from the program.

Admission

Complete application packets must be received by January 15 to be considered for admission for the following September. Any application received after this date will be reviewed for acceptance on a space-available basis.