Minor in Deaf Education

The Deaf Education minor is designed to provide foundations in the principles of language, literacy, and cognitive development necessary for working in Deaf education. This program is unique in its commitment to educational programming that creates meaningful roles for American Sign Language, English, and Deaf culture. Students will develop introductory knowledge about curriculum, planning and assessment, and how to partner with families and communities. The minor is designed for students interested in expanding their knowledge and understanding of Deaf education as well as for students interested in pursuing a graduate degree and licensure program to become a teacher of the Deaf. The minor by itself does not lead to licensure.

The minor is open to students across the University.

Learning Outcomes

Students will develop introductory knowledge of:

  • The multilingual ASL/English approach to Deaf education.
  • Social versus medical frameworks for understanding deafness and disability. 

Students will develop, demonstrate, and refine skills and abilities in the following areas:

  • Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment: Promote the learning and growth of all students by providing high-quality and coherent instruction and by designing and administering authentic and meaningful student assessments. Students will analyze student performance and growth data and use this data to improve instruction, providing students with constructive feedback on an ongoing basis and continuously refining learning objectives.
  • Teaching All Students: Promote the learning and growth of all students through instructional practices that establish high expectations, create a safe and effective classroom environment, and demonstrate cultural proficiency.
  • Family and Community Engagement: Promote the learning and growth of all students through effective partnerships with families, caregivers, community members, and organizations.
  • Professional Culture: Promote the learning and growth of all students through ethical, culturally proficient, skilled, and collaborative practice.
  • Equity-Driven and Humanizing Orientation to Teaching: Understand how identity and intersectionality can impact teaching and learning and center pedagogical choices that affirm the full humanity of students.
  • Subject Matter Knowledge: Demonstrate introductory knowledge of subjects taught at the early childhood, elementary, and middle school levels.

Requirements

Prerequisites

  • SED DE 381 American Sign Language I or the equivalent
  • SED DE 382 American Sign Language II or the equivalent
  • SED DE 383 American Sign Language III or the equivalent
  • SED DE 384 American Sign Language IV or the equivalent

Required Courses

  • SED DE 351 Deaf Literature & Visual Arts (4 cr)
  • SED DE 385 ASL V (2 cr)
  • SED DE 386 ASL VI (2 cr)
  • SED DE 503 ASL/English Instructional Methods: Content Areas (4 cr)
  • SED DE 504 ASL/English Instructional Methods: Literacy (4 cr)
  • SED DE 507 Dynamics of Diversity & Oppression, and Social Justice within Deaf Communities (4 cr) OR SED DE 506 Teaching and Creating ASL Literature (4 cr)

Field-Based Practicum Experience

  • SED DE 561 Pre-Practicum: Initial Strategies (2 cr, 75 hours)
  • SED DE 562 Practicum: Deaf Students with Disabilities (4 cr, 65 hours)

Students interested in dual licensure should also take one of the following:

  • SED DE 531 Early Language and Social Learning in Deaf Children (4 cr)
  • SED DE 532 Disability Studies and Deaf Education (4 cr)
  • SED DE 533 Social Psychology and the Deaf World (4 cr)
  • SED DE 534 Sign Language Structure (4 cr)
  • SED DE 535 Teaching ASL as a First Language (4 cr)
  • SED TL 520 Teaching English Language Learners (4 cr)