Degree Details
Degree Type
- Graduate Certificate
Formats
- In-Person
- Online
Availability
- Part-Time
Deepen Your Skills in Supporting Literacy for Deaf Students
With a graduate certificate in Literacy in Deaf Education, you’ll enhance your expertise in literacy instruction tailored to the unique needs of deaf students. This certificate program our program takes a bilingual approach to supporting both ASL and written English skills. You’ll engage in hands-on learning, including opportunities to examine real classroom challenges and collaborate with fellow educators.
Program Features
The Literacy in Deaf Education certificate offers a focused and practical course of study for current teachers and professionals who want to deepen their skills in supporting literacy for deaf students. Coursework for this part-time program can be completed in person or online, and you can start the program in September or January.
Master’s in Deaf Education
Credits earned through the certificate can be transferred directly into the EdM in Deaf Education, accelerating your path to an advanced degree.
The Deaf Education program has taught me a lot about who I am as a person and as a future teacher. Teachers and students alike are some of the most supportive people I have ever met. Someone is always in your corner.
Career Outcomes in Deaf Education
After completing the Literacy in Deaf Education certificate, you’ll have the skills to:
- Deliver literacy instruction for deaf students in both ASL and English
- Design and adapt curricula and assessments to meet diverse bilingual language and literacy needs
- Create inclusive, language-rich environments that foster literacy development in ASL and English
- Collaborate with families and professionals to support bilingual literacy
Featured Faculty
When considering deaf education programs, it’s important to look at the interests and experience of the faculty. Half of the Deaf Education faculty at BU Wheelock are deaf, and all are fluent in ASL. They conduct cutting-edge research on sign language acquisition, have developed some of the best curricula in deaf education, and have created some of the most widely viewed ASL literary works in the world.
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Andrew R. Bottoms
Program Director, Deaf Studies
Senior Lecturer -
Naomi Caselli
Director, BU AI & Education Initiative
Director, BU Deaf Center
Associate Professor -
Todd Czubek
Senior Lecturer
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Emily Glenn-Smith
Lecturer
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Franklin Jones, Jr.
Lecturer
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Amy M. Lieberman
Director, Doctoral Studies
Associate Professor
Deaf Education Literacy Courses
In the certificate in deaf education literacy, you’ll take several required courses, including a professional seminar and two courses on instructional methods. You’ll also choose two elective courses. These include:
- Teaching and Creating ASL Literature
- Teaching ASL as a First Language
- Language Acquisition in Deaf Children
Admissions & Dates
Fall 2026 Start
Jul 1, 2026
Application Closes (International Applicants)
Fall 2026 Start
Aug 1, 2026
Application Closes
Fall 2027 Start
Aug 15, 2026
Application Opens
Spring 2027 Start
Dec 15, 2026
Application Closes
Connect with BU Wheelock to learn more about the Deaf Education Literacy certificate . Learn about application requirements and deadlines, sign up for an information session, or start your application today.