M.A. in Deaf Education: Special Program

Overview

Requirements

Courses

EDU 600 - K-12 Curriculum and Instructional Technology (3)

This course will familiarize students with the nature and importance of curriculum in education from K-12. The course also provides an initial experience in integrated curriculum planning that incorporates the use of current technologies. Current theories of assessment, curriculum, instruction and learning across diverse educational settings are applied in classroom laboratory settings. Content assessments and evaluation in the candidate area(s) of study are emphasized. Field experience in a school setting is a required part of this course.

Prerequisites: Admission to the program or permission of the program director.

EDU 670 - Teaching Students with Disabilities (3)

This course is designed to familiarize students with the identification of exceptional children in terms of developmental needs, interpretation of assessment data, development and evaluation of appropriate intervention strategies for the regular classroom teacher, and legislation in special education. This course will prepare teacher candidates to work with children and youth with a broad range of disabilities and educational needs. Topics will include understanding disability; understanding principles of legislation and curriculum and instruction; establishing positive learning environments; and working collaboratively.

Prerequisite: Admission to the program or permission of the program director

EDU 701 - Deaf Learners and Education in Bilingual Communities (3)

This course introduces the fundamentals of general, special, and bilingual education and how they are infused into deaf education. It will also acquaint candidates with current trends and issues, and research in the education of Deaf and hard of hearing learners of all ages, including historic and current objectives, techniques, and results. The cultural, historical, philosophical, psychological, linguistic and social aspects of the Deaf community will also be addressed from educational perspective. Candidates are challenged to rethink their conceptualization of "Deaf education" as well as "general education" based on their perceptions of their own cultural dimensions. The course typically is taken in the first semester of study.

EDU 711 - Literacy Applications in ASL/English Bilingual Classrooms K-12 (3)

This course addresses literacy instruction through a bilingual and ESL instructional methodology in general bilingual education and their application to a diverse group of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Students will apply the theories and instructional strategies they learn during their practicum experiences, and reflect on these applications through on-line, group activities, and assignments designed to promote the creation of optimal bilingual k-12 classrooms.

Prerequisites: EDU 707; 311 OR 601; and EDU 621, 631 OR 641; Admission to the program or permission of the program director
Co-requisite: EDU 789 Practicum II

EDU 713 - Language Acquisition and Cognitive Development (3)

This course addresses several theories and theorists on language acquisition and cognitive development, with a focus on educational applications with deaf children. The instructor presents information, facilitates cooperative learning activities, and models educational strategies. Class participants fully participate in cooperative learning activities, complete required readings and journal response activities, and complete projects/assignments, individually or in teams.

Prerequisite: EDU 707
Co-requisite: EDU 787

EDU 719 - K-12 Classroom-Based Assessment (3)

This course provides synthesis of professional, legal, and ethical practices related to the provision of meaningful learning experiences for deaf and hard of hearing learners in array of educational programs. Current theories of assessment and learning across diverse educational settings are studied with a focus on deaf children and youth. Assessment and standards-based programming and evaluation are emphasized. Reflection and application of effective assessment practices are demonstrated through classroom and field-based experiences. IN meeting the standards of the following District of Columbia's state learning standards, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), this course is designed to prepare candidates to teach K-12 learners.

Prerequisites: EDU 600; Admission to the MA program or permission of the program director.

EDU 720 - Introduction to Research (3)

The focus of this course is research as a strategy of inquiry for improving practice and advancing our professions. The general principles of qualitative, quantitative, and action research designs will be considered, along with related problems of measurement, statement and clarification of research problems, and basic statistical methods for describing data. The goal is to produce professionals who are consumers of research in their fields who can apply research for the improvement of their school or work settings.

EDU 731 - Home, School, and Community Collaboration for Diverse Learners (3)

This course focuses on developing knowledge, skills, and dispositions in creating and maintaining meaningful collaboration among home, school, and the community for diverse learners (from birth to 21 years old) and their families. The course prepares students to achieve collaborative and respectful relationships with student's family and community as valuable contributors to the educational process. The course also includes developing knowledge in multicultural education and culturally pluralistic educational practices for all students. 25 hours of related field experience is required.

Prerequisite: Admission to the Department of Education or the consent of program director.

EDU 767 - Capstone I (1)

This capstone project course provides the opportunity for candidates in the Advanced Studies Program, Special Program & Graduate Certificate programs to apply and demonstrate skills, knowledge, and dispositions developed throughout the courses in the program through completing a self-designed capstone project. Candidates will complete their proposal plan for the capstone project by the end of the fall semester.

Prerequisites: Program Director's approval, completion of EDU 760 and EDU 761

EDU 768 - Capstone II (1)

This capstone project course provides the opportunity for candidates in the Advanced Studies Program, Special Program & Graduate Certificate programs to apply and demonstrate skills, knowledge, and dispositions developed throughout the courses in the program through completing a self-designed capstone project. Candidates will show evidences of making progress with the capstone project by the end of the spring semester.

Prerequisites: Program Director's approval, completion of EDU 767

EDU 785 - Field Experience and Seminar: Deaf Education (1)

This course provides directed observation and participation in various educational programs; directed visits to schools and classes; and seminars focusing on these experiences and on professional, instructional, and child-related topics. Experiences include visits to general education, deaf education, early education, or bilingual programs in the metropolitan area surrounding Gallaudet University.

Prerequisite: Matriculation into the program
Co-requisite: EDU 601

EDU 789 - Practicum II and Seminar: Deaf Education (2)

This course is designed to build on the knowledge, skills, and experiences of previous and concurrent coursework and lead to the terminal and capstone student teaching internship. Special emphasis is placed on the candidates' developing skills in reflective observation of best instructional practices, assessment strategies as they align with instruction, multiculturalism, diversity among hearing, deaf, hard of hearing learners in a range of educational settings (general, special, deaf, and bilingual). Emphasis is also placed on the use of instructional technology to support learning, behavior management, working with families/caregivers, and working within professional teams.

Prerequisites: EDU 785 and EDU 787
Co-requisite: EDU 711