Education of the Deaf (DED) MS

Overview

Program Coordinator: Dr. Heidi MacGlaughlin

Program Delivery Format: 100% Online, 8-week sessions Fall and Spring, 6-week sessions Summer

Total Credits: 36-42

Average Completion Time: 24-36 months 

Admission Cycle: Summer and Fall. Spring admission is dependent upon demand.

Admissions Contact: Crystal Perry, Assistant Director, Graduate Enrollment Management (cperry@mcdaniel.edu | 410-386-4833)

GPS Student Support Liaisons: gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu | 410-857-2500

Come connect with an energetic community of individuals pursuing teaching credentials for PK12 Deaf Education .

Earn a degree that means something - McDaniel is highly regarded nationally for its Deaf Education program. Since its inception in 1967 as a joint effort between McDaniel College and the Maryland School for the Deaf, McDaniel College’s Master of Science program in Deaf Education has built on its mission to prepare outstanding teachers of Deaf students.

Key Features of the Deaf Education program include:

• Philosophically, the program views Deaf students from a cultural perspective. For graduates, that translates into a genuine acceptance of and respect for the language and culture of Deaf people, as well as a driving commitment to provide students with experiences that encourage literacy development and academic achievement.
• ASL and English are emphasized as the languages of instruction in an online environment. This requires students to be proficient in both ASL and English.
• All online classes utilize both ASL and English. Courses taught online are synchronous webinar format and require video camera for ASL instruction and learning.
• Two tracks are available to meet your specific educational and career goals: Specialty Track which is designed for currently certified teachers seeking to add PK12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing licensure, or the Initial Certification track which prepares students for Initial Professional Licensure in PK12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the state of Maryland. This program is designed to meet Maryland certification requirements. While reciprocity could be an option for students seeking certification outside of the state of Maryland, prospective students should check with the licensing body in the state in which they seek licensure to determine eligibility for licensure. Please see our statement on Professional Licensure here or contact our Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu for more information. 

Vision and Mission Statements

Deaf Education Vision

For teachers of Deaf and hard-of-hearing students to embrace an in-depth understanding of a bilingual philosophy, to promote literacy and access to world knowledge, to incorporate cultural and historical perspectives that value diversity, to explore current research trends in the field, and to create opportunities for the success of all children.

Deaf Education Pedagogical Mission

To prepare knowledgeable and competent teachers who challenge and empower students by creating meaningful and rewarding learning experiences, who have a lifelong enthusiasm for learning, who are reflective practitioners open to new ideas and challenges, and who search for ways to improve instruction for Deaf students.

Deaf Education Linguistic Mission

To prepare teachers who strive for excellence in both ASL and English, who provide their students with support for improvement in both languages, who develop an appreciation and respect for bilingual fluency, who create a linguistically rich learning environment, and who share the beauty of both languages.

Deaf Education Cultural Mission

To prepare teachers who value the importance of Deaf culture and integrate it into their teaching, who appreciate the unique contributions of Deaf and hearing teachers serving as role models for all students, and who develop sensitivity and respect for the individual differences among children and adults.

Graduates are prepared to teach Deaf students in PK12. The Deaf Education program is approved by the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). McDaniel College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 

Courses are taught by full-time faculty as well as adjunct instructors and researchers in the field who are able to incorporate their professional experience and current practices into their course content. Classes are taught primarily in ASL by Deaf and hearing faculty. Candidates intern in bilingual programs with approval of the Program Coordinator. 

Candidates begin the graduate program during the summer or fall. Spring admissions are dependent upon demand.

Licensure:

This program is designed to meet the educational preparation requirements for MSDE (Maryland State Department of Education) Deaf and Hard of Hearing PK12. Students seeking MSDE licensure may also be required to meet other state requirements to include required state assessment tests. While reciprocity is often granted by other states, students who are seeking licensure in other states are encouraged to consult their state certification offices about additional requirements such as teaching experience, testing or specific course completion. 

The program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education and the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED). This program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in other states. Students who plan to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Maryland should contact the McDaniel College Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu prior to enrollment and the appropriate licensing board associated with your program of interest for additional information and guidance. Contact information related to licensure for states outside of Maryland can be found here.

Program Options

This program prepares students to teach students who are Deaf or hard of hearing in a PK12 environment.

Specialty Track: Designed for candidates who hold an active teacher license who seek to add Deaf and Hard of Hearing licensure in the state of Maryland. Candidates complete 36 credits to include a practicum and one internship (DED 552) working with deaf and hard of hearing students.

Initial Certification Track: Designed for candidates who are seeking Initial Professional Licensure. Candidates complete a minimum of 39 credit hours, which includes 3 credits of practicum and 6 credits of internship teaching in a classroom with deaf and hard of hearing students. Students also are required to meet identified prerequisites or take the courses while in the program.  Prerequisites are determined by the Program Coordinator through a review of the undergraduate and graduate transcripts. 

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the program must:

• Complete an application for graduate study
• Submit official transcripts verifying completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPS of 3.0* 
• Submit an American Sign Language Proficiency Test Score of 3.0 or higher.  An ASLPI interview can be used in lieu of ASLPI scores where deemed appropriate by the Program Coordiantor.  
  • Obtain an English Proficiency Essay (EPE) minimum entrance score of 3. The personal statement submitted at the time of application will be scored for the EPE requirement. Students should not use AI tools for the essay as the goal of this essay is to verify the individuals professional goals and individualized thoughts related to the writing prompt. 

*Please note: Students with a 2.75 to 2.99 GPA may be admitted provisionally and will be required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first 9-12 credit hours. Students with less than a 2.75 GPA will be considered on a case-by-case basis for provisional admission and may be required to provide additional documentation and/or participate in an interview.

International Students:

This program is delivered primarily online and as a result does not meet the federal regulations for international students to study in the US. Students living outside of the US are not eligible to participate in this program. 

Courses

Initial Licensure Internship: 6 credits

All candidates seeking initial teacher licensure must complete the following courses:

• DED 553 - Internship I in Deaf Education
• DED 554 - Internship II in Deaf Education

Specialty Track Internship: 3 credits

Candidates who hold a teaching license who are seeking to add Deaf and Hard of Hearing speciality licensure are required to take 3 credits of internship working with deaf and hard of hearing students.

• DED 552 - Internship in Deaf Education

Total Credits: 36-39

Students who hold a current and active teaching license who are seeking specialty licensure will be required to complete 36 credits to include 3 credits of Internship (DED 552) working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. Those seeking initial licensure will be required to complete 39 credits to include 6 credits of internship with students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DED 553 and DED 554).

State Authorization

McDaniel is an approved institutional member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Membership in SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses/programs offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. For more information about SARA, including the states currently participating in the agreement, visit http://www.nc.sara.org.

SARA membership allows McDaniel to accept and deliver our programs/courses online to students in 49 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students who reside in California, currently the only state not a member of SARA, should contact the admissions office prior to application to verify if you are eligible to participate in the online program of interest.

For more information about state authorization requirements and complaint resolution, visit https://www.mcdaniel.edu/academics/graduate-professional-studies/state-authorization-requirements-complaints-resolution

Professional Licensure

Requirements for professional licensure in fields such as accounting, education, counseling, nursing, psychology, and social work vary from state to state. McDaniel’s academic programs are designed to meet Maryland’s licensure requirements and may not meet requirements from other states. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, McDaniel highly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s licensing requirements. You may also contact McDaniel College’s Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire.

For more important information regarding professional licensure and the completion of McDaniel degrees, please review our Professional Licensure webpage. 

Students who complete this program and are seeking licensure in the state of Maryland must meet all Maryland-specific requirements in addition to completing this Maryland Approved Program. The requirements may include but are not limited to any of the following:

1. Passing scores on content specific exams
2. Teaching experience
3. Payment of application or processing fees

More information about Maryland State Department of Education requirements can be found at https://www.marylandpublicschools.org