DEAF AND/OR HARD OF HEARING
“As long as we have deaf people on earth, we will have signs.”
—George Veditz
Our faculty are committed to working with the deaf community and providing important educational and language services to all deaf and hard of hearing people from birth through adulthood.
Explore What We Offer
Our Degree Programs
Deaf Studies, Minor
The Deaf Studies minor will provide students interested in working with deaf/hard of hearing children or adults with an understanding of American Sign Language and Deaf Culture(s).
Faculty
Deaf Studies
The bachelor of interdisciplinary studies (B.I.S.) degree offers a concentration in deaf studies. This concentration will give learners the foundation they need to work with the deaf community. Graduates of this program may go on to work in non-profits, in non-teaching positions at deaf education programs, or pursue a teaching certificate through a graduate program. Information about the B.I.S. degree can be found in the university’s catalog.
Deaf Education
There are two programs relating to deaf education. The special education, B.S.Ed. program offers a concentration in deaf education that prepares teachers to instruct students who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) to work in: schools that use a visual language, including residential schools, day schools and public school programs. Students learn about services across a wide variety of placement options. This is a “four plus one” degree program, so students who stay on for an additional year will be certified to teach deaf children up through grade 12 and earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in only five years.
Our new deaf studies, deaf education concentration, B.A. is related to deaf studies, sign language interpreting concentration, B.A. (listed below) only with a focus on deaf education. You can learn more about this program and concentration in the catalog and program page.
Learn how to apply for the Special Education, B.S.Ed. » or the Deaf Studies, Deaf Education Concentration, B.A. »
Deaf Studies, Sign Language Interpreting Concentration, B.A.
The deaf studies, sign language interpreting concentration, B.A. prepares students with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to enter the field of American Sign Language/English interpretation. Students develop confidence in their working languages, proficiency in linguistic and cultural analysis and the interpersonal skills needed to develop a relevant and sound professional practice. Interpreters work within various venues and settings, including kindergarten through grade 12 and post-secondary educational settings, video relay service, community events, medical and mental health settings and performance and theatrical interpreting.
Learn how to apply for the Deaf Education Sign Language Interpreting Concentration, B.A. »
There is also a sign language interpreting, undergraduate post-baccalaureate certificate that prepares students with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to enter the American Sign Language/English interpretation field.
Find out how to apply for the Sign Language Interpreting, Undergraduate Post-Baccalaureate Certificate »
Faculty
- Peter Crume — works with sign language interpreting
- Jessica Scott — works with teacher preparation
- Justin Malone – teaches sign language classes
Scott Voted President-Elect for the Association of College Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Associate Professor Jessica Scott has been voted president-elect for the Association of College Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Master of Arts in Teaching
Are you looking for a teaching certificate to work with deaf and hard of hearings students? The special education master of arts in teaching (M.A.T.) program is for you! Our program prepares teachers to instruct students who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) to work in schools that use a visual language, including residential schools, day schools and public school programs. Students learn about services across a wide variety of placement options and will get in-depth coursework experiences that will develop their skills for teaching in multilingual settings, Graduates will be certified to teach deaf children up through grade 12.
Faculty
- Jessica Scott — works with teacher preparation
Faculty advising students in the Deaf Studies Ph.D. concentration have the skills and knowledge to support you as you become a leader in Deaf Studies related fields, including Deaf Education and Sign Language Interpreting. This program focuses on building your ability to design and conduct high-quality research with deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Our graduates go on to work in university settings, research labs or as leaders in deaf education at the federal and state levels.
Our faculty’s areas of research include:
- The role of language and literacy in Deaf Education
- How Deaf students who use sign language develop disciplinary literacy
- Multilingualism and multimodalism
- How Deaf and Hearing individuals who know or are learning a signed language understand narratives
- How sign language exposure impacts learning and development
See our faculty biographies (below) for more information. You are also encouraged to reach out to faculty members whose research interests overlap with your own.
If you are interested in completing a Ph.D. with a faculty in Deaf Studies, please fill out the information request form below or email [email protected] for more information.
Faculty in the Deaf Education Program
Our Research
Literacy Development of Deaf Students Who Use American Sign Language
Jessica Scott, Ph.D. focuses her research primarily on the literacy development of deaf students who use American Sign Language (ASL). She also studies instructional practices in international deaf education settings. Her current literacy projects include:
- Studies on the language and literacy development of deaf learners who use ASL
- The STEM identities and STEM learning of deaf adolescents
- Rethinking schools for the deaf as places that center deaf students and prioritize visual thinking and communication
Her current international projects are focused on deaf education practices in Jamaica, including the role of deaf adults in the teaching and learning process.
If you are interested in doing your doctoral work in these areas contact her at [email protected].
Use of ASL to promote communication and learning for deaf individuals
Peter Crume, Ph.D., RID CI/CT, focuses his research primarily on how sign language interpreters or teachers may use American Sign Language (ASL) to promote the language and academic abilities of deaf individuals. He focuses most of his research on how aspects of ASL, including visual-spatial grammar, depiction, constructed action, and fingerspelling, build higher-order cognitive skills that promote more advanced thinking and literacy abilities of deaf individuals. His current projects include:
- Studies that identify how deaf children’s proficiency in ASL and English are related to their ability to comprehend and produce academic tasks
- Studies that identify how teachers of the deaf use fingerspelling to promote signed and print vocabulary of deaf children in the K-2 setting
- Studies that identify how novice sign language interpreters may process shifts in narrative and exposition that occur in both ASL and English
- Studies that identify how the language and interpreting abilities of sign language interpreters in K-12 environments may impact their ability to provide effective communication access for deaf students
Dr. Crume works with undergraduate and certificate students in the sign language interpreting program and serves as a research advisor to doctoral students interested in deaf education. You can contact him at [email protected].
How can we help you?
Fill in this form to start your academic journey.
Careers
Regardless of which program you choose, if you come to Georgia State to study for a career with deaf and hard of hearing individuals, you will have a number of exciting opportunities. Our faculty are committed to working with the deaf community and providing important educational and language services to all deaf and hard of hearing people from birth through adulthood.
- Visit schools and programs for the deaf and learn from highly skilled teachers
- Assist in research completed in deaf education or interpreting
- Shadow and learn from talented sign language interpreters
- Connect with the deaf community
- Volunteer at a summer STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) program designed for deaf and hard of hearing teens
Contact Us
PHONE
404-413-8040
EMAIL
[email protected]
Department of Learning Sciences
30 Pryor St. SW
Suite 750
Atlanta, GA 30303
