波士顿大学

The Deaf Education program within Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development prepares graduate students for initial licensure in Massachusetts as a Teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing for all levels. Massachusetts participates in the NASDTEC interstate reciprocity agreement with all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia (other state-specific requirements may apply), and graduates go on to teach at schools across the nation.

Our program is dedicated to a bilingual/bicultural (ASL & English) approach where we educate teacher candidates to teach Deaf and hard-of-hearing children from all backgrounds. We also offer a non-licensure track for students who are interested in the field of Deaf Education but who do not want to teach. We are committed to the idea that teachers must promote programming that creates meaningful roles for American Sign Language and English. As a result, competence in American Sign Language is a fundamental part of what defines us, and our students. Students are required to complete an advanced sequence of ASL coursework and pass an ASL proficiency assessment prior to graduation.

Our courses are designed to give students a strong background in the principles of language, literacy, and cognitive development. We emphasize the mastery of practical and creative strategies that focus on uniting theory and instruction. Additionally, we stress the importance of understanding the history and culture of the Deaf world. Our core courses are taught by a team of Deaf, hearing, and CODA faculty using American Sign Language.

When accepted into the program, students engage in rigorous exploration of the nature of language, language teaching, linguistic theory, and language acquisition, as well as bilingual instructional strategies for teaching content areas. Completion of the master’s degree is required for full certification as a teacher of the Deaf.

Program Fast Facts

Total credits: 72 to meet EdM and teaching licensure endorsement requirements
Minimum credits for EdM: 44 credits
Program duration: 24 months
Start term: Full-time students—if prerequisites have not been completed, will begin in the summer. Part-time students may begin during the summer, fall, or spring.
Licensure: Upon completion of the program and the Massachusetts testing requirements, which includes the Communication and Literacy Test, General Curriculum, and Math, you will be endorsed for licensure as a Teacher of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing, all grades.