Mission
The Advanced Specialization Certification in Deaf Education program supports the mission and the vision statements of the College of the Marshall Islands prepares teachers of deaf students to deliver targeted instruction in deaf education classrooms in the RMI and other Pacific jurisdictions.
Purpose of the Program & Content
The purpose of this program is to train students to be teachers for deaf students in the RMI and other Pacific jurisdictions. The content of this program includes intsruction in all subject areas included in the elementary education curriculum with accommodations for deaf students, knowledge of deaf culture, and Special Education requirements and regulations.
Courses Offered
DEAF 111 - Introduction to Deaf Education
Prerequisites:
ENG 111 and ENG 105
ASL 101 and ASL 102 or ASL fluency
Provides an overview of current demographic, legal, educational, linguistic, medical, and social trends that impact deaf students’ education. Explores criteria for the establishment of quality educational services for deaf students, including issues relevant to the Pacific region.
DEAF 221 - Language Development for Deaf Students
Prerequisites:
ENG 111 and ENG 105, completion of DEAF 111 with a B or better, ASL fluency
Co-requisite:
DEAF 222
Presents typical and atypical patterns of cognitive and linguistic development and addresses barriers to optimal language development for deaf children. Identifies strategies for supporting cognitive and linguistic development in both first and second languages, with focus on sign language development as the first language (L1) and written language as the second language (L2). Highlights the importance of early intervention and parent involvement.
DEAF 222 - Literacy Development for Deaf Students
Prerequisites:
ENG 111 and ENG 105, completion of DEAF 111 with a B or better, ASL fluency
Co-requisite:
DEAF 221
Reviews principles and practices of literacy development in both sign and print literacy (reading and writing) and the potential for bimodal literacy. Identifies strategies for reading and writing skill development in English as well as literary composition and expression in American Sign Language and the indigenous sign language of the region.
DEAF 331 – Bilingual Methods in Deaf Education Seminar
Prerequisites:
Completion of DEAF 221, DEAF 222 with a B or better
Explores issues, trends, and methods in ASL/English bilingual education for deaf students with application to Pacific multilingual education (indigenous sign, ASL, English, and local vernacular) for deaf students. Presents challenges of and approaches to language planning and policies, and proposes strategies for bilingual and multilingual classroom instruction. This seminar serves to connect all DEAF Practicum courses.
DEAF 332 - Content Methods I in Deaf Education: Social Studies and Cultural Studies
Prerequisites:
Completion of DEAF 221, DEAF 222 with a B or better, bilingual fluency (ASL/English)
Reviews foundations for instructional planning, implementation, and evaluation of student learning. Presents fundamental evidence-based instructional practices for teaching deaf students applied to social studies and cultural studies themes (including Pacific-related literature) that are relevant to the Pacific. Course assignments will be based, in part, on field experiences working with deaf students.
DEAF 440 – Deaf Practicum I
Prerequisite:
B or better in DEAF 221
Designed to provide pre-service teachers with an authentic experience working with deaf students in educational settings. The course includes a minimum of 6 hours of field experience per day, five days per week for six weeks at the Majuro Deaf Education Center or other deaf education class. This Practicum focuses on language development and general instructinal practices in Deaf Education.
DEAF 441 - Content Methods II in Deaf Education: Science and Mathematics
Prerequisites:
Completion of DEAF 331, DEAF 332 with a B or better, bilingual fluency (ASL/English)
Reviews foundations for standards-based curriculum development and applications for teaching deaf students. Presents advanced evidence-based instructional practices for assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of student learning related to mathematics and science. Course assignments will be based, in part, on practicum experiences.
DEAF 442 – Deaf Education Practicum II
Prerequisites:
Completion of DEAF 331, DEAF 332 with a B or better, bilingual fluency (ASL/English)
Co-requisite:
DEAF 441
Designed to provide pre-service teachers with an authentic experience working with deaf students in educational settings. This Practicum focuses on bilingual literacy development and instruction in social studies and Pacific literature using Bilingual methods for teaching deaf students.
DEAF 443 – Deaf Education Practicum III
Prerequisites:
Completion of DEAF 442 with a B or better, bilingual fluency (ASL/English)
Students who have earned a BA/BS degree and have their own classrooms replace DEAF 443 with DEAF 444 & DEAF 445
Provides teacher candidates with full-time supervised student teaching experience in a deaf education classroom for one semester with a master teacher where they would gradually be expected to be responsible for all aspects of the classroom. Instruction will include literacy development and content instruction in all subject areas.
DEAF 444 – Deaf Education Internship I
Prerequisites:
B or better in DEAF 442
Provides teacher candidates with on-the-job student teaching internship in their own classroom of deaf students with supervision and mentoring. Instruction will include literacy development and content instruction in all subject areas. For students with no master teacher, this course is the first semester of a 2-semester requirement within their own classroom and supervised by NSSP personnel.
DEAF 445 – Deaf Education Internship I
Prerequisites:
B or better in DEAF 444
Provides teacher candidates with on-the-job student teaching internship in their own classroom of deaf students with supervision and mentoring. Instruction will include literacy development and content instruction in all subject areas. For students with no master teacher, this course is the second semester of a 2-semester requirement within their own classroom and supervised by NSSP personnel.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the Advanced Specialization Certification in Deaf Education program will:
- Reflect, discuss, and share knowledge and experiences in the fields of education, special education, and deaf education through inquiry-based research.
- Organize, sequence, and plan appropriate, engaging, and meaningful lessons to meet long-term goals for deaf students.
- Utilize knowledge of the diverse developmental characteristics of deaf students in order to differentiate instruction for individuals, small groups and large groups.
- Demonstrate methods for content-area instruction in the implementation of lessons for deaf students in the classroom.
- Assess deaf students’ progress (birth-12) in all areas and use information to select appropriate strategies that build on deaf students’ strengths and develop strategies to address learning challenges.
- Exhibit ethical practices in and out of the classroom.
- Demonstrate fluency in American Sign Language to support the language, cognitive, and academic, and social development of deaf students. (Note: Students from RMI will also demonstrate fluency in Marshallese Sign Language.)
2019 Program Sheet
2019 Program Sheet – Students who have earned a BA/BS degree
