Department Chair: Gabriel A. (Tony) Martin

101 Speech-Hearing and Deaf Ed Center
Phone: 880-8170

Professors: Andrews, Martin

Associate Professor: Smith

Assistant Professor: Gentry, Ausbrooks

Instructors: Weldon, Gietz, Jackson

The Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education (DSDE) supports instruction, research, and service, the primary mission areas of Lamar University, through the degree programs offered. The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Sign Language (ASL) for students interested in pursuing work in the teaching of ASL in EC-12 grades. The undergraduate major is also a suitable foundation program for a graduate specialization, state license, and/or national certification within the professional field of deaf education. This program of study is accredited by the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED). Completion of the mater’s degree is strongly advised by our department faculty in deaf education. (See the Graduate Catalog for requirements).

The new Bachelor of Arts degree in American Sign Language (BA-ASL) emphasizes excellent teaching in American Sign Language. This degree enables the student to acquire competence in expressive and receptive skills and familiarity with the literature and culture of the Deaf community. While this degree is targeted toward a teaching certificate, sign language interpreters will find this degree supportive of their professional goals. (See department chair or advisors for a degree plan).

Teacher certification plans are offered in conjunction with the major study of Deaf Education. Details concerning requirements for teacher certification and the professional education course requirements should be obtained from an undergraduate advisor in Deaf Education and /or from the College of Education and Human Development section of this catalog.

A new student initiating study at Lamar University must meet all admission requirements of the University (See "Admission" the catalog). Transfer students or students who wish to enter the Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education (DSDE) programs by change of major must meet admission requirements or a have a minimum grade point average of 2.50 or better. Grades of "D" are not acceptable as course completion for required classes in departmental majors, nor are they acceptable as course completion for classes to be used as professional electives by student majors within the department.

Programs of Study

All majors in this department must complete the basic Core Curriculum requirements of Lamar University as their academic foundation course work. Faculty advisors will provide direction to the student concerning departmental requirements within the Core Curriculum when course choices are available to meet the University’s Core curriculum requirements. The Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education requires all transfer, freshmen-level, and senior-level students to see a faculty advisor within the department. Further, this Department strongly encourages all students to seek academic advisement from the faculty for efficient matriculation through the undergraduate program. Advisors may be seen during the university posted time for each semester or by appointment. Required courses are listed with more information about each.

Bachelor’s Degree in American Sign Language

The bachelor’s degree program in American Sign Language (ASL) prepares students for teaching in schools offering ASL as a "foreign language" credit in an EC-12 program. Each student must complete a REQUIRED departmental core of courses. In addition, each student will complete pedagogy courses required for licensure.

Lamar University Minimum Degree Requirements

Philosophy of Knowledge Core Curriculum: 48 hours
Social Science Requirement - PSYC 2301(3 hours)
Communication Requirement - DSDE 2375 (3 hours)
Math Requirements - MATH 1314 and PSYC 2471 (6 hours)

Required Courses: 45 hours DSDE 1374 (3 hours), SPHS 1375 (3 hours), DSDE 1376 (3 hours), DSDE 1377 (3 hours), DSDE 1378 (3 hours), DSDE 2376 (3 hours), DSDE 2377 (3 hours), PSYC 2308 (3 hours), DSDE 3306 (3 hours), DSDE 3307 (3 hours), DSDE 4306 (3 hours), DSDE 4307 (3 hours), DSDE 4310 (3 hours), DSDE 4311 (3 hours), ENGL 4321(3 hours)

Professional Electives: 27 hours
This section is considered professional electives and students must earn a "B" grade or higher. These courses are selected by the student with the advisor and department chair approval. The courses must meet a need within the enhancement of the degree. Areas of selection can be Professional Pedagogy, English, Interpreting, Literacy, or other areas as approved by the department faculty advisor.
Courses required for teacher certification (can be used for professional electives) are:
SPED 2310 (3 hours), PEDG 3310 (3 hours), PEDG 3320 (3 hours), PEDG 3350 (3 hours), PEDG 3351 (3 hours), PEDG 4340 (3 hours), DSDE 4308 (3 hours), ENGL 4320 (3 hours), READ 3326 (3 hours), and READ 4310 (3 hours).

Other requirements: 9 hours
Also required of this program is a three hour practicum DSDE 4309 and Student Teaching PEDG 4930 (six hours credit).

Optional: Required Minor [number of hours] (9 hours advanced)
No minor required.

TOTAL number of required hours: 120 hours
University Residency: A minimum of 30 hours must be taken at Lamar University, Beaumont Campus.
Senior Residency: A minimum of 24 hours must be completed at Lamar University, Beaumont Campus as a senior.
Upper Level Residency: A minimum of 30 hours must be taken at the junior and/or senior levels.
Upper Division Residency: At least 18 hours of the junior/senior level courses must be completed at Lamar University, Beaumont Campus.
Upper division Major Requirement: At least 12 hours I the major field must be junior and senior level courses.

A student must have a 2.5 GPA to apply for teacher certification (see teacher education section in the College of Educations and Human Development). Additionally, all courses in the major course area and elective areas must be at least a grade of "B" or better or the course must be retaken.

All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program. See TSI information elsewhere in this catalog.

Deaf Studies and Deaf Education (DSDE)

1374 Introduction to Deaf Studies 3:3:0
Historical and current trends about Deaf community, their culture, and education of deaf youth.
1376 Fingerspelling and Numbers in ASL 3:3:0
The study of and number concepts in American Sign Language used in the Deaf Community.
1377 Introduction to Deaf Education 3:3:0
A survey of the history of deaf education in the US and around the world today including a description of major contributors of educational pedagogy.
1378 Introduction To Interpreting 3:3:0
A survey course for the field of sign language interpreting. This course is an overview of the various acpects within the field of interpreting and those issues facing interpreters and consumers.
2375 American Sign Language I 3:3:0
Introduction to American Sign Language and Deaf Culture. (Transfers as TCCN SNGL 1301)
2376 American Sign Language II 3:3:0
This is an intermediate course in American Sign Language and Deaf Culture. (Transfers as TCCN SNGL 1302) Prerequisite: CMDS 2375 or Department Chair approval.
2377 Introduction to ASL Structure 3:3:0
A study of the lasics of ASL linguistics such as this phonolgy, morphology, semantics, syntex, and pragmatics
2378 Interpreting II 3:3:0
Building on the foundations introduced in the course DSDE 1378 - Introduction to Interpreting, this course expolores more specifically and deeper inot the fundementals of ASL, interpretation, including the roles and responsibilities of the interpreter.
3306 American Sign Language III 3:3:0
Advanced American Sign Language. Prerequisite: CMDS 2376 or Department Chair approval.
3307 Introduction to ASL Literature, Visual and Media Arts 3:3:0
A survey of Deaf Culture themes expressed in short stories, poetry, drama, and humor as well as in the visual arts. Prerequisites: CMDS 1374, 1377, 2375, 2376.
4306 Literacy and Deafness 3:3:0
Theoretical acquisition of reading and writing for deaf/Hard of hearing children. Prerequisite; CMDS 1374.
4307 American Sign Language IV 3:3:0
Linguistics of ASL and advanced expressive and receptive skills development in ASL. Prerequisite: CMDS 2375, 2376 and 3306 or Department Chair approval.
4308 Teaching ASL as a Second Language., Methodologies 3:3:0
A survey of methods in teaching American Sign Languages (ASL) as a second language. Prerequisite: 1374, 1377, 2375, 2376, 3306, 3307, or by faculty and Department Chair approval.
4309 Practicum / classroom observation 3:3:0
Student practicum and classroom observations where ASL is being taught.
4310 Sign Language and Sign Codes 3:3:0
A survey of the various forms and manual communication such as ASL, Contact Signing, Signed English, Signing Exact English, Seeing Essential English, Fingerspelling and other manually coded English forms. Prerequisites: 1376, 2375, 2376, 3306, 4307 or by faculty and Department Chair approval.
4311 ASL Linguistics 3:3:0
An Advanced study of ASL linguistics research on phonology, morphology, sematics, syntex and pragmatics.
4313 Interpreting Content Subject Areas at Secondary School Levels 3:3:0
Research and skill development for analyzing and applying apprpriate stategies for working in the middle and high school environment.
4314 Fundamental of Educational, Legal and Medical Interpreting. 3:3:0
This course focuses on the similarities and differences in these three major interpreting situations
4315 Interpreting Issues and Research 3:3:0
Contemprary study of the research and development in the field of interpreting.
4326 Instructional Design of the Classroom 3:3:0
Cognitive, linguistic and social development of deaf individuals from infancy to adulthood and the impact on the classroom. Prerequisites: CMDS 1374.
4350 Problems and Projects 3:3:0
Special project course taken by supervising faculty and Department Chair approval.

The Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education offers training and Master of Science degrees in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education.

Master of Science Degree in Deaf Education

Our deaf education program is certified by the national Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) and our graduates are eligible for professional certification through that accrediting agency. In addition, graduates may apply for state licenses as a teacher of deaf children. The program welcomes deaf graduate students. The minimum number of 36 hours for the Master of Science degree is required. However, additional courses may be required for certification as per candidate specialization. Program graduates are expected to be skilled in sign language and must complete a minimum of 450 hours of supervised practicum/internship with deaf education. The program requirements for the major and the areas of specialization are listed below.

Required DSDE courses (minimum # of hours 39) - 5310, 5311, 5313, 5318, 5319, 5320, 5321, 5322, 5326, 5328, and 5329. Also required is a minimum of two clinical practicum courses 5309 for elementary student experience and 5309 for secondary student experience. Additional courses may be needed for certification as per candidate specialization.

Required Pedagogy (PEDG) courses - 5330, 5344, 5345, 5350, and 5387. Also required is Deaf Education Internship (student teaching in a classroom with deaf children) PEDG 5383.

Area of Specialization

Required by NCLB legislation for being certified as "Highly Qualified," the following steps have been developed to assist students in the process.
Step 1: Requested "area" should be addressed with the Deaf Education faculty (requires that the student present a transcript for a review of the total courses that have been taken under the requested "area."
Step 2: After approval from faculty, the student my take the Content Area Proficiency (diagnostic) test at Lamar (currently a cost of $10).
Step 3: Graduate faculty will create a deficiency plan.
Step 4: Take specific courses, depending on your area of specialization.

As a note some students request to transfer courses or have courses waived for various reasons. For all course transfers, waivers, or substitutions, university policy applies. A written request must be made to the graduate faculty committee (departmental) prior to the G-3 Degree Candidacy form. At no time can waivers or substitution of courses result in students accumulating less than a minimum of 36 credit hours for the degree. Waivers, substitutions, and transfer courses are not automatically accepted. These courses must be reviewed and approved by the graduate faculty (departmental), Department Chair and Graduate Dean. For waivers, transfers, and substitutions of Pedagogy courses the student must make their request with the Pedagogy Department in the College of Education and Human Development.

Doctor of Education Degree in Deaf Studies/Education

Lamar University is one of only a few universities in the U.S. offering a doctoral degree in Deaf Studies or Deaf Education. Lamar is addressing a critical national and international shortage of doctoral trained educators of the deaf. Graduates of the doctoral program take leadership roles in schools for the deaf or become teacher trainers in university settings. Both hearing and deaf applicants are accepted.

The Lamar University Doctor of Education in Deaf Studies and Deaf Education is a minimum 60 hours of coursework and 6 hours of dissertation. The program courses are categorized as follows:

Required # of hours Core - 30 (6301, 6302, 6303, 6304, 6305, 6307, 6308, 6314, + 6 hours from any of the following 6310, 6311, 6312, 6313*) * in some special circumstances 6313 is used as a research course to satisfy Stats/Research required hours…must be approved by advisor and Department Chair.

Required # of hours Stats/Research - 9 (6309, 6315, other approved Stat course or 6313 by approval).

Required # of hours Cognate - 21 (courses at the doctoral level that are approved by advisor/dept. chair prior to prelims being passed and by Doctoral Committee Chair/dept chair after prelims have been passed.

Admission to the Masters Degree Program

Applicants for admission to master’s degree program in the Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education (DSDE), except for students who are deaf (see below), are ranked for admission based on the following criteria.

1. A formula established by the Graduate Council. The formula is calculated based on (GPA* x 200) + Verbal GRE + Quantitative GRE score. The total formula score must be greater than or equal to 1350**.
2. Evidence of sign language competency.
3. Relevance of the undergraduate training.
4. Three letters of support.
5. An essay including the applicant’s philosophy of education and professional goals. The essay will be used to identify writing ability required for successful completion of the DSDE graduate program.
6. Admission interview with DSDE faculty.

*Applicants who do not have an accumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or above may be denied admission due to state certification requirements. Such applicants may be given provisional acceptance as a pre-graduate or may be allowed to take post-baccalaureate coursework to improve their GPA at the discretion of the DSDE admission committee.

**Deaf applicants who have a severe to profound hearing loss may choose to submit above average performance intelligence scores (preferably the performance scale of the WAIS-IV) in lieu of the GRE. Acceptance and ranking of such applicants will be at the discretion of the DSDE admission committee, provided that all other criteria are satisfied.

Admission to the Doctoral Degree Program

Applicants for admission to the doctoral program in deaf studies and deaf education, except for students who are deaf (see below), are ranked for admission based on the following criteria.

1. A formula established by the Graduate Council. The formula is calculated based on (GPA x 200) + Verbal GRE + Quantitative GRE score. The total formula score must be greater than or equal to 1600*.
2. Must have a master’s degree in deaf education or related field.
3. Evidence of sign language competency.
4. Must have completed three years of professional experience with deaf or hearing impaired children or adults.
5. Three letters of support.
6. An essay including the applicant’s philosophy of education and professional goals. The essay will be used to identify writing ability required for successful completion of the DSDE doctoral program.

*Deaf applicants who have a severe to profound hearing loss may choose to submit above average performance intelligence scores (preferably the performance scale of the WAIS-IV) in lieu of the GRE. Acceptance and ranking of such applicants will be at the discretion of the DSDE admission committee, provided that all other criteria are satisfied.

Graduate Faculty

Professor Gabriel A. Martin
Deaf Education

Professor Jean Andrews
Deaf Education

Associate Professor Zanthia Smith
Deaf Education

Assistant Professor Melissa Rusher
Deaf Education

Assistant Professor Mary Anne Gentry
Deaf Education

Instructor Kristen Jackson
Deaf Education

Deaf Education Courses (DSDE)

5309 Advanced Clinical Practicum 3:3:0
Advanced classroom practicum, diagnostics and therapy. May be repeated and must be taken each semester.
5310 Multicultural Issues and Deafness 3:3:0
To provide theory and practical techniques for identifying and teaching minority-deaf children and their parents.
5311 American Sign Language V 3:3:0
Advanced linguistic study of American Sign Language.Prerequisites: ASL I, II, III and IV, or by Department Chair approval.
5313 Speech and Audiology for Deaf Educators 3:3:0
This course reviews basic anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing mechanisms and shows deaf educators how to work with professionals and parents of deaf and hard of hearing children.
5314 Advanced Deaf Studies 3:3:0
Advanced issues related to Deaf Culture, history, contributions of deaf individuals, institutions affecting deaf people and their community.
5318 ASL/English Bilingual Education and Deaf Students 3:3:0
American Sign Language (ASL) and English language development for deaf students including ASL/English bilingual theories and practices.
5319 ASL/English Bilingual Literacy and Deafness 3:3:0
A survey of theories and methods in teaching English reading to deaf students using ASL/English bilingual techniques.
5320 ASL/English Bilingual Assessment and Deafness 3:3:0
A survey of assessment of deaf students in educational achievement, and language. And literacy using ASL/English bilingual methodology.
5321 Instructional Design in the Deaf Classroom 3:3:0
Cognitive, linguistic and social development of deaf individuals form infancy to adulthood and the impact on the classroom.
5322 Modern Math and Science Instruction for the Deaf 3:3:0
Provide current theory and practical techniques for teaching math and science to deaf children.
5325 Audiology and Deafness
Provides development in anatomy of the ear, sound and its measurement, testing and listening devices for teacher of the deaf in classroom settings.
5326 Psychology of the Deaf 3:3:0
Psychological, emotional, and social impact of deafness.
5328 The Multidisabled with Hearing Problems 3:3:0
Prevalence, demographics and etiologies of hearing disorders with other disabilities (blindness, motor, emotional, mental or orthopedic). Includes methods, curricula and materials.
5329 Law and the Deaf 3:3:0
Legislative and judicial decisions that influence educational programs for the hearing impaired/deaf.
5345 American Sign Language III 3:3:0
Advanced American Sign Language. Prerequisite: CMDS 2376 or Department Chair approval.
5350 Individual Study 3:3:0
Independent study of special problems in communication disorders.
5351 Individual Study
Independent study of special problems in communication disorders.
5390-5391 Thesis 6:3:0
Prerequisite: Approval of graduate Advisor. Must complete both for required 6 credits.

Doctoral Core Courses

6101 Deaf Studies Lecture Series 1:3:0
Experts in the field of deafness will lead a seminar on the current research in the field.
6150 Professional Seminar 1:3:0
Special topics class for doctoral students in the Department of Deaf Studies Deaf Education.
6301 History and Sociology of Deaf Culture 3:3:0
Life/culture of deaf people via history, art, literature, mythology and performance. Using an anthropological definition of "culture", the course examines the linguistic variation and modes of cultural transmission across generations and the demographics and characteristics of the community.
6302 Law and Deafness 3:3:0
Legislative and judicial decisions that influence educational programs for the hearing impaired/deaf.
6303 ASL Literature, Visual and Media Arts 3:3:0
A course in Deaf Culture themes within short stories, poetry, drama, humor, art and movies.
6304 Curriculum, Pedagogy, Computer and Deafness 3:3:0
Comparative analysis, design, and implantation of educational curricula for deaf/hard of hearing students, the curricular relation to current pedagological theories and the utilization of computer technologies for the deaf education classroom.
6305 Psycholinguistics and Deafness 3:3:0
The psycholinguistics and linguistic development of deaf children of various linguistic and cultural backgrounds and the effects of communication modality differences upon development. Emphasis upon the bilingual/bicultural nature of these acquisitions patterns will be included.
6307 Deaf Education Administration 3:3:0
Professional placement of the doctoral candidate in education/administrative locations for field experience and a seminar including problem project discussion on issues of deaf education program management.
6308 Cognitive, Psycho-social Development and Deafness 3:3:0
Historical review of the way intellectual abilities of the deaf were viewed, current data on cognitive and intellectual abilities, psychosocial development of deaf persons and appropriate assessment tools will be covered.
6309 Advanced Experimental Design 3:3:0
A study of research procedures and statistical techniques used in the behavioral sciences and education.
6310 ASL/English Bilingual Education and Deaf Students 3:3:0
Applied research in American Sign Language (ASL) and English language development including ASL/English bilingual theories and practices.
6311 ASL/English Bilingual Literacy and Deafness 3:3:0
Applied research in the theories and methods in teaching ASL and English literacy t Deaf students using ASL/English bilingual techniques.
6312 ASL/English Bilingual Assessment and Deafness 3:3:0
A survey of assessing deaf students in educational achievement and language and literacy using ASL/English bilingual methodology.
6313 Proposal Writing 3:3:0
The essentials of dissertation proposal and grant proposal writing.
6314 Ethical and Academic Duties in Higher Education 3:3:0
A survey of Academic Freedom vs. Academic Responsibility for university faculty. The essentials for ethical practices in higher education.
6350 Seminar
Special study of a contemporary issue. Complement to Doctoral course requirements.
6351 Individual Study
Independent study of special problems in Deaf Studies/Education.
6390 Doctoral Dissertation - Deaf Education
Prerequisite: Approval of doctoral advisor.
6391 Doctoral Dissertation - Deaf Education
Prerequisite: Approval of doctoral advisor. Both 6390 and 6391 must be taken to receive 6 hours credit.

Additional hours are required in Statistics/Research as well as Cognate areas and Electives to meet full doctoral hour requirements (60 hours of academic courses and 6 dissertation credit hours for a total of 66 hours minimum.).

For more information consult the graduate catalog.

For more information consult the undergraduate catalog.