Deaf Education Graduate Program

Message to Prospective Students

As per the requirements of the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED), the Department of Communicative Sciences and Deaf Studies at California State University, Fresno has implemented a 36-unit graduate online Deaf Education program effective Fall 2020 semester. All students admitted into the Deaf Education graduate program in Fall 2020 semester or thereafter, will be required to complete the 36-unit program. Moreover, it is strongly encouraged that all students admitted into the Deaf Education graduate program complete their degree along with their teaching credential through our partnership with the Kremen School of Education and Human Development.

The Master of Arts (MA) in Deaf Education Program at California State University, Fresno is accredited by CED, c/o University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, MC 7777, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229. Dedicated to quality education for deaf and hard of hearing students, CED propagates nationally recognized standards for teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students in all educational settings, accredits university programs preparing teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and collaborates with a variety of other related organizations through several national committees and workgroups.

For more information regarding graduate requirements, please see graduate school application requirements and visit the Division of Research and Graduate Studies website.

Frequently asked questions

 

Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Credential

When applying for the Deaf Education Credential program, teacher candidates will have two options for enrollment in the program and may move between the options as their employment dictates. In the DHH Student Teaching Option, teacher candidates will be supervised during their 16-week, full-time student teaching in the last semester of the two-year Deaf Education graduate program. Teacher candidates have an option to perform an 8-week student teaching in a residential program and another 8-week student teaching in a day school program, or a 16-week student teaching in one school setting. This option allows candidates who are subject matter qualified, but not employed in a school, and candidates who are not yet subject matter qualified to enter the program. Subject matter qualification can be met by successful passage of the Multiple Subject CSET or university subject matter waiver. 

In the DHH intern credential option, teacher candidates are full-time contracted public-school classroom teachers. Teacher candidates in the intern option are supervised in a DHH setting by the university supervisor and a Mentor Teacher throughout the program.   Prior to becoming eligible for a DHH Intern Credential, all candidates must have been admitted to the Deaf Education Graduate Program as graduate students and meet the following requirements:

• Fulfill the subject matter requirement. This can be met by passing all three subsets of the multiple subject CSET or completion of university subject matter waiver
• Complete the basic skills test (CBEST)
• Have completed a U.S. Constitution course or passing examination
• Have an offer of a teaching position in a DHH classroom in which the core curriculum is taught. DHH positions will be considered on a case by case basis.
• Complete 160 hours of pre-service professional development coursework. 
• TB risk assessment (TB and MMR)
• Certificate of Clearance
• Interview with program faculty
• Complete two semesters of CSDS 260 course (150 hours of classroom observations) Only students admitted to the Deaf Education Graduate Program may take these classes.

 

Once students have completed these requirements, they can apply for the  DHH Intern Credentials through the Fresno State Credential Program, which will assist teacher candidates in the DHH Intern Credential application filing process. Qualifications for the Preliminary Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) include:

• Have a current CPR certificate
• Successfully complete DHH credential coursework
• Pass RICA and the California Teacher Performance Assessment (CalTPA)

Information regarding the DHH Credential is available from the Deaf Education Program Coordinator.

 

Curriculum Sequence and Educational Plans

Certification

For students specializing in education of the Deaf, completion of the master's degree fulfills all the academic and clinical practicum requirements for Provisional Certification by the Council on Education of the Deaf, the national organization responsible for certifying teachers of the Deaf. Professional level certification is available following three years of successful teaching under the supervision of a professionally certified educator of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. All students are encouraged to acquire national certification.

 

Contact Us

Janice Smith-Warshaw, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
jsmithwarshaw@csufresno.edu
559.278.2423