M.A. in Sign Language Education
Admissions Procedures and Requirements
Applicants for the M.A. in Sign Language Education must complete the application procedures and meet the requirements for graduate study at Gallaudet University.
Please complete the following requirements as outlined on the Graduate Admissions website:
- Online graduate application
- Goal statements
- A Bachelor's or Master's Degree in a relevant field of study: ASL (or other signed languages), Deaf Studies, Linguistics, or Bilingual Education. If a candidate does not possess a degree in a relevant field of study, the following may be considered
- Candidates who can demonstrate with a transcript of cumulative elective courses taken that are equivalent to a degree in a relevant field of study may be considered
- A Bachelor's degree and experience of at least 1,350 hours (approximately 5 years) of language instruction with language courses within secondary or post-secondary institutions may be considered
- A MASTER Certification from ASLTA may be considered
- Submission of all official postsecondary transcript(s)
- A minimum of 3.0 grade point average (on a four-point scale) in all previous undergraduate and graduate study
- Three names of references
Mail the official transcript(s) to:
Graduate Admissions
Kendall Hall 101
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue NE
Washington DC 20002
-Applications to open on August 16
-Applications to close by the end of February
*Students are admitted to the Sign Language Education masters program once a year, with the program starting online mid-May.
ASLPI Requirement
Students who teach ASL will be required to receive a level of 4 on the ASLPI, and students who teach other signed languages will be required to receive a level of 3+ on the ASLPI to be considered for admission to the program.
Program Specific Requirements:
Online Video interview. The direct link for the online video interview will be sent to you by invitation. The interview can be conducted at any time and location with high-speed internet.
Plan of Study
Program Equipment
Studying in the MASLED program involves two important components:
- online study, which requires high-speed internet and equipment (e.g. laptop or computer) allowing you to access high-speed internet on a consistent and regular basis, and
- intensive high definition filming and editing using Final Cut Pro X, iMovie, QuickTime and other types of Apple-based software.
Please contact the program for an updated list of required and recommended equipment at masled@gallaudet.edu.
*Equipment specifications subject to change.
Typical Program Schedule
- 9 core courses
- 4 required elective courses
- 2 field experiences (practicum and internship)
Summer I (Hybrid - Online, then On Campus) (15 Credits)
| ASL709 | Sign Language Media Production | 3 |
| ASL724 | Sign Language Linguistics for Sign Language Professionals | 3 |
| ASL741 | Methods of Sign Language Teaching | 3 |
| ASL743 | Curriculum Development for Sign Language Education | 3 |
| ASL750 | Assessing Sign Language Skills | 3 |
ASL 709: Sign Language Media Production can be waived with extensive media, film and editing experience. Contact us for more details at masled@gallaudet.edu.
Fall I (Online) (7 Credits)
Candidates with extensive experience may request to forgo Practicum by submitting an application, however, an Internship is required. To be eligible to submit an application, one must:
- Have at least 1,620 hours (approximately 6 years) of sign language instruction with language courses within secondary or post-secondary institutions, as described below:
- Have at least 810 hours (approximately 3 years) of language instruction in both basic and advanced sign language courses.
- Have at least 810 hours (approximately 3 years) of curricular and course development for advanced sign language courses.
Deadline for the Practicum waiver is July 1.
In addition: Students who meet the criteria and are eligible to submit an application must procure and provide their best sample lesson plan, syllabus, and assessment tool. They also must obtain grades of A- or above for their first Summer courses.
| ASL752 | Sign Language Practicum | 3 |
| ASL761 | Seminar in Sign Language Education - Professional Preparation | 1 |
| LIN510G/PST 373 | Introduction to First and Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
Spring I (Online) (7 Credits)
| ASL762 | Seminar in Sign Language Education - e-Portfolio | 1 |
| ASL770 | Sign Language Planning and Advocacy | 3 |
| ASL790 | Sign Language Teaching Internship | 3 |
Summer II (Hybrid - Online, then On Campus) (12 Credits)
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
Program Electives
| ASL745 | Sign Language Teaching, Culture and History | 3 |
| ASL760 | Connecting Sign Language Research to Practice | 3 |
| ASL777 | Digital Pedagogy in the Sign Language Field | 3 |
| DST700 | Deaf Studies Research Methods I | 3 |
| DST701 | Deaf Studies Research Methods II | 3 |
| DST703 | Foundations in Deaf Cultural Studies | 3 |
| DST705 | Language, Culture, and Power | 3 |
| DST710 | Cultural Practices in the Deaf Community | 3 |
| DST712 | Enforcing Normalcy:Deaf and Disability Studies | 3 |
| DST714 | Critical Pedagogy | 3 |
| DST733 | Theorizing the Contemporary | 3 |
| DST735 | Sensory Studies | 3 |
| DST737 | Law and Public Policy: The Deaf Community | 3 |
| DST740 | Studies in the Human Rights of Deaf People | 3 |
| DST741 | Development of the Transnational Deaf Public Sphere | 3 |
| DST743 | Community Organizing for Social Change | 3 |
*ASL 709 and ASL 752 may not be required for students with extensive media, film, and editing experience and/or extensive teaching experience.
Program Outcomes
Graduates from the MA program in Sign Language Education:
Will demonstrate theoretical knowledge and display competence in classroom settings regarding methodological and socio-political issues involved in sign language teaching, curriculum development, and assessment.
Will produce graduate-level Sign Language and English texts that demonstrate knowledge of and critical inquiry into key concepts in the Sign Language teaching field.
Will recognize the importance of the Sign Language teacher as a system change agent and apply this in practice by utilizing effective leadership, advocacy, consultation, and collaboration to influence change on the individual, group, organizational, and systemic levels.
Will demonstrate preparedness to seek and obtain employment as a teaching professional in the field of sign language education.