Program Overview

Undergraduate Certificate in Deaf Studies and Social Justice

Overview

The Deaf Studies and Social Justice certificate is designed for students interested in learning more about the world of the deaf in America, deaf culture, the education of deaf children, useful technology, and the integration of deaf people into American society. Students from other disciplines are welcome to pursue this certificate program. ASL proficiency is not required, but some courses may be taught in ASL with an English interpreter.

Certificate Requirements

The Deaf Studies and Social Justice Undergraduate Certificate is a 15 credit hour certificate program that requires the following:

• Required:
  • ASLD 311: Introduction to Deaf Studies (3 hours)
  • ASLD 312: Intersectionality and Deaf Communities (3 hours)
  • ASLD 313: Social Justice and Allyship with Deaf Communities (3 hours)
• Select two of the following electives or other departmentally approved courses:
  • ASLD 414: Historical Foundations of Deaf Education (3 hours)
  • ASLD 428: Special Topics in Deaf Studies (3 hours)
  • ASLD 588: Field Experience in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies (1-3 hours)
  • ASLD 589: Research Experience in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies (3 hours)
  • ANTH 320: Language in Culture and Society (3 hours)
  • or LING 320: Language in Culture and Society
  • LING 343: Bilingualism (3 hours)
  • LING 435: Psycholinguistics I (3 hours)

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Delineate a variety of values that are natural to Deaf humans as one of human bio diversities that impact their language(s), culture, community, and identities.
• Explain and examine the intersecting socio-cultural, linguistic, and essentialism factors to identify and deconstruct the systemic oppressions and microaggressions experienced by diverse Deaf communities and society at large.
• Utilize Deaf Critical Theory in their social and professional discourse to amplify the experiences of the Deaf to support anti-audism and anti-linguicism work.