Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Education
Teach where you make a difference
The purpose of this Master’s Program is to prepare special education professionals to meet the needs of children, pre-K through 12th grade, who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH). The program builds upon competencies and experiences of current teachers with certification in special education (any area and/or cross-categorical) and develops competencies specifically needed to support learning and development in children with hearing loss.
As a distance education program:
a) All coursework (excluding sign language) is offered online
b) Teaching Experiences during the academic year can be arranged and supervised in an individual's geographic area (one summer teaching experience in Milwaukee is required)
c) Students have access to program advisement from their geographic area.
There are some face-to-face meetings in Milwaukee that will be scheduled for orientation and special presentations. Students will be given advance notice to allow travel time for students coming from outside Southeastern Wisconsin. We will use internet video conferencing for out-of-state students for these meetings. For more information, please consult the D/HH Certification Program Handbook for Licensed Special Education Teachers.
Students must have proof of successful completion of ASL I-IV, ASLPI score of 2+, or an equivalent to complete the program and be recommended for licensure. Please note that sign language and pre-requisite courses are not available online. ASL I and II are often available through classes offered by a local community college or community organization. ASL III and IV are offered in some communities but are more difficult to find. UWM offers ASL III and IV in Fall, Spring, and Summer on campus.
Fieldwork with children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing is required when taking courses in the certification focus. At the beginning of your program, you will work with your advisor to identify a child or children within a school or home setting with whom you can complete your teaching experiences. Teaching experience can be completed in your geographic area. If you are hired to teach and obtain an emergency license, you may complete your final teaching experience in this setting, on-the-job. This experience will be supervised using distance technologies (Internet, video, email, telephone, etc.).
To obtain licensure in the area of Deaf/Hard of Hearing in Wisconsin, you must receive a passing score (146) on the Praxis II Middle School Content Knowledge test. You will need to take and pass this test prior to enrolling in your final teaching experience.
Master’s Thesis ProjectEach student in the graduate program is required to complete a Master’s Thesis Project that develops understanding of research, the research process, and an in-depth knowledge in the area of Deaf/Hard of Hearing. This Thesis Project is completed under the direction of a graduate advisor. The Thesis Project is expected to be an original, scholarly work that contributes new knowledge or unique thinking to the field of exceptional education. All students present their Thesis Project upon completion to faculty and other graduate students.
Graduation RequirementsThe department will review your student file to ensure you have completed all of the above requirements. In addition, you will need:
- Successful completion of at minimum 30 graduate credits
- Minimum grade point average (GPA) of a 3.0 or above
- No Incomplete, Not Reported, or Progress notations on record
One step in the application process requires an online application to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The steps for this process are on page 5 of the application packet. The choice you make for step 9 may differ based upon your background and goals in the D/HH program. Use the following guide:
For Wisconsin Residents:
|
With certification in some area of special education and you want to earn D/HH certification only: |
Follow the online application process as written and enroll as a post-secondary undergraduate degree seeking student. |
|
With certification in some area of special education and you want to earn certification in D/HH and a Master's Degree: |
For step 9, click Graduate degree (Master, Doctoral) and follow the process for degree in Exceptional Education. |
|
With certification in some area of special education and you want to earn D/HH certification only: |
For step 9 of the process, apply as Graduate non-degree (graduate courses taken as visitor, guest, certificate, certification or personal/professional enrichment) in Exceptional Education. |
|
With certification in some area of special education and you want to earn certification in D/HH and a Master's Degree: |
For step 9 of the process, click Graduate degree (Master, Doctoral)in Exceptional Education. |
Applicants with complete applications turned in by the application deadlines as listed in the application packet will be contacted for an interview. Applicants are notified of the admission decision within two weeks of the interview. There is no formal appeal process for individuals who are not accepted into the Certification or Certification Plus Master's degree Program. Questions or assistance needed regarding the admission process can be directed to:
D/HH Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Amy Otis-Wilborn (amyo@uwm.edu)
Advisor / Admissions Coordinator: Brian Williams (briancw2@uwm.edu / 414-229-4750)
Admissions Coordinator: Gilbert Johnson (414-229-5251)
UIWM Graduate School: (414) 229-6569
The D/HH Master’s Program certification focus courses begin in the summer. There is a general sequence of courses that builds knowledge and skills one semester to the next. You may start taking core courses in the Master’s Program upon admission. A two-year program of study includes between 3 and 7 credits of coursework each semester. All courses are online with teaching experiences in your geographic area except for a summer teaching experience in Milwaukee and any required sign language courses.
Course sequence sheet for the D/HH Online Master's Program.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Non-Wisconsin residents seeking the Online Master’s Plus Certification in D/HH are eligible to pay in-state graduate tuition. Non-Wisconsin residents seeking only D/HH certification may also pay in-state graduate tuition for certification courses. Once enrolled in courses, students will be moved into the course section associated with this “special course fee.” Once each semester starts individuals should review their PAWS (Panther Access to Web Services, http://paws.uwm.edu) account to ensure their tuition appears accurate. If any enrollment issues arise, please contact Academic Department Specialist Cindy Pharm at cpharm@uwm.edu.
Tuition rates are published by the university on a semester-by-semester basis. Tuition rates are posted online at: http://www4.uwm.edu/bfs/depts/bursar/tuition-rate-schedules.cfm.
The special course fee tuition rates for Non-Wisconsin resident students in Spring 2012 are as follows:
|
For 3 Credits |
Undergraduate |
Graduate |
|
Non-Resident |
NA |
$1,868.40 |
Wisconsin residents pay undergraduate and graduate fees for coursework. The course tuition costs for Wisconsin residents in Spring 2012 are as follows:
|
For 3 Credits |
Undergraduate |
Graduate |
|
|
Resident |
$958.65 |
$1,868.40 |
|
Neither of these figures includes the cost of textbooks or other associated course fees.
Additional Financial Aid Resources
PATH Project: available to all students formally admitted to the D/HH certification program (2009-2013). Find further information at: www.pathproject.uwm.edu.
UWM Financial Aid Office: http://www4.uwm.edu/financialaid/
School of Education scholarships (for WI residents): http://www4.uwm.edu/soe/student_services/oas/scholarships/
