Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) 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 on-line;
b) Teaching Experiences during the academic year can be arranged and supervised in the students’ geographic area (one required summer teaching experience);
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 advanced notice to allow travel time for students coming from across the state. We will use internet video conferencing for out-of-state students for these meetings. For more information, please consult the DHH Certification Program Handbook for Licensed Special Education Teachers.
Sign Language RequirementsStudents must have proof of successful completion of ASL I-IV or equivalent or ASLPI score of 2+ to complete the program and be recommended for certification. Please note that sign language and pre-requisite courses are not available on-line. 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 during the academic year and summer school, on campus.
Teaching ExperiencesFieldwork 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(ren) 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.).
Praxis II Teaching Licensure in Deaf/Hard of Hearing
To obtain licensure in the area of Deaf/Hard of Hearing in Wisconsin, you must receive a passing score (146) on the Middle School Content PRAXIS II 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 in-depth knowledge in the focus area of study; in this Master’s program, it is 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 Projects upon completion to faculty and other graduate students.
Graduation RequirementsThe department will review fulfillment of requirements prior to graduation:
- Completion of minimum 30 credits
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0
- No Incomplete, Not Reported, or Progress notation on record
Application/Acceptance Process
All applicants to the certification program in D/HH need to submit all of the materials required for a general application to Exceptional Education (Special Education) Teacher Certification programs (see Application Packet). Deadlines for application to the D/HH program are listed in the application packet. One step in the application process requires an on-line 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, however, may differ based upon your background and your goals in the D/HH program. Use the following guide:
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With certification in some area of special education and you want only to earn the D/HH certification only, |
Follow the on-line application process as written and enroll as a post-secondary undergraduate degree seeking student. |
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With certification in some area of special education and you want to earn certification in D/HH AND a Masters Degree, |
For step 9, click Graduate degree (Master, Doctoral) and follow the process for degree in Exceptional Education. |
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With certification in some area of special education and you want only to earn the D/HH certification, |
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. |
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With certification in some area of special education and you want to earn certification in D/HH and a Masters Degree, |
For step 9 of the process, click Graduate degree (Master, Doctoral)in Exceptional Education. |
Your application will be reviewed and an admission interview will be scheduled. There is no formal appeal process for individuals who are not accepted into the Certification or Certification + Master’s Degree Program. Questions or assistance needed regarding the admission process can be directed to the Program support or the Graduate School:
Dr. Amy Otis-Wilborn Gilbert Johnson Graduate School
Tel: (414) 229-4322 Tel: (414) 229-5251 Tel: (414) 229-6569
Email: dhhcert@uwm.edu Email: gmontez@uwm.edu
Program of StudyThe 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. However, you may start taking core courses in the Master’s Program upon admission. A two-year program of study includes between 4 and 7 credits of coursework each semester. All of the courses are on-line; teaching experiences in your geographic area except for a summer TE in Milwaukee. NOTE: FOR 2011 Cohort, EXCEDUC 559 will be moved to the Fall II. Teaching Experience to Spring II.
(Wisconsin 805 Pre K-12)
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SUMMER I |
FALL I |
SPRING I |
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YEAR I |
Note: If you do not have sign language skills, ASL I & II courses should be included in your schedule 1-4 Certification/Graduate credit If seeking Masters Degree: Requirement for Multicultural course is 3 credits – there are several course options to meet this requirement and can be taken at any point in your program; must be approved by advisor. |
( ) 3 *EXCEDUC 815 (Fall online; Summer) 6 Certification/Graduate credits |
no grad credit ( ) 3 *EXCEDUC 563 Speech, Speech- Reading & Listening ( ) 1 * EXCEDUC 533 Assessment & Monitoring In DHH Portfolio presentation 7 Certification/Graduate credits Notes: · PRAXIS II – all students required to pass this test before final teaching experience. |
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SUMMER II |
FALL II |
SPRING II |
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YEAR II |
( ) 3 EXCEDUC 565 School Subjects Note: Complete ASL coursework |
( ) 3 *EXCEDUC 559 Language D/HH If seeking Masters Degree: ( ) 3 *EXCEDUC 715 Issues & Trends (Fall-online; Summer) 6 Certification/Graduate credits |
If seeking Masters Degree: ( ) 3 *EXCEDUC 970 Research in Special Education (Spring – online; Summer) 3 Graduate credits |
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SUMMER III |
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( ) 3 *EXCEDUC 990 (Fall, Spring, Summer) 3 Certification/Graduate credits |
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* COURSES ARE ON-LINE Additional Requirements: GPA Requirement – 2.75 CUM GPA required by DPI upon completion of program NOTE: Courses in program modified based upon focus age/grade level. | |||
(Wisconsin 805 Pre K-12)
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SUMMER I |
FALL I |
SPRING I |
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YEAR I |
( ) 1 *EXCEDUC 655 Introduction to Education for D/HH Note: If you do not have sign language skills, ASL I & II courses should be included in your schedule 1 Certification credit |
( ) 3 *EXCEDUC 586 Teaching Experience I (Cr/no Cr mentoring & supervision) – no grad credit ( ) 3 *EXCEDUC 562 Hearing Science ( ) 3*EXCEDUC 559 Language D/HH 9 Certification credits ACT 31 Seminar (at any point in the program) |
( ) 3 *EXCEDUC 587 Teaching Experience II no grad credit ( ) 3 *EXCEDUC 563 Speech, Speech- Reading & Listening ( ) 1 * EXCEDUC 533 Assessment & Monitoring In DHH Portfolio presentation 7 Certification credits Notes:
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SUMMER II |
FALL II |
SPRING II |
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YEAR II |
( ) 3 EXCEDUC 564 Communication Practicum in D/HH (3 cr.); Teaching Experience DHH in Milwaukee ( ) 3 EXCEDUC 565 School Subjects 6 Certification/Graduate credits Note: Complete ASL coursework |
( ) 3 EXCEDUC 588 Teaching Experience III OR EXCEDUC 772 Field Exp. D/HH Final Portfolio Review 3 Certification credits |
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* COURSES ARE ON-LINE Additional Requirements: GPA Requirement – 2.75 CUM GPA required by DPI upon completion of program NOTE: Courses in program modified based upon focus age/grade level. | |||
Tuition & Financial AidNon-resident students seeking the Masters + D/HH Certification are eligible to pay in-state graduate tuition. Non-resident students seeking only D/HH Certification also pay in-state graduate tuition for certification courses. Enroll in graduate courses with “special course fee.” If you have any questions or need a “permission number” to enroll, please contact Cindy Pharm at cpharm@uwm.edu.
The special course fees for non-resident students in Spring 2011 are as follows:
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For 3 Credits |
Undergraduate |
Graduate |
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Non-Resident |
NA |
1,793.43 |
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For 3 Credits |
Undergraduate |
Graduate |
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Resident |
908.67 |
1,793.43 |
Other information on financial aid:
PATH Project – available to all students formally admitted to the certification program (2009-2013)
Office of Financial Aid
School of Education scholarships (for WI students)
