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Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

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Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Flagler College offers the most unique and comprehensive program in the state for preparing teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. And we offer American Sign Language (ASL) endorsement and so much more. It's a dual certification program that prepares you to teach in the deaf education setting for grades K-12 and in the general education setting for grades K-6.

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Number of national and state teaching certifications you'll be eligible for
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Credit hours of ASL we require
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Credit hours required for your bachelor's degree

Program Requirements

As part of the Deaf Education program, you'll build and hone your American Sign Language (ASL) skills. You'll also learn hands-on, within St. Johns County public elementary schools and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.

Our program is certified by the Council on Education for the Deaf (CED). That means you'll graduate from a National CED-approved program with the option of applying for the CED certification yourself.  You can also pursue an ASL minor. 

ASL Placement Test

Every student at Flagler College also gets a broad-based education with Core, our groundbreaking general education program. At Flagler, we're dedicated to educating the whole person. We foster intellectual, social, and personal transformation in our students.

Find a list of all your courses and four-year plan below. 

Major Coursework     ASL Minor Coursework     Four-Year Plan

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Why Flagler?

High-impact programs, taught by world-class faculty. A tight-knit, inclusive academic community where all people and ideas are welcome. All in a historically rich, uniquely beautiful Atlantic coast setting. 

Forge your path in this world. Start here.

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I graduated from Flagler with an arsenal of strategies, techniques, certification, and endorsements that allowed me to tackle my first year teaching.
Olivia Williams
Deaf Education Grad

An exceptional, affordable education

Tuition at Flagler College is below the national average. You’ll receive an exceptional private education at an affordable cost. 

Explore options for available financial aid and scholarships to the right. 

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Career Outcomes

This course of study makes you eligible for several certifications, including dual certification in elementary education (K-6) for hearing children and deaf education (K-12).  You can also prepare for a graduate program, like Flagler College's Masters in Deaf Education.

The deaf education program is nationally certified and also makes you eligible to receive both a state certification and a Council on Education of the Deaf certification, which is nationally recognized. In addition to these certifications, students also earn the English Speakers of Other Languages  (ESOL) endorsement. 

Learn more below.

What Can I Do With a Major in Deaf Education?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Most of our students come in with some amount of ASL skill. If so, we ask you to take the ASL placement test. Most students with ASL experience will test out of the basic ASL level courses (ASL or ASL 2) depending on years of experience. You will need to take this test before the start of the fall semester to ensure proper placement in an ASL course. You should not register for SLS 201 unless you are placed in that course due to test scores. 

Of course! While uncommon, we do accept several students who do not have any ASL experience before enrolling. Flagler offers 8 ASL courses that range in skill level. Students with no ASL experience should enroll in SLS 201 in their very first semester to ensure that they have all of the proper prerequisites to complete their program on time.

Yes! Almost all of our students complete the degree in four years. You can do this in two ways. Some students choose to take courses over the summer. Others choose to take 18 credit hours for two semesters. 

The benefit to this is that you will graduate with a dual major (Deaf Education K-12 and Elementary Education K-6) and two endorsements (Reading and ESOL). No other college or university in the State of Florida that provides that option as part of the regular degree plan.

Likely not. It will mostly depend on the coursework you have taken at your previous institution and your level of ASL experience. 

students who transfer in, even with an AA, should expect five or more semesters of coursework to complete the degree. That's due to the course sequence for your Deaf Education Core and your Professional Education Core, and the 15-hour minimum requirement, 

Likely, not. It will mostly depend on the coursework you have taken at your previous institution and your level of ASL experience. Due to the course sequence for your Deaf Education Core and your Professional Education Core, as well as the 15-hour minimum requirement, students who transfer in, even with an AA, should expect 5 or more semesters of coursework to complete the degree.

The Flagler College Deaf Education Program prides itself on being a balanced program. 

We have designed a rigorous program that prepares teachers to work with ALL children who are deaf and hard of hearing. This includes intensive study in American Sign Language and Deaf Culture, training in Cued Speech, and coursework that addresses pedagogy and strategies necessary to work with children who use Listening and Spoken Language. 

Due to our location, we are also able to provide students with experiences working in both residential and general education placements that include self-contained and itinerant service models.

Yes. All of our ASL instructors are native users.

Yes. In addition to your Sign Language Studies (ASL) courses, you will have two other courses that are taught in ASL and where you will be expected to participate in ASL. These courses are EDD 470 and EDD 473.

Students who wish to intern in an educational placement where ASL is the primary language of instruction must earn a 2+ or better on the ASLPI or a minimum rating of intermediate on the SLPI.   Information about the ASLPI can be found here. Information about the SLIPI can be found here.

YES! Deaf Education majors are already required to take a minimum of 15 hours of coursework in ASL. The minor requirement for Deaf Education majors is a minimum of 18 hours of coursework. By adding one additional course, you can earn the minor. 

Yes! The ASL minor is open to all students at Flagler College.