ASL and Deaf Studies - M.A. in Deaf Studies

This concentration provides courses in history research methods and content, emphasizing how techniques of social and cultural history can be applied to the histories of deaf people and communities in the United States and Europe. The Deaf History Concentration requires a comprehensive examination as a means of assessing the student's familiarity with the field. Students may request a thesis project and defense in lieu of a comprehensive examination. These students will be guided in this project through the support of an advisor who will instruct the History Research Project I and History Research Project II courses. Graduates of the Deaf History concentration will be prepared to teach Deaf Studies at the post-secondary level, work in human service and archival related fields, and pursue further research and education in history, anthropology, historical linguistics, and disability studies.

For the program of study and requirements for the M.A. in Deaf Studies, click the link "Concentration" in the right-side menu.

Program of Study

Core Curriculum

All students admitted to the program must complete the following core courses with grades of B or higher.

Semester I (Fall)

DST 701 Deaf Cultural Studies (3)
DST 705 Sign and the Philosophy of Language (3)
LIN 707 Structure of Language: English and ASL (3)
ASL 709 ASL Media Production (3)

Semester II (Spring)

DST 710 Literary Traditions in the Deaf Community (3)
DST 712 Enforcing Normalcy: Deaf and Disability Studies (3)
DST 714 Critical Pedagogy (3)
HIS 731 History of the American Deaf Community (3)

Deaf History Concentration

Note: Actual offerings may change from semester to semester, but the work load and number of course offerings will stay the same.

Semester III (Summer)

HIS 703 Topics in European Deaf History (3)
HIS 732 History of Mass Media and the Deaf Community (3)
HIS 735 History of Disability in the U.S. (3)
HIS 755 Deaf Women's History (3)

Semester IV (Fall or Spring or both)

HIS 793 History Research Project I
HIS 794 History Research Project II
HIS 799 Independent Study

Semester V (Summer)

Pick 2 from the following:

HIS 734 Deaf People in Hitler's Europe (3)
HIS 787 Introduction to Historical Methods and Research (3)
HIS 795 Special Topics in Deaf History (3)

With permission from the History advisor, you may choose one from the following in lieu of a History course:

DST 733 Identity and Theory in Deaf Studies (3)
DST 735 Deaf Visual Culture: Art, Theory, and Resistance (3)
DST 750 Seminar in Deaf Cultural Studies (3)