Deaf and Hard of Hearing MA Initial

Master of Arts in Deaf & Hard of Hearing

With initial certification as teacher of the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing (pre-K-12)


The Master of Arts (M.A.) in the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is one of the first teacher education programs in the country. We provide an intensive study of the educational issues of individuals who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing from the perspectives of psychology, anthropology, linguistics, child development, pedagogy, and regular education with the aim of preparing teachers who will address the educational and literacy needs of these children. We serve and prepare individuals for work with children who possess a wide range of hearing losses in classes using diverse communication systems, as well as for work with children who have typical hearing.

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Admission Information

Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.

Master of Arts

  • Points/Credits: 40
  • Entry Terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
  • Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based

Certification

View Public Disclosure Notification

  • NY State Initial: Deaf/Hard of Hearing Pre-K-12

Application Deadlines

Entry Term AvailablePriority DeadlinesFinal DeadlinesExtended Deadlines
SpringNovember 15, 2024November 15, 2024N/A
SummerJanuary 15, 2025June 1, 2025N/A
FallJanuary 15, 2025July 1, 2025N/A

Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.

Application Requirements

 Requirement
 Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume
 Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed
 Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable)
 $75 Application Fee
 Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
 Interview (phone, video, or in-person) required

For admission-related inquiries, please contact HAEPadmission@tc.columbia.edu.

Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)

Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.

View Full Catalog Listing

The Master of Arts (M.A.) with certification is a 40-credit program leading to New York State (NYS) initial certification as Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

This program leads to Council on the Education of the Deaf (CED) certification.

Specialization Requirements, Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

  • HBSE 4070 Psychosocial and Cultural Aspects of People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  • HBSE 4071 Language and Literacy for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Children with Language Learning Disabilities (two terms)

  • HBSE 4072 Language Development for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Children with Language Learning Disabilities

  • HBSE 4073 Teaching Speech, Language, and Communication Skills/Educational Audiology (two academic terms)

  • HBSE 4079 Language Development and Habilitation: Auditory Verbal Practice

  • HBSE 4300–007 Practicum in Assessment and Evaluation of Individuals with Exceptionalities: DHH

  • HBSE 4707 Observation and Student Teaching in Special Education - Deaf and Hard of Hearing (two academic terms)

  • HBSE 4863 Cued Speech/Language and Multisensory Reading

  • HBSE 4871 American Sign Language I

  • HBSE 4872 American Sign Language II

Breadth Requirements:

In order to broaden the student’s background in education, Teachers College courses outside the Teachers College major department must be completed. These courses will be selected based on transcript review and advisement.

New York State Education Department (NYSED) mandates teacher certification requirements that are needed for program completion and graduation. These requirements are listed in the Office of Teacher Education section of the catalog.

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