In the United States alone, two out of every 1,000 infants are born profoundly deaf, nearly one million children are deaf and one of every 22 infants has hearing problems.

For more than 40 years Fontbonne has prepared professionals for teaching children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. We offer one of the few four-year undergraduate deaf education degree programs in the country. Our program is approved by the Council on Education of the Deaf, a national certification organization.

The deaf education program has a strong foundation in liberal arts, child development and elementary/special education. It emphasizes speech, spoken language and auditory skills for children who are able to develop these skills. During your sophomore and junior years, before beginning student teaching, you’ll have the opportunity to work with children as a teacher assistant, tutor or dorm/playground supervisor.

Why Fontbonne?

We prepare educators who are knowledgeable of current trends and are committed to collaboration, lifelong learning and professional development. We encourage understanding and respect for differing points of view in deaf education. In the Center for Teacher and Therapist Education (CTTE), our students learn in a collaborative environment with small class sizes and faculty who emphasize discussion and communication.

During both semesters of your senior year, you’ll participate in three different levels of student teaching experience at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, an internationally known school noted for its auditory-oral approach to teaching. Your senior year teaching experience is designed to fit your interests and may include a placement in other deaf education programs. We emphasize the development of listening and spoken language and work with a variety of children, including those with cochlear implants.

With a Fontbonne education, you’ll graduate with a broad background in deaf education and special education as well as speech and language.

Plus, undergraduates are eligible for Missouri teacher certification in birth-12 deaf/hearing impaired education. You’ll also have the opportunity to apply to Fontbonne’s competitive master’s degree program in early intervention in deaf education.

What can I do with my deaf education degree?

Most of our graduates are teachers of the deaf in public or private schools. With further study, the deaf education major also prepares you for careers in speech-language pathology, counseling, audiology or educational leadership.

Our commitment

Fontbonne University is dedicated to providing students with a strong foundation in the liberal arts. Through our core curriculum, students learn how to think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively. No matter what career path you choose, an education from Fontbonne will give you the tools to succeed in both work and life.

How can I find out more?

Contact our office of admission at 314-889-1400 or 1-800-205-5862, or via email at fadmiss@fontbonne.edu. You may also apply for admission online. For more detailed program information, you may also contact someone in the Communication Disorders and Deaf Education Department.