For the student who desires to work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing in an educational setting, Fontbonne offers a four-year plus one summer program leading to a bachelor of arts degree.

Special emphasis is placed on method courses and practicum experiences. In this competency/performance based teacher education program students need to demonstrate their ability to apply theoretical knowledge to the teaching of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, especially in the areas of speech, speechreading, language, audition, cognition, and reading. Students must also demonstrate the ability to develop listening skills in children through the optimal use of appropriate amplification or cochlear implant.

During the sophomore and junior years, before beginning student teaching, students have the opportunity to work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing as teacher assistants, tutors, or dorm/playground supervisors.

During both semesters of the senior year, students participate in three different levels of student teaching experience at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, an internationally known school for children who are deaf or hard of hearing noted for its auditory/oral approach to teaching. Each senior’s student teaching experience is designed to fit the student’s interest and may include a placement at other deaf education programs.

Highlights of this Major

• Approximately 700 clock hours of work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing beginning in the sophomore year.
• All coursework in deaf education is dove-tailed with practicum experiences.
• Student/teacher ratio in deaf education method courses is usually less than 10/1.
• Students are eligible for both state and national certification upon graduation.
• Students may be eligible for certification in Elementary 1-6 by passing the Praxis Exam for Elementary.

General Education Requirements

The 42 credit hours of general education requirements are presented in the academic information section in this catalog. A course that meets a general education requirement may also meet a course requirement in the major or a course requirement in another discipline.

The following general education courses or equivalent must be taken to meet the requirements for this major:

• BIO 108 Introduction to Life Science/lab (3 hours)
• PHY 108 Introduction to Physical Science/lab (3 hours)
• HST 105 or 106 Introduction to American History I (3 hours)
• CIS 103 Microcomputer Applications in Education(3 hours)
• EDU 234 Philosophical Foundations of Education (3 hours)

Courses Required in the Deaf Education Major

• CDS 105 Speech and Language Development of the Normal and Exceptional Child (3 hours)
• CDS 201 Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism (3 hours)

• CDS 211 The Nature of Language (3 hours)

• CDS 220 Phonetics (3 hours)

• CDS 231 Speech Science (3 hours)

• CDS 302 Phonological and Articulation Disorders(3 hours)

• CDS 410 Audiology (3 hours)

• CDS 414 Auditory Rehabilitation (3 hours)

• DEA 100 Psychology of Deafness (3 hours)

• DEA 200 Pre-student Teaching Practicum in Deaf Education (0 hours)

• DEA 210 Pre-student Teaching Practicum in Deaf Education (1 hour)

• DEA 300 Teaching Children Who Are Deaf (3 hours)

• DEA 310 Beginning Sign Language (2 hours)

• DEA 320 Pre-student Teaching Practicum in Deaf Education (1 hour)

• DEA 330 Pre-student Teaching Practicum in Deaf Education (1hour)

• DEA 400 Teaching Speech in Deaf Education I(2 hours)

• DEA 410 Teaching Language in Deaf Education(3 hours)

• DEA 420 Teaching Reading in Deaf Education (2 hours)

• DEA 430 Parent Counseling in Deaf Education(2 hours)

• DEA 440 Speech Practicum in Deaf Education (2 hours)

• DEA 460 Reading and Writing in Deaf Education(3 hours)

• DEA 470/480 Student Teaching in Deaf Education I, II (8 hours)

Required Courses in Other Disciplines:

• EDU 120 Psychology of the Exceptional Child (3 hours)
• EDU 234 Philosophical Foundations of Education (3 hours)
• EDU 240 Literature for Children and Adolescents (2 hours)
• EDU 263 Methods of Teaching Reading and Language Arts (6 hours)
• EDU 300 Classroom/Behavior Management Techniques (3 hours)
• EDU 310 Reading Methods Practicum (2 hours)
• EDU 333 Multi-Sensory Methods for the Elementary Classroom (2 hours)
• EDU 392 Educational Assessment and Diagnosis of Children with Learning Problems (3 hours)
• MTH 102 Contemporary Topics in Mathematics (3 hours)
• MTH 350 Methods of Teaching Mathematics in Early Childhood and Elementary School (3 hours)
• PSY 200 Developmental Psychology (3 hours)
• BIO 370 Teaching Science in Early Childhood Elementary and Middle School (2 hours)

Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

The requirements for all undergraduate degrees are listed in the academic policies and regulations section in the catalog. These requirements include a course requirement in religion.

Additional information about the major in Deaf Education and course descriptions are available in the catalog.