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Information for Prospective Students
Program Description
The 5-year bachelor's and Master's of Arts in Teaching degree in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Elementary Education is designed for students who have completed high school and are first-time freshman and for transfer students from community colleges or other four-year programs. Previous coursework or knowledge of sign language is not necessary for acceptance into the program. Students who have however either taken American Sign Language (ASL) courses or who have heritage knowledge of ASL will be required to take an ASL placement test to determine the communicative competency in the language. Information about the placement test is sent to students after they are admitted to the college. Students are given credit for Advanced Placement. Please check the college web site for transferable AP scores and college course equivalents.
The program is based on the School of Education's Conceptual Framework for preparing exemplary professionals and meets all of the standards of the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED) as well as the requirements of the State of New Jersey for licensure as a Teacher of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing, K-12 as well as for licensure as an elementary level teacher.
Having completed a dual major in a liberal arts area and in deaf education, students will earn a bachelor's degree without teacher certification at the end of their fourth year. The course of study, however, continues through the following summer and academic year and culminates with the student's earning a master's degree. At this time, all applicable certifications are earned. Students will need to meet all requirements of The College of New Jersey and the School of Education at the end of the fourth year in order to be admitted to the fifth year. At the undergraduate level, the student must select one of the following liberal arts majors: art, English, mathematics, history, biology, Spanish, music, psychology, sociology, or math/science/technology. Students who major in a teachable subject area (i.e., not psychology or sociology) will have the opportunity to seek a subject matter specialization to teach that subject grades 6-8. Click here to see the course sequence.
The five-year program integrates a knowledge base and best practices in both fields of education in addition to requiring students to have an liberal arts major. The curriculum also requires a full semester of student teaching in a deaf education setting as well as in a general elementary education setting. In order for students to complete the program as outlined, we strongly encourage them to carefully examine the options for the liberal arts major. While students may choose to change their liberal arts major after having begun the deaf education program, this may prolong the course of study.
Interested students can arrange a campus tour. Tours are available on a regular basis. Applications to the college are available on the web.
Admission and Retention
A student must meet the general admission requirements of the College. In compliance with the State of New Jersey's regulations, a student must have an overall grade point average of 2.5 prior to enrolling in the Pre-Professional Experience block of courses (Fall semester of the 4th year of study). At the completion of the Fall semester of the fourth year of study, the student must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 to meet the standard for graduate study at TCNJ.
Degree Information
Students enter the program as undergraduates, enrolling in two majors. The primary major is Education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHHA). The secondary major is chosen from art, biology, English, history, mathematics, music, psychology, Spanish, sociology, women & gender studies or math/science/technology. Students earn a bachelor's degree after completion of the undergraduate courses of study.
For more information on the second majors, see the respective web site for each program:
Art (DHAR)--joint major program
Biology (BIOA)
English (ENGA)
History (HISA)
Psychology (PSYA)
Math (MATE)
Math/Science/Technology (DHST)
Music (DHMU)--joint major program
The Department of Music requires all applicants to audition. For more information, check the Music Admission & Auditions web site. For additional information contact Susan W. O'Connor.
Sociology (SOCA)
Spanish (SPAN)
Women & Gender Studies (WGS)
Upon completion of all college requirements, a Bachelor's Degree (without teacher certification) is awarded. During the summer following completion of the undergraduate program as well as during the fifth year of study, candidates enroll in graduate level courses and field experiences to attain the Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT).
Upon conferment of the MAT degree and having met TCNJ and state standards, candidates are recommenced to the New Jersey Office of Licensing and Credentials for initial teacher certification in both Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Elementary Education.
During the summer following completion of the undergraduate program as well as during the fifth year of study, candidates enroll in graduate level courses and field experiences to attain the Master's of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT). These graduate courses build upon the undergraduate courses in Education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and in general education.
Upon conferment of the MAT degree and having met TCNJ and state standards, candidates are recommenced to the New Jersey Office of Licensing and Credentials for initial teacher certification in both Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Elementary Education.
