FAQs about the Graduate / Endorsement Program

How do I apply to the Deaf Education Master's or Endorsement Program?

To apply to enter, download the Special Education Departmental Application. Complete the packet and mail to :
Jill England, Graduate Secretary
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Department of Special Education & Communication Disorders
318 Barkley Memorial Center
PO Box 830738
Lincoln NE 68583-0738

I have a BA, but I don't have an initial teaching credential. Can I still enroll in the Deaf Education program?

   Yes. You will enroll concurrently in an initial credential program of your choice and the Deaf Education program.  A program like this takes between 3 and 4 years, depending on your background.  If you have a Bachelors degree in English, Math, a Modern Foreign Language or one of the Sciences, check out the College of Education and Human Sciences Accelerated (11-month) Post-Baccalaureate Certification Program . 
   An option that many of our students take is the Special Education Post Baccalaureate Endorsement in Mild/Moderate Disabilities (grades 7-12).  Others take the Elementary Education initial credential. See programs of study .  Whichever initial credential you want to pursue, we will work with you to design a program that will help you accomplish your goals as efficiently as possible.

I have a teaching credential, but it's not in special education. What courses should I take so I can learn about Special Education while I work on my Deaf Education endorsement?

Students with initial credentials that are not in Special Education take the Deaf Education endorsement program, plus core courses in Special Education (SPED 400/800, SPED 412/812, SPED 413/813, and SPED 303).

I am Deaf. Are there interpreters at UNL? Can I enroll in the UNL program?

Yes. We encourage applications from all qualified Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing students.  UNL has a team of highly qualified, professional interpreters who work with faculty and deaf students to provide access to instruction.

I prefer to learn in small classes. How many students usually enroll in UNL Deaf Education courses?

Our courses are small, with fewer than 12 students in most cases. They are also offered as "hybrid" courses. This means that they are online (you do your work on your computer at home). ASL courses offered on the UNL campus, which are not hybrid, have up to 20 students. (ASL can also be taken in the student's home region.)

What's the difference between the Endorsement and the Master's program?  Do I have to do both of them?

The Endorsement program is a set of courses leading to the minimum competencies that the State of Nebraska has identified for teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.  Nebraska does not specify if this is a Bachelors or Masters program; Nebraska wants you to have these competencies.  When you complete the courses, we tell the College of Education and Human Sciences Student Services office that you've done so, and they tell the State. Then you can apply for your Endorsement , an actual certificate that documents your accomplishment.

The Masters program is a set of courses leading to a Masters Degree. This program is overseen by the UNL Graduate Studies office.  Graduate Studies oversees all graduate programs, and requires proof that you have completed the courses, exams and other academic activities that they have established as those required to earn a Masters Degree.

The Special Education Masters Program in Deaf Education must total at least 36 graduate credit hours and consists of the Endorsement program, a research methods course, a thesis or Research Other Than Thesis course, and the Masters Comprehensive Exam.  In most cases, this combination of courses satisfies the 36-hour requirement. In some cases students take an elective in another area to meet the 36-hours.

The two programs overlap almost completely, and most of our students take them concurrently.  The two programs require different kinds of paperwork, most of which we take care of for you. However, there are some forms and documents that students must take care of themselves.  Students must apply for the Masters Comprehensive exams at the appropriate time, usually the final semester of course work, students must apply for graduation (early in the semester of graduation) and students must apply for the Nebraska endorsement.

I already have a masters degree. Do I have to do another one to get the Deaf Education endorsement?

No.  If you already have a masters degree, or you don't wish to earn one, you can take the endorsement program alone.

When I complete the UNL Endorsement/Masters program, will I be able to find a job as a teacher of the deaf?

   Yes, you will probably have your choice of job opportunities, especially if you are willing to move.  There are currently several vacant positions in rural Nebraska. Neighboring states also report job openings.  Since there is a certain predictable amount of transition among teachers (retirements, resignations, relocation to another state) a variety of jobs is open at any time.  You will be a highly valued job applicant for most jobs because you will have at least two endorsements- your initial credential and your Deaf Education endorsement.  Your other valuable skill will be your ASL fluency, which is frequently listed as a job qualification.  Check out this website to see what kinds of jobs are available for teachers of the deaf.

Will my endorsement be for K-12, K-9 or PreK-12?

Requirements in Nebraska differ for these grade levels.  Our program leads to the NE PreK-12 DHH endorsement.

I want to student teach at a residential school, but Nebraska no longer has one. Can I get this experience in the UNL program?
Yes, we can place our student teachers in a residential setting, and we encourage our students to get this experience as part of their student teaching. When you are ready to think about your student teaching preferences, we'll do our best to place you where you want to be so your experience is as professionally useful as possible.

Why are Deaf Education students required to learn ASL?

We prepare our students to work in a range of settings. These settings can include working with Deaf adults, with families who want their children to grow up bilingual in English and ASL, as well as with the Deaf children of Deaf families.  We also find that solid competence in ASL assists students who need to develop skills in Manually Coded English or in Signing Exact English.  The reverse is not the case however, so we have our students begin with ASL.

Are Assistantships, Financial Aid, and Scholarships available?

Yes, full time students are eligible to apply for scholarships and financial aid.  See our site for more information and application forms.

I already know ASL. Do I have to take the UNL courses?

No. If you are already a fluent ASL signer, you don't need to take the courses. Our ASL requirement is a proficiency requirement, not a credit hour requirement. If you are not sure what your level of proficiency is, we will do an ASL Proficiency Interview to help us determine how many courses you need to take. All Deaf Education students must pass either SLPA 202 (second year ASL2) or the proficiency exam.

I was told that "Deaf" is not a polite term, and that "Hearing Impaired" is the most correct term.  But I notice that UNL faculty say "Deaf."  Why?

We use Deaf because it is the term that culturally Deaf people use to describe themselves.  It's a perfectly polite and correct term. We avoid the term "hearing impaired" because it is rejected by the Deaf Community. It is a term that emphasizes what is "wrong" with, or impaired in Deaf people (i.e. their hearing).  We also find that the term "hearing impaired" is too non-specific. In practice, although deaf and hard of hearing students clearly are different from hearing students in important ways, the educational differences between students who are deaf and those who are hard of hearing are significant. For educational planning, it is not helpful to have all students with any kind of hearing loss grouped together.