Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MSEd)
Welcome to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MSEd) program home page. Use this page as a guide to program 1 from acceptance to graduation.
Program 1 is for those who do not hold New York State certification.
Academic Plan
DEAFN-MSED
Total Credits for Program 1
Earn 43 to 55 credits
Advisors
- Thomas McIntyre, Faculty Advisor
- Valerie J. Lyons, Administrative Advisor
- Ileana Infante, Clinical Placement Specialist
Newly Accepted Students
Getting Started and Orientation
New Student Checklist
Welcome to the School of Education! Visit the Newly Accepted Students page for a checklist to get you started at Hunter College.
New Student Support
If at any point you need support, please reach out to our New Student Liaison at newsoest@hunter.cuny.edu or make an appointment.
Orientations
Students will attend three orientations to cover all the information needed to start your program:
- General New Student Orientation
- Program Advising Session
- Clinical Experiences and Fingerprinting Orientation
See “Program Related Events” for details about upcoming sessions.
Financing Your Degree
Visit the Financing Your Degree page for information.
Fingerprint Clearance Requirements
All students in teacher preparation programs as well as programs in school counseling need to be fingerprinted so that they are cleared to work with children in various settings including New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) public schools, charter networks, and other organizations. Visit the Fingerprinting page for requirements and procedures.
Program Sequences
Program sequences provide a suggested order of courses for the program based on start date. It also includes when to take certification exams and apply for clinical experiences in addition to other important non-course requirements. For technical registration support and troubleshooting, please visit the Register for Classes page.
Fall Start
Spring Start
Hunter College Catalog
To review descriptions of specific courses and academic progress standards for the program along with exit requirements please use the course catalog for the year you were admitted to the program.
Course Catalog Summer 2022 onward
Course Catalog prior to Summer 2022
Course Exemptions or Waivers
Exemption or waiver of a course requirement may be granted to a student who has completed a course at another college with the same or similar content as a Hunter College course required in your program. An exemption reduces the number of credits you need to take in your program. A waiver requires you to take an approved elective course of at least the same number of credits at Hunter to replace the waived course. Only matriculated students may be granted exemptions or waivers.
Exemptions allowed in the program: up to 12 credits plus an additional 6 credits in American Sign Language (SPED 72000 and SPED 72100)
American Sign Language Courses
Students can get an exemption for SPED 72000 and SPED 72100 depending on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI:ASL) results or American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI). The Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI:ASLP) is available at Lexington School for the Deaf for a fee of approximately $200. Because evaluation appointments fill up quickly, it is important to schedule as soon as possible.
- SPED 72000 exemption requires a level of Survival Plus or higher for SLPI or Level 1 for ASLPI.
- SPED 72100 exemption requires a level of Intermediate or higher for SLPI or Level 2 for ASLPI.
Students who are certified interpreters can qualify with a valid certification.
Students who qualify for an exemption for SPED 72000 and SPED 72100 do not need to make up the credits. Students who qualify for a waiver must take an elective to make up the credits.
Students who qualify for any exemption or waiver must complete the exemption/waiver form for each course and include the results for each course.
Clinical Experiences
Students in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MSEd) program participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork) and supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) administered by the Office of Clinical Experiences (OCE).
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is a classroom experience in a New York City Public School in conjunction with a course. Select courses have fieldwork requirements.
Requesting Permission and Placement
For SPED courses with fieldwork components requiring 10 hours or more, students must request permission from their faculty advisor/program coordinator to register. There is no application. Students are placed by Dr. Elaine Gale in Hunter College Partner sites including District 75 schools and private schools in grades PreK-12. Students will have a choice of placement. Placement sites have limited number of spaces each semester.
For SPED, CEDF, and CEDC courses requiring less than 15 hours of fieldwork, after attending class and receiving instructions from the instructor, students are responsible for identifying placement within New York State. Please refer to the NYC Department of Education at schools.nyc.gov to find a school in a particular neighborhood.
Students working full time as assistant, associate or head teacher may be eligible to complete their fieldwork requirements in their current job if it is aligned to their pending certification/area of study.
The following are required for eligibility:
- Teaching position must be aligned with pending certification
- Site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or Office of Clinical Experiences
- Students must submit documentation from worksite/school program director
Application
Students must apply for CEDC 729 through the Office of Clinical Experiences before registering and to be placed.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: April 1st
- Spring Semester: November 1st
- Summer Semester: March 1st
Registration and Placement Process
- The Office of Clinical Experiences reviews applications for eligibility.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences grants registration permission and notifies students via their myhunter.cuny.edu email address one week before registration opens.
- Student registers for course once permission granted.
- The Office of Clinical Experiences places students at a Hunter College School of Education partner site and notifies them via their myhunter.cuny.edu email address.
Fieldwork Hours Time Record Form
Supervised Teaching: Student Teaching/Practicum
Students participate in supervised teaching (student teaching and/or practicum) as the culmination of their course of study. Student teaching and/or practicum requires five full days per week for one semester. Students are observed by Hunter College Clinical Supervisors throughout the semester. Students may complete practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study.
Registration and Placement
All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences for registration permission and to be placed.
Required Exams
Students must pass the following New York State exams before registration permission is granted for Supervised Teaching:
- Educating All Students (EAS)
- Students with initial certification do not have to take the EAS exam.
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Multi Subject Childhood Grades 1-6 (Parts 1-3)
Student Teaching Placement
Student Teachers are placed by Dr. Elaine Gale with a mentor/cooperating teacher at a Hunter College Partner School in New York City. Students teach alongside the mentor/cooperating teacher throughout the semester. Student Teaching only takes place in the spring semester each year.
Practicum
Students working full time as assistant, associate or head teacher may be eligible to complete Practicum in their current job if it is aligned with their pending certification/area of study.
The following are required for Practicum eligibility:
- The classroom must be aligned with pending certification
- Site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or Office of Clinical Experiences
- Students submit a letter from worksite/school program director
Practicum Site Approval Form
Application
All students must apply for student teaching and/or practicum through the Office of Clinical Experiences.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: April 1st for practicum. Student teaching is not available in the fall semester
- Spring Semester: November 1st for student teaching and practicum
- Summer Semester: N/A
Registration and Placement Process
- Dr. Elaine Gale and the Office of Clinical Experiences reviews student teaching/practicum applications for eligibility.
- Dr. Elaine Gale and the Office of Clinical Experiences grants registration permission.
- One week before each semester registration opens, the Office of Clinical Experiences will inform students of next steps through their myhunter.cuny.edu email.
- If students require placement, Dr. Elaine Gale and the Office of Clinical Experiences will place them at a Hunter College School of Education partner site in New York City and notify their myhunter.cuny.edu email
- Educating All Students (EAS)
Internship Certificate
Current students who are eligible for practicum and secure a teaching position that requires NYS certification may apply for an internship certificate. Students must apply for practicum first and will only receive instructions thereafter.
Visit the Internship Certificate page for eligibility requirements and application processes and procedures.
Supervised Teaching Time Record Form
Certification and Licensure
This program leads to dual certification in Childhood Education Grades 1-6 and Deaf and Hard of Hearing PreK-12. Visit the Certification and Licensure page for information and support.
Graduation
Graduation is the official completion of your program and conferral of an academic degree. In order to graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines. Visit the Graduation and Commencement page for complete information.