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Bachelor's in Deaf & Hard of Hearing

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Teach Children Who are Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Grades K-12 and Adults Up To Age 22

Our Bachelor's in Special Education with a license and endorsement in Deaf and Hard of hearing (DHH) prepares future educators to support the communication, academic, social, and emotional needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, from kindergarten through age 21.

Students gain knowledge and hands-on experience in a variety of educational settings and learn to work with children across differrent communication modalities, including spoken language, American Sign Language (ASL), and bilingual-bimodal approaches. Through coursework and field experiences, students develop the skills necessary to create inclusive, accessible learning evnvironments and support the diverse needs of children and families. Graduates leave the program well-prepared to make meaningful impact in the field of deaf education.

 

Learn More: 

Have questions or want to explore whether this is the right fit? 

Contact Nicole Pilling at nicole.pilling@utah.edu

Choose From Two Tracks

BIRTH - 5

Candidates prepare to serve children, ages birth through five, in home-based and preschool settings.

K - 12

Candidates prepare to work in specialized classrooms or inclusive/itinerant settings with students from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Pre-Major in Special Education (34 credit hours)

Number Course Name Credits Term

SP ED 2010

Human Exceptionality

 3 Fall, Spring, Summer

SP ED 3020

Special Education Globalization and International Perspectives

 3 Fall, Spring

ECS 2150

Introduction to Multicultural Education

 3 Contact Department

ASL 1010

Beginning American Sign Language I

 4 Contact Department

ED PS 2030

Research and Inquiry in Education

Social/Behavioral Science Exploration

 3 Contact Department

FCS 2640

Integrating Curriculum Methods 

 3 Contact Department

Choose One
ETHNC 2550 African American Experiences 3 Contact Department
ETHNC 5260 Chicana/o & Lantino/a Experiences 3 Contact Department
ETHNC 2570 American Indian Experiences  3 Contact Department
ETHNC 2580 Asian Pacific American Experiences 3 Contact Department
ETHNC 2590 Pacific Islander American Experiences 3 Contact Department

Choose a Math Sequence Option

Sequence I (preferred)

MATH 1010

Intermediate Algebra

 4 Contact Department

MATH 4010

Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I

 4 Contact Department

MATH 2000

Algebraic Reasoning

 4 Contact Department

Sequence II

MATH 1010

Intermediate Algebra

 4 Contact Department

MATH 1050

College Algebra

 4 Contact Department

MATH 4010

Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I

 4 Contact Department

Teacher Education Core (26 credit hours)

Number Course Name Credits Term

SP ED 5054

Professional Writing in Education 

 2 Fall, Spring, Summer

SP ED 5021

Principles of Assessment and Data-Based Decision Making

 3 Fall, Spring, Summer

SP ED 5022

Principles of Instruction & Behavior Support

 3 Contact Department

SP ED 5040

Legal & Policy Foundations of Special Education

 3 Spring, Summer

ED PS 5315

Reading Methods I: K-6 Upper Division

Communication and Writing

May be taken prior to or concurrently with EDU 5314 or EDU 5316

 3 Contact Department

ED PS 5005

Writing Instruction and Assessment: K-6

Upper Division Communication and Writing

 3 Contact Department

MATH 4020

Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II 

 4 Contact Department

ASL 1020

Beginning American Sign Language II 

 4 Contact Department

Choose One

EDU 5314

Reading Practicum K-3: Early Steps

May be taken after or concurrently with ED PS 5315

 1 Contact Department

EDU 5316

Reading Practicum K-3: Next Steps

May be taken after or concurrently with ED PS 5315

 1 Contact Department

Specialization in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Disabilities (43 credit hours)

Number Course Name Credits Term

SP ED 5510

Orientation to Teaching Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

 2 Summer

SP ED 5520

Audiology and Listening Technology for Teachers of Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

 3 Summer

SP ED 5521

Speech Acoustics for Teachers of Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

 3 Summer

SP ED 5522

Linguistics of American Sign Language

 1 Summer

SP ED 5508

Descriptive Grammar for Teachers of Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

 1 Summer

ASL 2010

Intermediate American Sign Language I

 4 Contact Department

SP ED 5530

Teaching Speech and Listening Using Auditory Verbal Strategies

 4 Fall

SP ED 5540

Teaching Spoken Language to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children: Birth - School Age

 4 Fall

SP ED 5550

ASL/English Instructional Strategies

 4 Fall

SP ED 5555

Reading Strategies for Students Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing 

 2 Spring

SP ED 5560

Effective Practices: Instructional Strategies for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

 4 Spring

SP ED 5565

Educational Programming for Students Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

 2 Summer

SP ED 5600

Student Teaching: Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (5-21)

 10 Fall, Spring

University General Education and Bachelor Degree Requirements (41 credit hours)

Requirements  Credits

American Institutions (AI)

 3

Lower Writing I Course (WRI)

 3

Lower Writing II Course (WRII)

 3

Quantitative Literacy Course (QL)

Fulfilled by Math 1050 or 2000

 4

Humanities Course (HF)

Recommended: ETHNC 2550 or 2750 or 2590

 3

Fine Arts Course (FF)

 3

Physical Science Course (PS)

 3

Life Science Course (LS)

 3

Social/Behavioral Science Course (BF)

Recommended: ED PS 2030

 3

Communication & Writing Course (CW)

Fulfilled by ED PS 5005 or 5315

 3

Diversity Course (DV)

Fulfilled by SP ED 2010

 3

International Course (IR)

Fulfilled by SP ED 3020

 3

Methods Requirement Course (DI or DQ)

Fulfilled by Math 4010 or 4020

 4

Questions? Ask our Program Contacts

Mandy Halloran

Academic Advisor II

mandy.halloran@utah.edu
801-586-6045

 

Nicole Pilling

Professor
Program Coordinator

nicole.pilling@utah.edu
801-581-5923

Last Updated: 2/20/26