Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Educational Interpreting, American Sign Language Education
The Deaf Studies undergraduate program at the University of Tennessee is housed in the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education (TPTE) within the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS). The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in American Sign Language (ASL), ASL linguistics, Deaf history and culture, and educational trends and issues. Teaching and learning in the Deaf Studies program, including class activities, discussion, and demonstration of knowledge, occur in either ASL or English. Integral to the coursework is social justice, with the goal of preparing culturally competent teachers and interpreters who can provide equitable and quality education for all students.
Watch our video here to learn more about our Deaf Education concentrations from our Deaf Studies faculty, students, and alumni.
Admissions, Tuition and Fees, and Financial Aid Information
Undergraduate students majoring in Deaf Studies select one of three concentrations of study (with more coming in 2023):
- American Sign Language (ASL) education concentration (alone)
- American Sign Language (ASL) education concentration with art education undergraduate internship specialization
- Educational Interpreting concentration
Coming in Fall 2023!
- American Sign Language (ASL) education concentration with Deaf education undergraduate internship specialization (coming Fall 2023!)
- Deaf education (with coursework for secondary education licensure)
- Deaf education concentration with art education undergraduate internship specialization
- Deaf education concentration with elementary education undergraduate internship specialization
- Deaf education with Special education comprehensive undergraduate internship specialization
Field experiences are embedded in each concentration, creating opportunities for students to gain experience in the discipline while taking coursework.
Upon completion of the Deaf Studies undergraduate degree, students with a concentration in Deaf Education or ASL Education may continue to the 5th year professional internship and graduate school program. These 5-year programs (4 years undergraduate study + 1 year graduate study) are designed to provide initial licensure in Pre K-12 to teacher candidates and lead to a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Master’s degree in Teacher Education.
For more information on our graduate programs visit:
Master’s degree programs in Teacher Education, licensure and non-licensure
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- David Smith
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- Jeffrey Davis
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- Calvin Farley
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- April Haggard
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- Megan Wylie Potts
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- Cheryl Shahan
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- Michael Skyer
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- Bill Stricklen
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- Kimberly Wolbers
David Smith, research professor, team lead, and job-embedded practitioner co-coordinator
Jeffrey Davis, professor
Calvin Farley, senior lecturer
April Haggard, senior lecturer and ASL program coordinator
Megan Wylie Potts, lecturer and educational interpreting program coordinator
Cheryl Shahan, clinical assistant professor and job-embedded practitioner co-coordinator
Michael Skyer, assistant professor
Bill Stricklen, senior lecturer
Ethan Swafford, lecturer (not pictured)
Kimberly Wolbers, professor and SIWI program coordinator
Emily Bown, ASL Lab Coordinator (not pictured)
David H. Smith, research professor and team lead