Major in Deaf Studies
Liberal Arts Building 4210
Phone: 410-704-2883
Fax: 410-704-4290
Email: llc@towson.edu
The Deaf Studies major consists of 57 units: 45 units of required courses that all students take, 9 units of DFST electives, and 3 units of non-DFST electives. The maximum number of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) units the department will accept is 15.
In addition, all students must complete an internship (DFST 410 ). Students must take the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASL PI) as part of DFST 410. If the internship site requires a criminal background check, students must complete the check and have it on file before beginning the internship.
All incoming freshmen and transfer students with previous knowledge of ASL are encouraged to take a placement test to determine appropriate ASL course placement. Information about placement tests is available on the department’s website. All students must take DFST 304 at Towson University. In addition, students must take a minimum of 20 units of DFST courses at Towson University.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| DFST 101 | INTRODUCTION TO DEAF STUDIES | 3 |
| DFST 104 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 1 | 3 |
| DFST 105 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II | 3 |
| DFST 204 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE III | 3 |
| DFST 205 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IV | 3 |
| DFST 304 | AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE V | 3 |
| DFST 306 | CLASSIFIERS IN ASL | 3 |
| DFST 318 | SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY | 3 |
| DFST 345 | DEAF CULTURE | 3 |
| DFST 375 | DEAF HISTORY | 3 |
| DFST 410 | INTERNSHIP IN DEAF STUDIES | 3 |
| DFST 430 | LINGUISTICS OF AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE | 3 |
| LING 320 | LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| or PSYC 102 | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | |
| SOCI 101 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | 3 |
| or SOCI 102 | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 3 DFST courses (9 units) and one non-DFST course (3 units). At least two of the elective courses must be at the upper level. | 12 | |
| CAREER EXPLORATION IN DEAF STUDIES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INTERPRETING | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO DEAFBLIND CULTURE & COMMUNICATION | ||
| FINGERSPELLING AND NUMBER USAGE | ||
| LITERATURE AND FILM IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY | ||
| DEVELOPMENT OF SIGNED LANGUAGE AND READING SKILLS FOR DEAF CHILDREN | ||
| SERVICE LEARNING IN DEAF STUDIES | ||
| Non-DFST Electives | ||
| CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
| IDENTITY AND CULTURE | ||
| FAMILY RESOURCES | ||
| COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR FAMILIES | ||
| HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO THE HELPING RELATIONSHIP | ||
| SOCIOLOGY OF RACE AND ETHNICITY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION | ||
| Total Units | 57 | |
- 1
Higher levels of ASL will be accepted for the major.
Sample Four-Year Plan
The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| DFST 101 ( Core 13) | 3 | DFST 105 | 3 |
| DFST 104 (Core 5) | 3 | PSYC 101 or 102 | 3 |
| SOCI 101 or 102 (Core 6) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 4 | 3 |
| Core 3 | 3 | Core 10 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| DFST 204 | 3 | DFST 205 | 3 |
| DFST 210 (DFST Elective 1 of 3) | 3 | LING 320 (Core 9) | 3 |
| DFST 306 | 3 | Core 11 | 3 |
| Core 7 | 4 | Elective | 3 |
| Core 12 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 12 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| DFST 304 | 3 | DFST 375 | 3 |
| DFST 318 | 3 | DFST 430 | 3 |
| DFST 345 | 3 | DFST Elective (DFST Elective 2 of 3) | 3 |
| Core 8 | 4 | Core 14 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| DFST 410 (Option #1) | 3 | DFST 410 (Option #2) | 3 |
| Non-DFST Elective | 3 | DFST Elective (DFST Elective 3 of 3) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Units 120 | |||
- Students will demonstrate development of communication skills using American Sign Language.
- Students will demonstrate cultural sensitivity.
- Students will demonstrate appropriate interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
- Students will demonstrate competency in essential skills required of a college graduate by using software as appropriate for writing, spreadsheets, statistical analyses, for calculations or for presentations. (ILTC)