Secondary Education of Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing MS

The master of science degree in secondary education of students who are deaf or hard of hearing is a unique program that prepares students to meet the national need for teachers of secondary students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The program prepares teachers not only as effective and ethical practitioners but also as scholars and leaders in the profession.

Faculty members in this program are international leaders in research and are highly skilled in the education of deaf people. A carefully designed system of faculty advisement is a prominent feature of the program. On-campus facilities, state-of-the-art technology, and a well-established system of educational access services combine to make this a vital program for both deaf and hearing students who desire careers as professional educators of deaf students. Graduates have a 96 percent pass rate on the New York State Teacher Certification examinations.

Estimated Program Length: 30 semester credit hours

Total Credits Required: 94 credits

Financial Aid Available:

NTID tuition is about one-third of RIT's tuition. Approximately 60 percent of NTID’s full-time graduate students receive financial aid awards. A student’s need is determined by the analysis of the Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA). RIT has four general categories of financial aid: scholarships, grants, loans, and employment. RIT has grant funding available to address the financial need of all graduate students. Though funds are limited, RIT strives to meet as much of a student’s financial need as possible.

Students who pursue the MS program and plan to teach in the content areas of math or science upon graduation, may be eligible for a scholarship of up to $5,000 per year for two years. Up to 10 such scholarships are offered on an annual basis.

All full-time students in the MS program are offered opportunities to work as graduate assistants with members of NTID faculty and staff. These paid positions range from teaching and research assistants to program assistants and tutors. Graduate assistants are required to work five hours per week and receive a stipend of $1,000 per quarter ($3,000 per academic year). There also are numerous on-campus student employment opportunities available.

Specializations:

A 4+2 program designed specifically for RIT students who hope to become teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students was created as a bridge between the university's four-year bachelor’s degree programs and the two-year MS program in secondary education. Upon successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in an approved program with the required credits and GPA, students are guaranteed admission to the MS program.