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.

Required Courses
DFST 101INTRODUCTION TO DEAF STUDIES3
DFST 104AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I3
DFST 105AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II3
DFST 204AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE III3
DFST 205AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IV3
DFST 304AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE V3
DFST 308FINGERSPELLING AND NUMBER USAGE3
DFST 311FUNDAMENTALS OF HEARING3
DFST 318SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY3
DFST 345DEAF CULTURE3
DFST 375DEAF HISTORY3
DFST 410INTERNSHIP IN DEAF STUDIES3
DFST 430LINGUISTICS OF AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE3
PSYC 101INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY3
or PSYC 102 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
SOCI 101INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY3
or SOCI 102 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Electives
Select 3 DFST courses (9 units) and one non-DFST course (3 units)12
CAREER EXPLORATION IN DEAF STUDIES
INTRODUCTION TO INTERPRETING
CLASSIFIERS IN ASL
INTRODUCTION TO DEAFBLIND CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION
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 Units57

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 1UnitsTerm 2Units
DFST 101 ( Core 13)3DFST 1053
DFST 104 (Core 5)3PSYC 101 or 1023
SOCI 101 or 102 (Core 6)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 1 (or Core 2)3Core 43
Core 33Core 103
 15 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
DFST 2043DFST 2053
DFST 3083DFST 3113
Core 74Non-DFST Elective3
Core 113Core 84
Core 123Elective3
 16 16
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
DFST 3043DFST 3453
DFST 3183DFST Elective3
DFST 3753Core 143
Core 93Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
DFST 430 or 4103DFST 410 or 4303
DFST Elective3DFST Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective1Elective3
 13 15
Total Units 120
  1. Students will demonstrate development of communication skills using American Sign Language.
  2. Students will demonstrate cultural sensitivity.
  3. Students will demonstrate appropriate interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
  4. 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)