Application and Admission Requirements

Pre-matriculation (application)

• Submit completed application and fee.
• Provide transcripts indicating Bachelor's degree received with a 2.5 minimum GPA. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may take prerequisite courses. If student receives grades of 'B' or better, he or she will be considered for admission into CORE courses (To enter the Secondary or Secondary/ASL program, you must have Bachelor's degree in English, Science, History, Mathematics, Art, or Physical Education.)
• Identify the Deaf Education Program option of your choice.
• Satisfy the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview with the required minimum entrance score for your program.
• Satisfy the English Proficiency Essay (EPE) with the required minimum entrance score (3.0) for the program.

Matriculation (required for acceptance into the Deaf Education Program)

• Complete 12 graduate credits of Deaf Education CORE courses with a grade of 'B' or better in each.
• Complete a program plan with an academic advisor.
• Pass a satisfactory review of the Suitability for the Field of Deaf Education.

 

Degree Requirements

• 33–48 semester hours, depending on area of specialization
• Minimum 3.0 GPA, limit of one course grade of "C"
• Satisfy the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview with the required minimum exit score for your program.
• Satisfy the English Proficiency Essay with required minimum exit score.

 

American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI)

The ASLPI has been adopted by the McDaniel College Deaf Education program for three purposes

• To evaluate the linguistic readiness of students entering the program.
• To determine linguistic and communication readiness for student teaching.
• As a demonstration of ASL competence for students receiving a Master's degree.

The ASLPI is a structured conversation of about 20 minutes, which is carried out between a candidate and a trained interviewer. Adopting the Educational Testing Service model (LPI), the ASLPI gives the candidate an opportunity to demonstrate ASL proficiency in a realistic conversational situation. Following the interview, the candidate's performance is evaluated on accent, grammatical accuracy, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. It is then is given an overall numerical rating ranging from 0-5.

Candidates are expected to respond to several broad-based areas of conversation. Examples of areas covered are size and composition of family, current and past areas of residence, personal interests and hobbies, work related topics, educational experiences, current events and contemporary issues. Topics depend on the process of the interview and the background and interest of the candidate. The interview does NOT require detailed knowledge of facts about or close familiarity with any particular area or topic. Throughout the interview, the intent is not to "quiz" the candidate but to provide an opportunity for the individual to demonstrate the highest level of signing performance of which s/he is capable. This is NOT a diagnostic evaluation where any weakness or strength is noted. Scores are not released outside McDaniel College without the consent of the student.

The ASLPI is scheduled four times a year during the year. To register for the ASLPI, contact Dorita Dorm in the Deaf Education office (410-857-2506 V/TTY/VP or e-mail deafedoffice@mcdaniel.edu). The cost for the ASLPI is $100 with a $35 deposit at the time of making an appointment. The remaining $65 is due upon arrival. Failure to arrive at your appointed time will result in forfeiture of your $35 deposit.

A student has the right to appeal an ASLPI result. A written appeal should be submitted to the coordinator within 10 days to request review of the ASLPI score. An additional rater will independently evaluate the tape and submit the results to the Deaf Education department. The student will then be notified as to whether any changes in the rating are deemed appropriate.

Required (Minimum) ASLPI Scores

Program Requirement for Elem Elem/ ASL Sec Sec/ ASL 2.5 4.0 2.5 4.0 Entrance score (pre-matriculation) 3.0 3.0 Exit score (for student teaching and graduation) Note: Elem = Elementary; Elem/ASL = Elementary / ASL Specialist; Sec = Secondary; Sec/ASL = Secondary / ASL Specialist.