NSC Launches Bachelor of Science Degree in Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NSC Tackles Another State Need with New Program

HENDERSON, Nev. – Teachers for the deaf and hard of hearing are a proven resource when it comes to helping students who have hearing impairments. There are currently 400 students in the Clark County School District who require deaf and hard of hearing services, and with four to six teacher vacancies to be filled in fall 2008, it doesn’t look like the need for teachers in this area is going to ease up any time soon. That’s where Nevada State College is stepping in with an alternative.

Beginning in fall 2008, Nevada State College is offering Nevada’s first bachelor’s degree for educators who want to specialize in teaching students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

“All of Nevada’s children deserve an equal chance at an education, but it can be difficult for a child who is deaf or hard of hearing,” said Francine Mayfield, dean of Nevada State College’s School of Education. “This program will provide the training required for our students to become specialists in teaching those children.”

And the demand is there. As Nevada’s population continues to grow, those needs will only become greater.

“This is an expanding field and one that is severely under-served, not just in Nevada, but countrywide,” said Mayfield. “But with this program, we will be able to tackle this issue head-on while providing our students with the training needed to become a specialized, in-demand professional.”

Students enrolling in the four-year Bachelor of Science in Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing program will have to complete the college’s general credit requirements in addition to special deaf education courses. The curriculum includes courses in communication methods, language and literacy development, instructional methods for self-contained and inclusive settings, transition, and assessment.