This degree is a combination of courses required for the deaf education major and the early childhood education major. Students who graduate at the bachelors level cannot be licensed as teachers of the deaf, so many students in this major continue on to USU's masters program, communicative disorders and deaf education. Because students in this major already have many of the prerequisites, the master's degree takes only one additional year. Upon completion of the master's program, students are qualified for two licenses, one for grades K-3 and one for deaf education. While there is no licensure requirement to teach preschool, students with this degree are better prepared to teach in those settings. This streamlined, five-year program is unique to USU.
This degree gives students the opportunity to have more flexibility in their careers. Having both licenses allows teachers to move back and forth between deaf education and early grades in elementary education, and the background in early childhood education makes students better and more well-rounded teachers for the deaf. Students in USUs teacher education program undergo extensive practicum experiences so that by the time they participate in student teaching in deaf schools (during the master's program), they have gained enough experience to be competent teachers of the deaf in all subject areas.
USU's Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services is ranked 10th in the nation among colleges of education in external research dollars.
Students receive a BS by completing all required courses in the major. To receive a BA, students must also gain proficiency in one or more foreign languages.