Aug 13, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Deaf and Hard of Hearing, BS

Degree Map

Deaf and Hard of Hearing BS Degree Map

The deaf and hard-of-hearing program prepares preservice educator candidates to teach children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

University Core Curriculum Requirements

Communication - 010

Three hours from:

ENGL 1301 - Rhetoric and Composition Credit(s): 3
or

Three hours from:

SPCH 1315 - Public Speaking Credit(s): 3
SPCH 1318 - Interpersonal Communication Credit(s): 3
SPCH 2333 - Teamwork and Group Communication Credit(s): 3

Mathematics - 020

Three hours from:

MATH 1350 - Introduction to Foundations of Mathematics I Credit(s): 3

Life and Physical Sciences - 030

Six hours from:

ASTR 1303 - Classical and Modern Astronomy Credit(s): 3
BIOL 1306 - Biology for Science Majors I Credit(s): 3
BIOL 1307 - Biology for Science Majors II Credit(s): 3
BIOL 1308 - Biology for Non-Science Majors I Credit(s): 3
BIOL 1309 - Biology for Non-Science Majors II Credit(s): 3
BIOL 2301 - Anatomy and Physiology I Credit(s): 3
BIOL 2361 - Plant Form and Function Credit(s): 3
BIOL 2381 - Local Flora or Fauna Credit(s): 3
CHEM 1305 - Intro to Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 1311 - General Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 1312 - General Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 1371 - Chemistry and Society Credit(s): 3
ENVR 1301 - Intro to Environmental Science Credit(s): 3
ERTH 1301 - Earth and Society Credit(s): 3
ERTH 1303 - Earth Science Credit(s): 3
ERTH 1304 - Earth Through Time Credit(s): 3
HORT 1131 - Cultivating Plants Lab Credit(s): 1
HORT 1231 - Cultivating Plants Credit(s): 2
PHYS 1301 - Mechanics and Heat Credit(s): 3
PHYS 1302 - Electricity, Sound and Light Credit(s): 3
PHYS 1305 - Conceptual Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 1307 - Conceptual Physics II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 1310 - Fundamentals of Electronics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 2325 - Technical Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 2326 - Technical Physics II Credit(s): 3

Language, Philosophy and Culture - 040

Three hours from:

ENGL 2322 - British Literature to 1800 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2323 - British Literature from 1800 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2327 - American Literature to 1865 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2328 - American Literature from 1865 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2332 - World Literature to 1650 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2333 - World Literature from 1650 Credit(s): 3
HIST 2311 - Western Civilization I Credit(s): 3
HIST 2312 - Western Civilization II Credit(s): 3
HIST 2321 - World Civilizations I Credit(s): 3
HIST 2322 - World Civilizations II Credit(s): 3

Creative Arts - 050

Three hours from:

ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation Credit(s): 3
ARTS 1303 - Art History I (Prehistoric to the 14th century) Credit(s): 3
ARTS 1304 - Art History II (14th Century to the present) Credit(s): 3
DANC 2303 - Dance Appreciation Credit(s): 3
DRAM 2366 - Film and Culture Credit(s): 3
DRAM 1310 - Theatre Appreciation Credit(s): 3
MUMH 1307 - Intro to Music Literature Credit(s): 3
MUSI 1306 - Music Appreciation Credit(s): 3

American History - 060

Six hours from:

HIST 1301 - United States History I Credit(s): 3
HIST 1302 - United States History II Credit(s): 3

Government/Political Science - 070

Six hours from:

GOVT 2305 - Federal Government Credit(s): 3
GOVT 2306 - Texas Government Credit(s): 3

Social and Behavioral Science - 080

Three hours from:

ANTH 2351 - Cultural Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit(s): 3
ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit(s): 3
FORS 2351 - Introduction to Human Dimensions and Recreation Credit(s): 3
GEOG 1303 - World Regional Geography Credit(s): 3
MCOM 1307 - Survey of Mass Communication Credit(s): 3
PSYC 2301 - General Psychology Credit(s): 3
SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology Credit(s): 3

Component Area Option - 090

Three hours from:

ENGL 1302 - Research and Argument Credit(s): 3

Three hours from:

SGNL 1301 - Beginning American Sign Language Credit(s): 3
SGNL 1302 - Intermediate American Sign Language Credit(s): 3

Support/Pre-Major

Required Courses

HDFS 2302 - Human Growth and Development Credit(s): 3
MATH 1351 - Intermediate Mathematics for Elementary Teachers Credit(s): 3
READ 3320 - Language and Literacy I Credit(s): 3

Core Science Labs

Zero to two hours from:

ASTR 1103 - Classical and Modern Astronomy Laboratory Credit(s): 1
BIOL 1106 - Biology for Science Majors I Lab Credit(s): 1
BIOL 1107 - Biology for Science Majors II Lab Credit(s): 1
BIOL 1108 - Biology for Non-Science Majors I Lab Credit(s): 1
BIOL 1109 - Biology for Non-Science Majors II Lab Credit(s): 1
BIOL 2061 - Plant Form and Function Lab Credit(s): 0
BIOL 2081 - Local Flora or Fauna Lab Credit(s): 0
BIOL 2101 - Anatomy and Physiology I Lab Credit(s): 1
CHEM 1071 - Chemistry and Society Lab Credit(s): 0
CHEM 1105 - Intro to Chemistry I Lab Credit(s): 1
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab Credit(s): 1
CHEM 1112 - General Chemistry II Lab Credit(s): 1
ENVR 1101 - Intro to Environmental Science Lab Credit(s): 1
ERTH 1001 - Earth and Society Lab Credit(s): 0
ERTH 1103 - Earth Science Lab Credit(s): 1
ERTH 1104 - Earth Through Time Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 1101 - Mechanics and Heat Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHYS 1102 - Electricity, Sound and Light Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHYS 1105 - Conceptual Physics I Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHYS 1107 - Conceptual Physics II Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHYS 1110 - Fundamental of Electronics Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHYS 2125 - Technical Physics I Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHYS 2126 - Technical Physics II Laboratory Credit(s): 1

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Major

Required Courses

SGNL 1302 - Intermediate American Sign Language Credit(s): 3
SGNL 2301 - American Sign Language III Credit(s): 3
SGNL 2302 - American Sign Language IV Credit(s): 3
DFHH 2303 - Deaf Culture Credit(s): 3
DFHH 2304 - Foundations in Deaf Education Credit(s): 3
DFHH 3329 - Survey of Deaf Plus Exceptionalities Credit(s): 3
DFHH 3350 - Audiology for Educators of the Deaf Credit(s): 3
DFHH 3370 - Language and Literacy for the Deaf Credit(s): 3
DFHH 3379 - Assessment and Accountability in DHH Settings Credit(s): 3
DFHH 3389 - Educational Interpreting/Translation Credit(s): 3
DFHH 3390 - Manual Communication Interpreting Credit(s): 3
DFHH 3399 - Capstone Course Credit(s): 3
DFHH 4301 - Teaching Science in Deaf Education Settings Credit(s): 3
DFHH 4302 - Teaching Social Studies in Deaf Education Settings Credit(s): 3
DFHH 4303 - Teaching Mathematics in Deaf Education Settings Credit(s): 3
DFHH 4304 - Internship in Deaf Education Credit(s): 3

Professional Education Courses

Required Courses

SPED 3320 - Instructional Planning for Exceptional Learners Credit(s): 3
SPED 3310 - History of Special Education Law & Current Legal Considerations Credit(s): 3
SPED 4350 - Special Education Field Experience I Credit(s): 3

Professional Seminar

Three hours of:

SPED 4343 - Special Education Professional Responsibilities Seminar Credit(s): 3

Clinical Teaching

Six hours of:

SPED 4242 - Clinical Teaching in Special Education Credit(s): 2 to 12

General Electives

The student may be required to complete additional elective hours to complete the degree.

Total hours: 120

Exams and Certifications

TASC Test

All teacher candidates must pass the Texas Assessment of Sign Communication before student teaching. Clearance for the TASC requires passing a practice interview with a specified cut score set by the program.

TExES 181 Certification Exam

All teacher candidates must pass the TExES 181 test (Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing test) unless a formal waiver is granted. Clearance is granted only upon scoring 80% or better on a comprehensive test administered during the capstone course (DFHH 3399 ) and during DFHH 3379 .

Special Education edTPA Exam

All DFHH educator candidates must pass the Special Education edTPA.

Grade Requirements

A grade of at least C in each first-year English course (ENGL 1301 , ENGL 1302 )
A C average in work completed in the major field
A C average in work completed in the minor field

The required averages are based on those SFA courses taken in each category that are included in the student’s official degree plan (Degree Works). Transfer and advanced placement coursework are not included in GPA calculations.

In-Residence Requirement

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Undergraduate degrees require at least 25% semester credit hours completed in-residence.

Undergraduate degrees with 120 hours total degree program hours require a minimum of 30 advanced (upper level) in-residence semester credit hours. The in-residence hour requirement will be fulfilled as part of the individual discipline major, which includes as least 12 advanced in-residence semester credit hours. Minor requirements also may contribute to the total in-residence hours as at least six advanced in-residence semester credit hours are required. The balance of in-resident hours will be fulfilled through additional advanced semester credit hours and may include further major and minor coursework.

Undergraduate degrees with more than 120 total degree program hour requirements will ensure semester credit hours for the specific discipline include at least 25% of total semester credit hours in-residence.

View HOP policy 02-214.

Texas Success Initiative Program

All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program. See the TSI information catalog page.