Minor in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Studies
The minor in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Studies is intended to provide students with courses leading to specialized knowledge related to the fields of deafness and hearing loss. It will be of interested to students who intend to engage in teaching, counseling, rehabilitation, social work, and other professions in which contact with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may be expected. There may be some interest as well on the part of students majoring in TESOL and linguistics due to the bilingual aspect of part of the field of study. (Individuals whose native language is American Sign Language (ASL) receive instruction in English as a second language.) Finally, it will be a good option for those students who wish to move on to graduate study in the fields of deaf education, rehabilitation, counseling, speech-language pathology, and audiology.
Curriculum and Requirements
The minor in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Studies will require the following for a minimum of 20 credits:
- COMM 401 American Sign Language I
- COMM 536 Introduction to Deaf Studies
- COMM 575 Have you Heard? The Fundamentals of Hearing and Hearing Loss***
***Comm 575 replaces Comm 402 as a required course effective for freshman entering UNH in fall 2008. For all other students either Comm 575 or Comm 402 will fulfill one of the 3 required courses. If you were not a freshman in fall 2008 and decide to take Comm 575 to fulfill a requirement for the minor, Comm 402 remains as an elective option or vice versa.
- Two electives from the list of electives, below
COMM 537 Deaf Culture
COMM 402 American Sign Language II
COMM 734 American Sign Language III
COMM 735 American Sign Language IV
COMM 738 Linguistics of American Sign Language
COMM 704 Audiology*
COMM 705 Auditory Perception and Aural Rehabilitation*
COMM 779 Internship in Deaf/Hard of Hearing Studies
COMM 522 Acquisition of Language*
Special Topic Course (see minor coordinator for current offerings)
*required of CSD majors
- Communication Sciences and Disorders majors may not use a course required of their major to fulfill both major and minor requirements.
- Students in the minor must earn a grade of C- in each course in order to receive credit for courses in the minor. A maximum of 8 credits will be accepted in transfer.
Minor Registration
There is no formal declaration process for the minor in deaf and hard of hearing studies. All students are welcome to participate but it is requested that you complete a registration form which is located on this website. Once completed, the registration information is automatically emailed to the minor coordinator. The registration form is not binding and there are no penalties if you do not complete the minor but it is helpful in predicting course demands.
For more information contact the minor coordinator:
Mary Jane Sullivan Au.D. CCC-A
4 Library Way Hewitt Hall Rm. 187
University of New Hampshire
Durham NH 03824
603-862-5077
603-862-4511 fax