Master of Science in Secondary Education

Contact

Patrick J. Graham
Deaf Education Chairperson
pjgnmp@rit.edu

Victor Ramos
Senior Staff Assistant
585-286-5636 (VP)
vdrnmp@rit.edu

Overview

The Department of Deaf Education houses the master of science program in secondary education of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The degree program prepares teacher candidates to earn dual certification to teach a secondary school content area for students who are hearing or deaf as well as in deaf education for grades K-12. The curriculum is taught by renowned faculty at RIT—one of the most innovative campuses in the world—serving more than 1,100 deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

If you’re interested in the rewarding field of teaching and shaping the future of deaf and hard-of-hearing students by helping them succeed in school and in life, take a closer look at the MSSE program at Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

The MSSE program will prepare you to help meet the national need for highly qualified deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing teachers and leaders in the field of deaf education.

As a graduate student in the Secondary Education program at RIT, you will enjoy small class sizes, one-to-one discussions and advisement with world renowned faculty that allow you to build your strengths and develop your skills.

RIT/NTID is a unique educational community with a diverse communication environment. The rich inclusive communication environment at RIT/NTID prepares you for the broad array of communication styles you will encounter in the classroom as a teacher of deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

You can become the teacher you always hoped to be through the MSSE program at RIT.

With the pressing need for more secondary education teachers, especially in science and mathematics, the strong foundation RIT provides in these areas creates an exceptional environment for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students to pursue a teaching degree.

MSSE offers the following advantages:

Personal attention from program faculty members.
Dual certification in a secondary school content area in grades 7-12 for students who are hearing or deaf as well as in deaf education for grades K-12.
Strong faculty with expertise in: pedagogy, language development, teaching and curriculum, speech development, research, educational technology, youth and adolescent development, student advisement and placement, and educational issues.
Variety of student-teaching placement options.
Access to a wide array of research materials.
Extensive library resources on education of students who are deaf or hard of hearing, Deaf culture, sign language, and curriculum materials.
Thorough and thoughtful personal advising.
Close proximity to schools for deaf students and mainstream programs.
A vibrant Deaf community in Rochester, N.Y.
Learn, live, and work on a campus designed for collaboration between deaf and hearing students.
Numerous seminars and workshops focused on contemporary educational and cultural topics.
Immersion in sign language.
Collaborative projects with faculty, staff members and students.
Specialized training in evidence-based instructional approaches.

CAEP logo Council on Education of the Deaf logo

Rochester Institute of Technology's MSSE program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED).

Reporting outcomes and student achievement data is available for review.

Degrees and Programs

Secondary Education of Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing MS

A deaf education degree designed for teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Earn dual NYS certification in deaf education and in a secondary content area (math, science, social studies, or English).

Learn more about the program

Degree and Certification

When you successfully complete the program, you will have earned:

A Master of Science degree
Initial Certification from New York State to teach in an academic subject area at the secondary school level (grades 7-12). Subject areas include biology, chemistry, earth science, English, math, physics, social studies or American Sign Language
Initial certification from New York State in education of students who are deaf or hard of hearing, grades K-12
Initial certification from Council on Education of the Deaf

Note: To be eligible for initial certification, you are required to take and pass the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE). There are four tests:

Educating All Students (EAS)
Content Specialty Test (CST), Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Content Specialty Test (CST), in the academic subject area for which you wish to become certified to teach.

Learn more about the MSSE curriculum

Student Spotlights

Megan Albertz

Applied Liberal Arts / Applied Arts and Sciences / Secondary Education of Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

My time at RIT allowed me to meet other deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, which was not an opportunity that I had often when I was growing up. I was able to explore my Deaf identity and learn American Sign Language freely, without judgment or anxiety because others around me were doing the same.

Lia Horyczun

Criminal Justice / Secondary Education of Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

I wanted to become a teacher of the deaf so I could provide a quality education in the most accessible manner for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Affordable Choice

When you study in the MSSE program, you receive a substantially reduced tuition rate. Because RIT receives federal support, you will pay less than one-half of RIT's regular tuition. Visit the graduate tuition and fees page, and click on "Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing NTID-Supported Students" for more information.

Students who are interested in applying for financial assistance need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. International students should contact the NTID Office of Admissions for additional information. Questions related to the program, including scholarship opportunities, should be directed to the NTID Office of Admissions.