Deaf/Hard of Hearing License

Bemidji State University students interested in obtaining a Deaf/Hard of Hearing license have access to the University of Minnesota program. Individuals may take their core special education courses at BSU and complete the Deaf/Hard of Hearing license requirements at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities over two summers.

Requirements for Licensure

In order to participate in the Deaf/Hard of Hearing license program, applicants for licensure must hold a baccalaureate degree and a valid elementary, secondary, or K-12 classroom teaching license, or have satisfactorily completed the regular education teaching license exemption program. Further information about requirements can be obtained from the BSU special education coordinator. (Currently Minnesota does not accept a vocational license as equivalent to a teaching license.)

In addition, applicants for licensure must have completed background courses in reading methods (CI 5411 or CI 5415), child psychology (CPsy 1301 or CPsy 4303 or EdHD 5003), and secondary education (CI 5155). Applicants should contact Dr. Susan Rose at the University of Minnesota about equivalent courses from other universities.

Special Education Core Studies
(University of Minnesota)

• EPsy 5613 Foundations of Special Education I
  Note: BSU students may use ED 3600/5600 Study of the Learner with Special Needs
• EPsy 5614 Foundations of Special Education II
  Note: BSU students may use ED 3640/5640 Due Process in Special Education
• EPsy 5616 Behavior Analysis and Classroom Management
  Note: BSU students may use ED 3640/5640 Collaborative Techniques in Special Education

Specialty Area: Deaf/Hard of Hearing
(University of Minnesota)

• EPsy 5641 Foundations of Education for Individuals Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• EPsy 5642 Early Childhood Intervention for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool Children Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• EPsy 5644 Language Development and Programming for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children
• EPsy 5646 Reading and Writing Practices with Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children
• EPsy 5647 Aural and Speech Programming for Persons Who Are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• EPsy 5648 Communication Systems for Children with Disabilities
• EPsy 5649 Models of Instructional Programming with Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students
• *ASL 5642 American Sign Language in the Classroom (1-3 credits)
• ESPY 5751 Student Teaching

*NOTE: Candidates for licensure will not be required to complete formal credit coursework in American Sign Language; however, they will be required to achieve a rating of Intermediate Plus on the SCPI (Sign Language Proficiency Inventory) to be recommended for licensure.