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Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
48
Deaf studies
COURSE CODE:
PLACES 2011:
POINTS 2010:
AWARD:
TR016
20
335
B.A.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Leaving Certificate
HC3
English
OD3/HD3 In a language
other than English
Advanced GCE (A-Level)
Grade C English literature
(A or B) or English
language (A or B)
GCSE
Grade C In a language
other than English
Entry to Year 3 of Bachelor in Deaf studies
Graduates of the Centre’s Diplomas in Deaf studies, Irish
Sign Language (ISL) teaching and ISL/English interpreting
may apply for entry to year 3 of the Bachelor in Deaf
studies if they hold a II.2 or above.
GARDA VETTING:
Students will be required to undergo Garda vetting.
See p. 27 for further details.
The Government’s Free Fees Initiative DOES cover
this course. EU students registered for Deaf studies
may be eligible for inclusion in the scheme.
What is Deaf studies?
Deaf studies is a discipline that encompasses an understanding
of the Deaf community from social, educational, policy and
historical perspectives. Graduates will develop fluency in Irish
Sign Language (ISL) and may choose to specialise as Irish
Sign Language interpreters, Irish Sign Language teachers
or as generalists in Deaf studies. ISL interpreters facilitate
communication in a range of community and conference settings
including legal, medical, educational, social services, and
employment related settings. ISL teachers deliver language
learning in a range of contexts, working with Deaf children and
their families at home, and with adults who are learning ISL as
a second language. There is currently a significant shortage
of professional ISL/English interpreters and ISL teachers in
Ireland. Those specialising in Deaf studies will develop skills
in developing accessible multimedia for Deaf and hard-of-
hearing people, opening up opportunities in subtitling and
public information service delivery. There are also options for
developing valuable research skills as part of this course.
Is this the right course for you?
Working in the area of Deaf studies you will come into contact
with people of all ages and will be required to work in a range
of settings, which may include educational settings, community
clinics, hospitals, legal contexts and a wide range of community
settings. You will be working between Deaf and hearing
communities and bridging communication and cultural gaps. In
many instances, you will also find yourself dealing with families
of Deaf and hard-of-hearing people. It is important, therefore,
that you are adaptable and people-oriented. You will also need
to be capable of working independently and as part of a team.
You should have an interest in learning about language, culture
and society and be open to using technology in your learning.
Course overview
Deaf studies is a four-year full-time honors degree course.
No prior knowledge of ISL is required. The course provides a
comprehensive introduction to the Deaf community and ISL for
those wishing to work in or with the Deaf community. The degree
involves an integrated programme of study which is designed to
equip students with a broad spectrum of knowledge, skills and
competencies related to the Deaf community, its history and
culture, and for those following specific paths, the profession of
ISL/English interpreting or ISL teaching.
Course content
This four-year full-time degree course gives you an in-depth
understanding of the Irish Deaf community and of the experience
of Deaf people internationally, historically and in contemporary
society. ISL is studied across the four years of the programme,
while in years one and two, themes such as Deaf education,
the representation of Deaf people in the media, the legal and
political standing of signed languages and access to critical
public health services are explored. Understanding of the
structure of ISL, the sociolinguistic context and the path to
acquisition of a signed language for Deaf children are also
explored in years one and two. For ISL/English interpreting
students, translation theory and the practical skills of interpreting,
guided by ethical practice are emphasised in years three and
four. For students taking the ISL teaching route, aspects of the
psychology of education are introduced along with guidance on
planning and implementing a curriculum and assessing student
performance. For those taking the Deaf studies route, there are
options relating to the development of accessible multimedia
for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people or carrying out a research
project, which culminates in a dissertation. For all students years
three and four include practice placements with organisations
working with/for the Deaf community in Ireland or (through
Erasmus links) across the European Union. In the Junior
Freshman (first) year, there are approximately 17 hours
of direct teaching.
The component courses are grouped under three headings:
Language, Theory and Practice.