Gallaudet University

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Updated November 30, 2022 · 3 Min Read

Learn more about the various counseling degree programs available at Gallaudet University.

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First established in 1856 by U.S. Postmaster General Amos Kendall, Gallaudet University is a federally chartered private school that specializes in providing education to the deaf and hard of hearing. As the only higher learning institution of its kind worldwide, Gallaudet provides bilingual instruction in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Gallaudet is located on a 99-acre urban campus in our nation's capital of Washington DC. Gallaudet University enrolls more than 1,800 undergraduates and 400 post-graduates each year. Thanks to a low student-faculty ratio of 6:1, over 90 percent of the university's classes contain less than 20 students. Gallaudet maintains the mission of providing high-quality, supportive liberal education to deaf learners.

With a long-standing tradition of excellence in ASL education, Gallaudet University has received several notable recognitions. The U.S. News and World Report has ranked Gallaudet as the 19th best regional college and 14th top university for military veterans in the North. Gallaudet was also honored by the survey as the #1 best value school in the region. In particular, the university offers the nation's 131st best online bachelor's programs and hosts the 145th best graduate education school. Forbes magazine has placed Gallaudet University as the 107th best private non-profit institution in the entire United States with a financial grade of A. Gallaudet is also well-known for awarding three national championship titles in the Annual Academic Bowl for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

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Gallaudet University Accreditation Details

As a whole, Gallaudet University is formally accredited through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), one of the six regional accrediting bodies recognized through the U.S. Department of Education. Gallaudet is also certified by the Conference of Educational Administrators for Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD). The Department of Education has received discipline-specific approval from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for educating school leaders. Graduate counseling degrees are given the gold standard of excellence through the Council on Accreditation of Counseling-Related Education Programs (CACREP) too.

Gallaudet University Application Requirements

Gallaudet University has a rather selective acceptance rate of 65 percent, so incoming students must fulfill certain criteria for achieving admissions. Applicants for the M.A. in School Counseling program must already possess a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution or foreign equivalent. Having a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate studies is preferred. Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) will be required. International students should certify their knowledge of the English language by scoring at least 550 on the paper-based test. Students seeking school counseling endorsement must also have valid teaching certification.

A cohort of new students will only selected for the summers and online school counseling program every three to four years. Prior to the February 15th deadline, interested candidates must submit the following materials to Gallaudet's Graduate Admissions Office:

  • Completed online application form
  • $75 non-refundable admissions fee
  • Official transcripts from each post-secondary school
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Current GRE or MAT test results via code R5240
  • Four-part personal goals statement

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time graduate students from the U.S. should expect to pay $8,298 in tuition per semester with a unit fee of $138. International students follow a slightly different tuition payment plan for affording $12,447 in tuition each semester. Students pursuing the online school counseling program part-time must budget for paying $922 per credit hour. International graduates pursuing their online studies part-time will be responsible for $1,383 per credit. It's estimated that the total program costs will be $53,476 for U.S. learners and $80,214 for international students. Some students may also be charged for the $2,784 health insurance fee annually.

For help covering these costs, 85 percent of matriculated students at Gallaudet are granted some form of financial aid. Federal Stafford, Federal Perkins, Grad PLUS, and private alternative loans are available, but the money must be repaid with interest. Free gifted funds could be provided through the Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Grant, or TEACH Grant. Degree-seeking students at Gallaudet may qualify for the university's Grant-in-Aid (GIA) program. Deaf and hard of hearing students might be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which gives monthly benefits. Newly admitted students will also be automatically considered for scholarships, including the Provost's Excellence Scholarship, Dean's Prestige Scholarship, Rowley Family Scholarship, and Johnson International Scholarship.

Online Degrees Available

Through the Office of Distance Education, Gallaudet University utilizes Blackboard to provide highly interactive online courses for busy working adults needing flexibility. Currently, online students can select from two master's degrees, three graduate certificates, and a multitude of professional development courses. Learners access course activities 24/7 to fulfill their dream of completing a degree without putting their career or family on the back burner. Most courses are scheduled in convenient eight-week sessions for accelerated studies. In the Department of Education, graduates could pursue the:

M.A. in School Counseling

Leading to a Master of Arts (M.A.), the Summers and Online School Counseling program at Gallaudet is designed in a hybrid format where students taking courses online for five semesters and attend on-campus classes during three summers. As the only professional program of its kind globally, the degree trains school counselors to work primarily with deaf, hard of hearing, and special needs children. The 58-credit program fosters the cultural awareness, clinical skills, and mental health knowledge needed to promote social justice in K-12 school environments. With full CACREP accreditation, the curriculum is structured to produce ethical practitioners who advocate for quality counseling services for both deaf and hearing students.

Professionals will progress through this program as a cohort to form long-lasting bonds with peers from afar and in Washington DC. Coursework will delve into important topics on lifespan development, cultural diversity, psychotherapy, multicultural counseling, deaf education, psychopharmacology, play therapy, substance abuse prevention, crisis intervention, family therapy, audiology technology, and mental health assessment. The entire program will take 2.5 years for completion. In the final year, aspiring counselors will be placed in a local school district to complete a supervised counseling internship.

Online students studying at Gallaudet University could also pursue a M.A. in Sign Language Education, Graduate Certificate in Peer Mentor Training, or Graduate Certificate in Educating Deaf Students with Disabilities.

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