Learn about exciting new curriculum offerings at Gallaudet

This fall saw the addition of several new curriculum choices including two new minors, a new major, two online degree programs, and a certificate! “We are excited to offer these new pathways for students to align with current trends in the workplace,” says Dean of Faculty Dr. Caroline Solomon, who notes that these offerings are all interdisciplinary in nature.

Read on to find out more about these new options as described by some of the key players behind the offerings. And keep your eyes peeled for more about the new Liberal Studies degree in which students can combine complementary minors to create their own degree. 

Minor in Documentary Studies

Advancing the power of storytelling

Documentary storytelling is a craft that requires a keen eye and motivation to preserve a record of our human experiences. By pulling together training from across several disciplines, students can develop the skills they need to tell stories in new and creative ways. “The minor program allows students to explore the documentary process from multiple approaches – from research to creation to dissemination,” explains Dr. Jannelle Legg, G-’11, an Assistant Professor in History with a joint appointment in the Drs. John S. and Betty J. Schuchman Deaf Documentary Center.

The team at the Schuchman Deaf Documentary Center shares the expertise they have developed through their work, including projects highlighting the vibrant deaf communities of New York City, the unique cultures created by Deaf printers, and the history of eugenics in America. The Center is currently producing an NSF-funded film about the Deaf test subjects’ participation in the early years of NASA history.

In addition to an introductory course on documentary film and a capstone project, students will select four electives from a list that includes offerings from Art, Business, Communication Studies, History, Deaf Studies, Theatre, and English.

Center Director Dr. Brian H. Greenwald, ’96, says the minor will equip students to use their talents in a variety of fields upon graduation. “You’ll learn the art of storytelling through film or various exhibits, acquiring skills in research, media literacy, and some editing. You’ll develop a keen eye for capturing real-world narratives while gaining technical skills necessary in today’s marketplace,” he says.

“We have received a tremendous amount of interest from on and off-campus constituents about documenting and telling stories in Deaf history. Eventually, we hope that our students will become documentarians themselves!” says the Schuchman Center’s Zilvinas Paludnevicius, ’12. 

Click here to learn more about the new Documentary Studies minor. 

Minor in Criminal Justice

Being an agent of change

The Criminal Justice minor gives students insights into the policies and practices that fuel our legal system, and prepares them to effectively engage and create change. “This includes providing students with skills to think critically about the why and how we [as a society] punish offenders, the causes and consequences of crime and punishment, the emerging issues related to crime and justice, and the way in which empirical research can inform policy and practice,” explains Assistant Professor Dr. Erin Farley.

These skills will enable graduates to find successful and rewarding careers in areas that can directly impact the Deaf community. Farley points to the great need for bilingual and diverse deaf and hard-of-hearing professionals who can address the dearth of information, support, services, and advocacy for those in contact with the criminal justice system. 

Course requirements introduce students to an array of topics, such as how to define and measure crime, the role and behavior of law enforcement and policing in the U.S., and the controversy over the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of criminal justice, the list of elective choices includes courses offered in Sociology, Government, Psychology, and Social Work. These complementary major-minor pairings enhance a student’s career preparation and allow students to develop a secondary area of expertise.

Click here to learn more about the new Criminal Justice minor

Bachelor of Science in Data Science

Making sense out of data

Data scientists analyze and visualize data so it is digestible for people to make informed decisions. Their work can improve algorithms to boost a company’s productivity, judge the efficacy of marketing strategies, and identify potential problems that need to be addressed. There are various ways to approach these tasks, allowing for creativity and innovative practices.

Gallaudet has had a Data Science minor since 2021, led by Gallaudet’s experts in this field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data science is the 4th fastest-growing occupation in the nation with a median salary of $108,000. With the increased demand for data scientists, the logical next step for STAMP was to create a Bachelor of Science degree.

While the Data Science minor focuses on visualization and the basics of data science, the major includes more rigor, preparing students for advanced applications and graduate programs. It also encourages them to apply their skills across various fields like business, healthcare, public health, psychology, and deaf studies, so students can get the best of both worlds: strong analytical skills, which they can apply to an area they are personally passionate about.

Students get access to hands-on experiences, such as a recent data collection collaboration with the National Park Service. Students gathered GPS data tracing water drainage around the World War II Memorial to help determine why high levels of E. coli bacteria are present in the Tidal Basin. There are also frequent opportunities through the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)-Gallaudet Educational Partnership Agreement. On a recent field trip, students and faculty toured the NGA, met with recruiters, and interacted with deaf and hard-of-hearing NGA personnel for an inside look at their work.

Click here to learn more about the BS in Data Science.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Accounting Online Degree Completion Programs (ODCP), plus two new concentrations

Getting back into Business

The Business Program added two Bachelor of Science degrees to Gallaudet’s growing Online Degree Completion Program (ODCP): Accounting and Business Administration. Though the full program officially starts in the fall of 2025, a few online classes have already been rolled out for those who have met a minimum of 45 credits and are close to finishing up their degrees, and for Gallaudet graduates who want a second degree.

This past summer, one of these online classes was taught by Senior Lecturer in the Business Program, Hollie Fallstone, ’02 & G-’05, who was inspired by the level of commitment. “I saw how important academics in general and obtaining a college degree specifically are to each of my students. They have goals, they have dreams, and we can help make it happen for them. We can give them an opportunity that they wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to pursue,” she says. 

ODCP Business degrees are attractive to a range of students. Employees who may feel stuck can skill up to elevate their work in their current jobs. Some students live far away and moving to DC is not an option for them; this is a way to support students with families and non-traditional students. This also allows for increased student diversity in perspectives, life experience, background, and region, which enriches student interactions, and ultimately, the quality of learning. Aside from key due dates, the asynchronous structure allows each student to follow their own pace and schedule. “These programs are open 24/7, so you can juggle all the different parts of your life,” Fallstone says.

This level of flexibility is especially attractive to students who started the in-person program but had to withdraw due to financial or personal challenges. Based on early interest levels, program faculty expect several students to return to wrap up the few classes they have left to get their degrees and pursue new opportunities. The odds of those opportunities working out look good: over the past three years, 75% of Gallaudet’s business graduates find employment, while the remaining pursue further education.

On-campus students similarly have two new concentrations to get excited about – Hospitality and Event Management and esports Management, which were added this year to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration program. Both fields are undergoing exciting growth, making a variety of jobs available upon graduation. Through these concentrations, students learn experientially on campus with Gallaudet’s DeafSpace gaming arena and the Kellogg Conference Hotel or with off-campus partners in DC’s vibrant hospitality industry.

Click to learn more about the new ODCP in Business Administration and Accounting.

Certificate in Educational Neuroscience (CEN)

Exploring what’s happening in the brain 

Are you curious about the brain? Then you might be interested in diving into educational neuroscience, which looks at how we learn and process different kinds of information. The field encompasses neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science, linguistics, and education, and offers the chance to unlock secrets that can help future generations.

CEN offers a year-long introduction, which is a great way to prepare for entering a master’s or doctoral program. It gives students a realistic picture of what it’s like to study at that level by taking classes alongside Ph.D. students. They can also tailor some of their classes based on their interests.

“We wanted to create a program of study where students could benefit from additional educational neuroscience knowledge without necessarily studying the depth and breadth that is required for a doctoral degree,” explains Dr. Rachel Pizzie, CEN Coordinator. “I’ve met with many students over the years who are interested in studying neuroscience, psychology, and education but are unsure if they’re ready to commit to multiple years of high-level graduate study, and the Certificate in Educational Neuroscience (CEN) program is exactly the program I’d recommend to those students.” 

Students can take the CEN as a stand-alone program or choose to dual-enroll in another graduate-level program. This benefit of gaining additional educational neuroscience knowledge allows them to apply scientific research to understand how people learn in their home discipline. 

Pizzie notes that someone in an education or school psychology program could benefit from a deeper understanding of cognitive assessments of children, including behavioral biases of test administration, or how systems in the brain relate to reading and language function. They would then be able to find and understand additional research that might use neuroimaging to evaluate new interventions to improve reading in children, for instance.

If further graduate training is not in a student’s plan, the CEN is a great fit for educators, researchers, and professionals who want to apply cognitive neuroscience concepts in their fields.
Click here to learn more about the new Certificate in Educational Neuroscience.