Academics
Areas of Study

Overview

Established in 2020, the Center for Black Deaf Studies (CBDS) operates as an outreach center for teaching and learning about the Black Deaf experience and provides easy access to a range of useful content resources.

CBDS will consist of offices for its professional staff, a computer lab, a digital library, and a smart classroom. It operates under the leadership of Dr. Carolyn McCaskill, professor in the Deaf Studies program.

CBDS embraces the Black American Sign Language (ASL) and Black Deaf Studies, and the Black Deaf experience.

The Center for Black Deaf Studies (CBDS) was established in 2020. The Center will operate as an outreach center for teaching and learning about the Black Deaf experience and provide easy access to a range of useful content resources.

CBDS will consist of offices for its professional staff, a computer lab, digital library, and a smart classroom. It operates under the leadership of Dr. Carolyn McCaskill, professor in the Deaf Studies program.

The CBDS aligns with the University’s Mission of providing a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares its graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world.

Goals for The Center for Black Deaf Studies

The CBDS aligns with the University’s Mission of providing a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English. Gallaudet maintains a proud tradition of research and scholarly activity and prepares its graduates for career opportunities in a highly competitive, technological, and rapidly changing world.

  1. Offer a minor focusing on the histories and cultures of African Americans with an appreciation for the historical, social and political influences of Africa and the African diaspora.

  2. Sponsor cultural events including dialogues, and celebrations.

  3. Connect students to and/or create research opportunities in collaboration with affiliated faculty and campus partners.

  4. Provide an environment of care and support for GU students, faculty and staff and community members

  5. Employ staff members committed to student advocacy, advising and mentorship centered on positively impacting student retention and graduation

  6. Monitor, coordinate, support, and encourage research in the community.

  7. Raise funds to support programs for the center

Minor in Black Deaf Studies

Starting this fall 2022, our undergraduate students may consider the minor in Black Deaf Studies. The courses includes:

  • Black ASL
  • Black Deaf People Studies
  • Black Deaf History: 1818 – 1890
  • Black Deaf Seminar
  • Orature & Literature in the Black Deaf Community

Featured in USA Today

“Black, deaf and proud: Gallaudet University embraces commitment to diversity with student center”

This article from USA Today discusses the Center for Black Deaf Studies, Black ASL, and the Black Deaf experience, while highlighting the voices of key leaders of the Center and the Black Deaf community.

Donate

Center For Black Deaf Studies | Gallaudet University
Please join us in donating to the Center for Black Deaf Studies Fund.

Programs

Black Deaf Studies Symposium
The Center for Black Deaf Studies (CBDS) is pleased to host the first-ever symposium intended to introduce the emerging field of Black Deaf Studies. This symposium will also introduce an emerging cadre of Black Deaf scholars and offer scholars in Black Studies and Deaf Studies...

Projects

Program Outcomes

Black Student Union

The goal of BSU is to encourage positive educational, cultural, personal, and social well-being of students of color at Gallaudet University. In addition, our goal is to educate communities about Deaf African-American and African-American cultures and promote good relationships between other cultures and lifestyles. Anyone is welcome to join BSU regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or physical challenge.

Black Student Union is supported by National Black Deaf Association (NBDA) is the leading advocacy organization of Black Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in the United States.

Computer Lab

Gallaudet is committed to providing as much support as we can to you wherever you are. If you have any technical issues, questions, needs, please contact us via the IT Service Desk. If you do not have access to a computer or to Wi-Fi, we can help. Faculty and staff can also, with consultation with their budget unit heads, bring their office computers home. More information can be found in the previous link.

ALLSTAR Program

The ALLSTAR program strives to strengthen comprehensive learning, cultivate academic skills, foster independence, confidence and inspire lifelong learning of deaf, hard of hearing, culturally and linguistically diverse, students of color, and other marginalized students.

The ALLSTAR program does this by offering mentoring and tutoring services in a collaborative, student-driven, learning environment that promotes student success, college/career readiness, enriching the student experience, and providing tools to achieve students’ academic and life goals.

Peer Mentor Program

Student Success's Peer Mentorship Program is designed to assist students in their social, personal, and academic acclimation to Gallaudet University. When students enter Gallaudet University as first-year students, they will be required to take the GSR 101: First-Year Seminar (FYS) course. In this course, a peer mentor is assigned.

Support

Contact Us

Center for Black Deaf Studies (CBDS)

Monday
8:00 am-4:30 pm
Tuesday
8:00 am-4:30 pm
Wednesday
8:00 am-4:30 pm
Thursday
8:00 am-4:30 pm
Friday
8:00 am-4:30 pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

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