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ASL-English Bilingual Education: Master of Arts

Program Overview

Education Studies (EDS) at UC San Diego offers a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with an emphasis in American Sign Language–English Bilingual Education of Deaf Children.

Candidates who complete this teacher training program also qualify for the California Preliminary Education Specialist Credential in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Instruction and the Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a Bilingual Authorization in American Sign Language for elementary and alternative education teachers.

This is the only program in the nation that offers both teaching credentials together with the Bilingual Authorization for Multiple Subjects.

ASL Requirement

In keeping with its aim of preparing teachers who can meet the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children from diverse language and cultural backgrounds, EDS requires fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) for admission to the program.

Teacher Preparation

EDS’s teacher training program prepares educators to work in a variety of school settings, including residential schools and local public school classrooms serving deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

The program recognizes that deaf and hard-of-hearing children benefit from teachers who are bilingual and who understand the role of culture in human development.

Credential Information

Important: Preliminary credentials are valid for five years. You may request an extension from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

Recipients of Preliminary Credentials must earn a Clear Credential by completing a Commission-approved General Education Induction Program or a Commission-approved Clear Credential Program. These programs are not offered by Education Studies at UC San Diego.

Admissions

Admissions Update: Admissions for Summer 2025 and Summer 2026 have been suspended while we review the current MA-ASL program.

We are planning several structural updates to our highly recognized MA-ASL program. Updates about a potential Summer 2027 application cycle will be posted as soon as information becomes available.

Please check back periodically for updated admission requirements. If you have questions, contact Dr. Gabrielle Jones at gajones@ucsd.edu or VP 858-333-8966.

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements Checklist (Google Doc)

Thank you for your interest in the M.A. ASL-English Bilingual Education and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Program at UC San Diego. Please read the application checklist carefully before beginning the online application, as several requirements are unique to this program.

Questions about the application process may be directed to Giselle Van Luit.

Important: If you were previously admitted as a graduate student at UC San Diego to complete a master's or Ph.D. degree and attended at least one quarter of graduate coursework, please contact Giselle Van Luit to request instructions for submitting a readmission petition. You must still complete the online application and gather all required materials by the application deadline. However, instead of submitting the application and paying the application fee, you should contact Giselle for additional instructions.

When Admissions Reopen

The application link below is provided for future reference only. Please do not submit an application unless a new admission cycle has been officially announced on this page.

UC San Diego Graduate Application

Additional Resources

Coursework

Coursework

This program of study consists of courses in bilingual education theory, methods, and applications to deaf education in addition to intensive classroom practice.

During the second year of study, the focus is on designing, implementing, and evaluating a research-based project. This integration of research and practice is central to the goal of the M.A. program to develop teachers as researchers.

The complete program of study includes Professional Preparation coursework and the Master of Arts specific course requirements. Both must be completed to receive the teaching credentials and the Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning: Bilingual Education (ASL-English).

Please see an EDS advisor for a typical course of study that includes all required courses.

International Applicants / Non U.S. Residents

Special information for applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents

For an application to be considered for review, international applicants must complete the requirements listed below prior to submitting the application. These items are required by the State of California in order to participate in a teacher preparation program and receive a teaching credential. These requirements are considered part of our regular admission process. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable.

Certificate of Clearance

If you are an international applicant on a student visa, a non-U.S. citizen, or a non-U.S. permanent resident and you are admitted into the M.Ed./Credential Program or the MA-ASL Program, please note the following: in order to be eligible for student teaching, all applicants must obtain a Certificate of Clearance through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

The Certificate of Clearance application requires a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). For information on obtaining an SSN or ITIN, visit the IRS Taxpayer Identification Number information page. All EDS candidates must obtain a Certificate of Clearance before the application deadline to be eligible for admission. Learn more about the Certificate of Clearance.

Student teaching is mandatory for EDS students in order to complete the required coursework and obtain a teaching credential. If a student is not able to begin student teaching, they will need to withdraw from the program. Applicants who are not eligible to obtain a U.S. Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number should not apply to this program. If you have questions, please contact the EDS Admissions Coordinator.

Resources

Program Cost/Funding Opportunities

Resources

Research at UC San Diego

The University of California, San Diego has long been a site of new ideas and important research on American Sign Language and the culture of deaf people in the United States. UC San Diego, therefore, offers many resources for teacher preparation in bilingual, multicultural education for deaf children. Among these resources are the Research Program for Language and Literacy, which is currently focusing on reading and writing development in deaf children, several other research projects on language, cognition, and culture, and the UC San Diego Linguistics Language Program’s ASL activities.

Student Resources

Student Handbooks

Teacher Resources

Financial Support

Tax Resources

Questions? Please contact your admissions coordinator.

MA-ASL admissions coordinator: Giselle Van Luit, gvanluit@ucsd.edu