Can I apply to enter any semester during the year?
Students are admitted to the Sign Language Education masters program once a year (Summer), with the program starting online in mid-May. If you want to start taking some courses, you can try to apply as a graduate special student. Space is extremely limited. For more information about being a graduate special student, please check this link.
I'm going to graduate from my college with my bachelor's degree the same month I'd like to start with Masters in Sign Language Education program, can I do that?
Graduate Admissions will need a letter from your college/university's Registrar's Office stating that you will be graduating and/or has completed the program requirements on a specific date, and that an official transcript will be sent as soon as grades are posted. If you are accepted in our program, you will receive a letter saying that you are accepted conditionally, until Gallaudet Graduate Admissions receives your official bachelor's degree transcript.
I have my ASL scores from a different organization. Will you accept those instead of an ASLPI level?
Unfortunately, to ensure consistency, reliability and validity across test scores of our applicants, we can only accept scores from one testing agency, and that is Gallaudet University's ASLPI tool.
But I can't afford to come to Washington, DC for my ASLPI interview. What can I do?
ASLPI interviews can be done via videophone! The interview will be recorded and then analyzed by their raters later, just like regular, in-person interviews. You are required to obtain a level of 4 or higher before you graduate, and the MASLED program is more than happy to schedule an ASLPI appointment for you while you are on campus!
I'm Deaf and I've been signing all my life, is that enough evidence to waive me from taking the ASLPI?
No, sorry. Just like everyone else needs to take the SAT, ACT, GRE, and more-- they've been speaking English all of their lives, right? The same goes for ASL. Everyone needs to take the ASLPI. ASLPI measures your ability to converse in ASL with little or no influence from other languages, including English, and that is often the reason a number of Deaf and hearing near-native/native applicants struggle with receiving an ASLPI level of 4 or above. Please check out samples of each level so you can get an idea what an interview looks like (and what is expected for a level of 4 or 5) here.
I've heard many of my friends failed the ASLPI. What can I do to prepare?
You can't "fail" the ASLPI. ASLPI evaluates your conversational proficiency in ASL, and gives you a level that corresponds to your skill level. The MASLED program happens to require a level of 4 or up for ASL teachers (and 3+ or up for teachers of other sign languages), so that's the minimum level you want to receive to graduate from the MASLED program. Also, here's some tips created by a MASLED faculty that may be helpful - check it out -->
I'm hearing and I sign. Can I apply?
Absolutely! We welcome all people from all walks of life to apply for the Masters in Sign Language Education program. To ensure everyone has the language proficiency to teach ASL, the MASLED program requires an ASL Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) level of 4 or up from everyone, and a level of 3+ or up for those teaching other signed languages (e.g. LSF, LSM, SASL, and so on) before graduation.
Can you please do the ASLPI interview with me instead of them?
Sorry, unfortunately no - the ASL Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) is a trademarked, copyrighted entity that is an entirely separate unit. The MASLED program is housed in the ASL & Deaf Studies department at Gallaudet University - which is an academic department that provides academic courses that leads to a degree from Gallaudet. The ASLPI is housed in a different department on campus. One of the many services they provide for the university and signing communities is the ASLPI. Their interviewers and raters are one of the world's top experts in analyzing and rating ASL skills, having received intensive and recurrent training in interviewing and rating the ASL skills of thousands people every year.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? CONTACT US TODAY AT MASLED@GALLAUDET.EDU