UNC Greensboro | Degrees & Programs | Bachelor's in Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services - Advocacy and Services for the Deaf

Bachelor's in Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services - Advocacy and Services for the Deaf

Dr. Julie Bost works with students to prepare IEPs

The Bachelor’s in Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services (IDEAS) in Advocacy and Services for the Deaf prepares students to become effective advocates, service providers, and allies for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals through a unique combination of language acquisition, cultural competency, community engagement, and professional preparation. Rather than focusing solely on communication skills or disability services, the program emphasizes understanding Deaf culture, and promoting accessibility across a variety of settings.

Bachelor’s in Advocacy and Services for the Deaf Program Distinctions

One of just two advocacy-specific undergraduate programs in the United States, the Advocacy and Services program has long-standing connections with Deaf communities throughout North Carolina. The program benefits from established expertise, experienced faculty, community partnerships, and a strong network of alumni working in advocacy professions. This concentration prepares students to meet the communication, educational, and human services needs of individuals from kindergarten through adulthood who are deaf or hard of hearing.

UNCG’s Advocacy and Services for the Deaf concentration is accredited/affiliated with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

The Student Experience in the B.S. in Advocacy and Services for the Deaf

Students in the Bachelor’s in Advocacy and Services track will be able to complete fieldwork and internships with schools, heathcare, government, and nonprofit organization. This program provides students the opportunity to develop proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) and gain a deeper understanding of Deaf culture and Deaf community perspectives. The curriculum emphasizes language acquisition, communication, and service delivery and allows students to learn how to identify barriers to participation.

UNCG has an ASL Lab located within the School of Education that IDEAS students can utilize. Students are also encouraged to participate in research opportunities with faculty members and doctoral students, study abroad, and attend conferences and professional develop experiences.

If you have completed an AAS degree, your credits will transfer on a course-by-course basis unless your degree is covered by a specific 2Plus program.

Applying to the Bachelor’s in Advocacy and Services for the Deaf Concentration

    • Signed and completed forms outlining Technical Standards, Dispositions and Program Requirements
    • Minimum GPA: 2.5 or higher
    • No prior ASL required, but ASL coursework is required in the program
    • Maintain overall GPA of 2.5 or higher
      • Earn B- (2.70) or higher in SES courses
    • Satisfactory progress on Dispositions Review each semester
    • Continued demonstration of required competencies outlined in the Technical Standards
    • Pass benchmark assessments
    • Achieve ASLPI score of 2.0 or higher (taken during ASL IV)

    Upon Graduating with An Advocacy and Services for the Deaf degree

    People in the position of advocate help members of the deaf community to be aware of their rights regardless of their hearing ability and how the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws allow them to self advocate. Graduates of the program work in public schools, with federal and state agencies, in human services, and with nonprofit organizations.

    Career paths include:

    • Deaf Services Specialist
    • Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
    • Disability Services Coordinator
    • Community Advocate
    • Parent Educator
    • Job Placement Specialist
    • Independent Living Counselor
    Virginia Madorin works with a young student in a classroom

    “The best part of the job is coaching, working with teachers who are working with groups of students and trying to improve their skill set. I teach them the pedagogy of deaf education that they maybe didn’t get in undergrad or graduate study.”

    – Virginia Madorin ’11, Office of Exceptional Children and co-director of the North Carolina DeafBlind Project

    Read More About Virginia’s Impact

    Advocacy and Services for the Deaf FAQs

    People need to be aware of their rights regardless of their hearing ability. Individuals who are D/deaf or hard of hearing are protected under the ADA and other laws that allow them to self-advocate. Oftentimes, vocational or school settings are not familiar about the rights of a Deaf, Deaf-Blind or hard of hearing person. Therefore, it is important for the advocate to help empower their clients to self-advocate in order to understand their rights.

    This is the only program of its kind at the undergraduate level in the southeastern United States that is specifically geared towards advocating and providing services to individuals who are Deaf, Deaf-blind or hard of hearing.

    Even though both concentrations involve working with D/deaf and hard of hearing individuals, each requires highly specialized skills and training. There will be occasions when an interpreter and advocate will be working together but with different goals and intentions. The interpreter is responsible for ensuring effective communication between individuals who use sign language and those who don’t. The advocate is responsible for ensuring that the rights of D/deaf and hard of hearing individuals are not being violated, that they have equal access and equal opportunities for work, education and communication in any setting as the rest of society.

    While both concentrations deal with communication, cultural and accessibility issues of D/deaf and hard of hearing individuals, they differ in the course loads and total number of semester hours. For example, most of the courses in the interpreting concentration are related to interpreting while the courses in advocacy involve social services/human services. Also, each of the concentrations has different requirements in the seminar and practicum course as well as in the internship course. 

    Yes, we have students who are D/deaf as well as hard of hearing in the program.

    Yes. Students in the Advocacy and Services concentration are required to take at least four levels of American Sign Language (ASL) in order to communicate with the members of the deaf community that they will be serving. The Program requires that students have a good proficiency in ASL and knowledge of other manual communication systems before internship placements. Our sign language courses are designed to help you meet this requirement and you will have access to our ASL Lab.

    Most of the required courses at this time are offered face-to-face; however, some courses may be offered in an online or hybrid format depending on the professor and the semester. It is best to check the course schedule for that semester/term.

    Want more information? Let’s get started!

    Loading...

    Program Details

    Degree Type: Bachelor's

    College/School: School of Education

    Program Type: Majors & Concentrations

    Class Type: In Person

    Catalog Name: Interpreting, Deaf Education and Advocacy Services, B.S. Advocacy and Services for the Deaf Concentration

    Apply Now

    Learn More About the Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services (IDEAS) Programs

    View UNCG Catalog

    Similar Degree Offerings

    Contact Us

    headshot of Sam Parker
    Samuel Parker, MFA, CSC, ASLTA
    Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services (IDEAS)
    336.256.1217 (voice)
    336.543.2139 (video phone)
    sdparker@uncg.edu

    Quick Links