Preliminary California Education Specialist: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher Preparation Program (DHH)

A Preliminary Education Specialist credential program with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Authorization is also offered through our partnership with the John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing credential authorizes services for individuals birth through 22.

THE MSMU/JTC DHH Graduate Program offers a Professional Development School model where graduate students are immersed in the daily services offered to children and families at John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles. The program is designed for teachers who want to specialize in Auditory-Verbal education, which focuses on listening and spoken language. There are two program of study options: 1) a one-year full time graduate student program at the JTC and MSMU campuses in Los Angeles, and 2) a two-year – Distance Learning: Working Professionals program. The two-year option requires concurrent employment in a Listening and Spoken Language "Center of Excellence" as outlined in the Alexander Graham Bell Association’s "Components of a Quality Auditory-Oral Program." The Distance Learning Program requires two summer residencies of four to five weeks each at the John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles. For additional information, go to www.jtc.org and click on "Professional Education."

Coursework involves 46 units and 16 courses.

Experiences in classroom settings using listening and spoken language,

Practicum experiences in a Reggio Emilia preschool setting,

Participation in Auditory-Verbal therapy and inclusive educational settings,

Hands-on fieldwork with parents and their children with hearing loss (birth to age five) and,

Extensive experience with children who use cochlear implants.

Program Stipulations include:

1. Each course in the program is a pre-requisite or co-requisite to all others. A grade of B or better must be earned in each course to be able to maintain status in the program and to move forward to the next term or course. 

2. If a course is not passed, the student may take the course again when it is offered in the regular school calendar. The program runs in a cohort model, so each course may only be offered once a year. The student may not enroll in any other courses until a grade of B or better has been earned in the course that was failed. The student may take a leave of absence until the next time the course is offered.

3. A course may only be taken twice. If the course is not passed on the second try, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program, and will be academically disqualified.

Admission Requirements

Application Process

1. Application form
2. Application fee
3. Application essay
4. Official transcripts from all colleges attended.
5. Official examination score reports (see below)
6. Two letters of recommendation from academic sources
7. Interview
8. Documentation of negative TB status

Academic Requirements and Prerequisites

1. Bachelor’s degree from accredited institution
2. GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate and graduate coursework
3. Fieldwork in educational settings, including with children with hearing loss

Admission Examinations

1. Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

• Minimum score of 1000 (old GRE)
• 150 Verbal and 140 Quantitative (new GRE)
• Required for students without a master’s degree

1. PRAXIS exam results (or other credential test for out-of-state candidates)
2. TOEFL for candidates for whom English is a second language

• 237 Computer
• 580 Paper
• 83 Internet

Admission Examinations for Candidates Seeking California Credential

A. Registration for the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) or CSET: Writing Skills Assessment.

B. Registration for the California Subject Matter Examination for Teachers (CSET): One subtest related to Multiple Subjects.

C. Application for the California Certificate of Clearance