World's first masters degree in Deafhood Studies

The book cover of 'Understanding Deaf Culture — In Search of Deafhood' by Paddy Ladd

Press release issued: 24 March 2009

Deaf and hearing communities have changed rapidly over the past 30 years. To embrace these changes the world's first Masters degree in Deafhood Studies has been launched.

The MSc in Deafhood Studies, run by the University of Bristol's Centre for Deaf Studies (CDS), will offer people the opportunity to study the Deafhood theory.

The Deafhood concept was developed at CDS by Dr Paddy Ladd and colleagues and in only five years has rapidly spread around the world.

The course will focus on the languages, cultures, arts and social structures of Sign Language Peoples, using the most up-to-date research information presented from Deaf communities' own (Deafhood) perspectives.

Dr Ladd, Senior Lecturer, said: "It's great we are taking the lead once again to offer the world's first postgraduate degree in Deafhood. CDS was Europe's first academic institution to concentrate solely on research and education that aims to benefit the Deaf community.

"The MSc programme welcomes both d/Deaf and hearing people from around the world. We hope the course will increase awareness of the positive contributions that Sign Language Peoples offer to the whole of society."

The course will include the study of six units from the following together with a dissertation:

Deafhood Philosophy and Social Theory (Introduction to Deafhood)
Sign Linguistics
Deaf Culture and Deafhood
Research Methods for Deaf Studies
Bilingual Development in Deaf Children at Home and at School
Deaf Wellness and Development
Deaf History and Deafhood
Sign Language Literature and Folklore

People can also work towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Deafhood Studies or a Postgraduate Certificate in Deafhood Studies. In addition, many of the units within the masters programme will be offered as short courses as part of CDS' widening participation strategy.

The MSc in Deafhood Studies can be taken full-time over 12 months or part-time over two years. The closing date for applications is June 30 with the programme starting in September 2009.

Further details about the new programme can be found at www.bristol.ac.uk/deaf/

Further information

The Centre for Deaf Studies (CDS) opened in 1978 and was Europe's first academic institution to concentrate solely on research and education that aims to benefit the Deaf community. The majority of teaching staff on the programme are Deaf and all tutors sign. Students at the CDS will study within a bilingual environment, with an emphasis on acquiring fluency in British Sign Language (BSL).

Dr Paddy Ladd is a Senior Lecturer and MSc co-ordinator in the Centre for Deaf Studies. He completed his PhD in Deaf Culture at Bristol University in 1998 and has written, edited and contributed to numerous publications in the field. Both his writings and his Deaf activism have received international recognition, and in 1998 he was awarded the Deaf Lifetime Achievement Award by the Federation of Deaf People, for activities that have extended the possibilities for Deaf communities both in the UK and worldwide. He has also received two awards from the British Deaf Association, including one for services to Deaf education.

Please contact Joanne Fryer for further information.