About the Master of Arts in Deaf Education

The need for highly qualified educators of the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) is greater than ever.

The American Association for Employment in Education’s 2023–2024 report identified deaf education as an area of “considerable shortage.” Only 51 deaf education programs exist nationwide, with only five of the graduate programs providing a listening and spoken language focus. And 20 states offer no deaf education preparation program at all.

For over 60 years, Fontbonne University worked to close the workforce gap in deaf education, preparing educators with the knowledge and skills to help DHH children listen, talk, read, and thrive in their communities. Following Fontbonne’s closure in 2025, Butler University is proud to continue this vital work, drawing upon Fontbonne’s proven foundation to inform its own program launching in 2026. 

Butler’s distinct Master of Arts in Deaf Education program expands access by creating a pathway to certification that’s fully online. Housed in the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Department of the College of Communication, the curriculum is designed to prepare professionals to support DHH learners through auditory-based interventions. Program graduates will be eligible for the Indiana Department of Education’s “Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students” licensure and may also be eligible for licensure/certification in other states. The program will work closely with Butler’s College of Education to ensure a well-rounded, interdisciplinary foundation.

Partnerships

Service learning and community engagement are central to Butler’s educational approach. 

• Butler’s Master of Arts in Deaf Education will seek accreditation by the Council on Education of the Deaf in 2026.
• The program will be part of the OPTION Schools network, an association of school programs serving DHH children learning to listen and talk. 
• As a key partner, St. Joseph Hearing + Speech, based in both Indianapolis and St. Louis, will offer a wide range of field experience opportunities, allowing students to gain hands-on practice in early intervention, teletherapy, preschool, and itinerant settings. The organization has been instrumental in bringing Fontbonne’s program to Butler.
• Both St. Joseph Hearing + Speech and Fontbonne’s programs were founded and sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJs), whose generosity has helped bring access and inclusivity to classrooms nationwide.
• Butler partners with Hear Indiana, an Indianapolis-based program supporting families through clinical services, education, support, advocacy, and cutting-edge resources to make informed decisions about their child’s future.