Undergraduate Viewbook

Shape your

99 90%+

ACRE CAMPUS IN THE HEART OF WASHINGTON, D.C. INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT RATE

1/3 35+

GALLAUDET STUDENTS ARE EMERGING SIGNERS!

FIELDS OF STUDY

BISON BITES

97% 500+ 24,000

EMPLOYMENT OR GRADUATE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT RATE AMONG RECENT GRADS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING FACULTY & STAFF ALUMNI ACROSS IN 80 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE

6:1

STUDENTFACULTY RATIO

7

MAJOR RESEARCH CENTERS

DEAF FRIENDLY IN THE DISTRICT From ASL-interpreted live events to open-captioned movie screenings and baristas who know the sign for Mocha Macchiato, D.C. is the most deaf friendly city in the world!

FACULTY / ALUMNI

SEAN MAIWALD, ’16 If your dream is to advocate for the deaf community – to impact change on a public policy level – then Gallaudet is for you.

No other university can match our partnerships and relationships with Capitol Hill. Plus they’re in our backyard!

LACE UP! WE’RE WALKING TO: Signing Starbucks on H-Street

NoMa Neighborhood nightlife and trendy outdoor dining

Deaf-owned Crepe Crazy, the yummiest and most inclusive crepe shop in D.C.

Union Station

The U.S. Capitol

Capitol One Arena

Smithsonian Museums

THEN & NOW ORIGIN STORY

It doesn’t get more prestigious than President Abraham Lincoln personally signing Gallaudet University’s charter in 1864.

“

It’s time for deaf and hard of hearing people to enjoy a fair chance in the race of life.”

Now, just minutes from the national monument bearing his name, Gallaudet stands alone as the worldwide leader in deaf and bilingual education.

ASL’s TRUE HOME From broken English to America’s 3rd most-used language: Transformation happens here.

If mastery begins with mentorship, there’s no better place to learn ASL than Gallaudet. William Stokoe, the “Father of Sign Language linguistics” was a longtime GU professor and created ASL’s first written notation on our hallowed grounds.

HIGH

PROFILE TECH TOUCH

Today Gallaudet stands alone at the frontier of deaf scholarship and research. Many of the most consequential innovations of our time can be traced to 800 Florida Avenue.

From creating 3D avatars with sign language to partnering with Apple Inc. to launch deaf friendly accessibility features in Apple Maps, to pioneering the first-ever 5G football helmet, there’s truly no place in the world like Gallaudet University.

MAJORS & MINORS Our Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree options include new, in-demand programs such as data science, risk management and insurance, and public health. We also offer several pre-professional programs.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ACCESSIBILITY, MATHEMATICS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH Programs of Study Data Science Biology

Government Government - Law Specialization

Art and Media Design

Sociology

Art History

Criminal Justice

Digital Media Graphic Design Photography

Mathematics

Studio Art

Public Health Pre-Health Professional Tracks With 1:1 Advising Pre-Medicine Pre-Dental Pre-Pharmacy Pre-Veterinary

Deaf Studies LANGUAGE, EDUCATION AND CULTURE Programs of Study International Studies English Interpretation and Translation Interdisciplinary Spanish American Sign Language Linguistics Writing

CIVIC LEADERSHIP, BUSINESS, AND SOCIAL CHANGE Programs of Study Business Administration Risk Management & Insurance Accounting Social Work

Programs of Study

Communication Studies

Information Technology

Chemistry

ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Education Spanish Disaster and Emergency Planning

Black Deaf Studies History Documentary Studies Philosophy Ethics Theatre Arts Dance

HUMAN SERVICES AND SCIENCES Programs of Study Psychology Physical Education & Recreation Athletic Coaching Sports Management

PROGRAMS OF STUDY Data Science Biology Information Technology Mathematics Public Health Chemistry Pre-Health Professional Tracks With 1:1 Advising Pre-Medicine Pre-Dental Pre-Pharmacy Pre-Veterinary

THE SCHOOL OF

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ACCESSIBILITY, MATHEMATICS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH

HARD SKILLS HARD SCIENCE EASY COMMUNICATION Place our graduate outcomes under the microscope. STEM students shine here.

From aspiring data scientists to doctors, chemists to coders, students love our world-class STEM labs and classrooms that have been expertly designed for visual learning and communication.

The School of Science, Technology, Accessibility, Mathematics, and Public Health is home to some of the most decorated faculty members and researchers on campus.

Take Dr. Raja Kushalnagar . When he’s not keynote addressing the National Security Agency or creating ASL accessibility software for Microsoft Studio, you can usually find him chatting with his students in Memorial Hall – eager to get them involved in his pioneering AI research.

Or if software isn’t your thing, perhaps you’d be more interested in Gallaudet’s one-of-a-kind Visual Language and Visual Learning lab, which is home to some of the most sophisticated neuroimaging systems and techniques in the world! Here, faculty and students partner to create bilingual storybooks, 3D avatars, and ASL learning games in virtual reality – just to name a few.

YOUR STEM SCHOLARSHIP AWAITS! The National Science Foundation has been so inspired by the quality of Gallaudet’s STAMP faculty that they awarded a $1.4 million grant in 2023 to ensure more barriers are broken and doors opened for deaf and hard of hearing students via the S-STEM Scholarship.

If you have a financial need and plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, or IT – make sure to apply!

FACULTY / ALUMNI

DR. CHRISTOPHER HAYES ’12 Gallaudet was a wonderful place to begin my mathematical career. My foundational knowledge was so strengthened through my discussion with peers and. I’ve never found a place as comfortable or accessible as Gallaudet for discussing mathematical ideas – and I’ve taken courses at four universities.

When I arrived at GU I’d planned to be a high school math teacher, but great encouragement and support from the faculty made me realize I could go on to earn a doctorate, which is exactly where I am now! And it’s all thanks to Gallaudet.

ALUMNI

AFOMEYA MEKONNEN, ’16 I received enormous support from GU faculty and staff during my time on campus. In addition to the formal classroom education, Gallaudet facilitated internships and opportunities to research alongside their amazing faculty, which truly opened doors for me.

I’m now in my third year of pharmacy school and am immensely grateful for the way Gallaudet prepared me!

PROGRAMS OF STUDY Business Administration Risk Management & Insurance Accounting Social Work Government Government - Law Specialization Communication Studies Sociology Criminal Justice

ALUMNI

LEAH KATZ-HERNANDEZ, ’10 President Biden appointed Gallaudet alumna Leah KatzHernandez as the first-ever deaf person to serve on his Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics.

Previously she held positions within President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s communications office. Throughout her career in the tech industry and in the public sector, Katz-Hernandez has consistently used her specialty knowledge to urge equal access for the deaf, disability, and LatinX-Hispanic Communities.

THE SCHOOL OF

CIVIC LEADERSHIP, BUSINESS, AND SOCIAL CHANGE

CALLING ALL CHANGE AGENTS! Assert your influence with policy makers, think tanks, nonprofit leaders, and influencers–right in our backyard.

Google Maps says it’ll take you about 30 minutes to walk the 1.6 miles from Gallaudet’s graduation stage to Capitol Hill.

Of course, most Gallaudet grads aren’t walking.

Our dreamers, advocates, and policy experts seemingly sprint off stage directly into the halls of Congress and other 3-letter governmental agencies to shape a positive future for the deaf community.

Most of the time these students grow their academic roots at the School of Civic Leadership, Business, and Social Change. But government and public policy are far from the only offerings.

Gallaudet offers bachelor’s degrees in business administration, risk management and insurance, accounting, communication studies and more.

Recent graduates from these programs have gone on to climb the corporate ladder into lucrative careers at companies like Microsoft, Merrill Lynch, and Philadelphia Insurance Companies–just to name a few.

For the more entrepreneuriallyminded students, this school routinely sends students to the Gallaudet Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute’s BisonTank,, a Shark Tank-inspired competition that mentors and even funds aspiring business owners with an idea.

In addition to the competition, BisonTank recruits heavy hitters from a variety of industries to conduct hands-on workshops with Gallaudet students. Last year’s highlights included: Brian Atkins of Chase Bank delivering a session on money management and home ownership; Dina Rae Padden, ’98 & G-’06 of Gather & Trade educating students about cryptocurrency use cases beyond trading; and Rosa Lee Timm of Communication Service for the Deaf coaching students in how to raise venture capital funds.

MEET

DAVINA MAYOR

Davina Mayor was five years old when her family moved from Nigeria to the U.K. “My parents wanted me to have more opportunities and access to better education,” explains Mayor, who continues to pursue the same goals today. That is why she decided to come to Gallaudet, where she is a first-year student studying Information Technology and Business.

She combined all of these life experiences into a business pitch, which won first place in last year’s BisonTank competition. Mayor developed a website called “Signscape,” which will help teach children British Sign Language (BSL) through videos and photos featuring a diverse group of Deaf people.

She hopes seeing BIPOC role models will boost young people’s self esteem and encourage them to learn more.

In addition to launching Signscape, Mayor will be spending the summer interning with Microsoft through the 2024 New Technologists program.

“My goal is to fully immerse myself in the dynamic environment at Microsoft. I’m looking forward to the hands-on training with senior engineers and exposure to various tools and programming languages,” she says.

“Ultimately, I hope to gain valuable skills and experiences that will help me succeed in my future career.”

PROGRAMS OF STUDY International Studies English Interpretation and Translation Interdisciplinary Spanish

ALUMNI

American Sign Language

MISSIE MILLS, G-’09

Linguistics Writing Education

My professors taught me to constantly seek to improve myself and my skills, and never accept second-best. I graduated with a solid understanding of interpretation history, models, and current research in the field.

I also had a clear path to embark upon my career as a full-time, professional interpreter.

Spanish Disaster and Emergency Planning

Living in the dorms and going to athletic events, research presentations, theatrical performances, and simply hanging out in Rathskellar (student union) was a game-changer for my overall experience!

ALUMNI

DANIEL MAIER, ’10 & G-’19 The Linguistics program has been tremendously beneficial for my professional development.

Attentive faculty members, an all-signing environment, and collaboration with my peers made my experience incredibly rewarding!

THE SCHOOL OF

LANGUAGE, EDUCATION AND CULTURE

BILINGUALISM IS A SUPERPOWER World-class Interpreters and linguists are shaped here.

Scholars can debate whether Gallaudet University was the birthplace of American Sign Language.

What can’t be debated is our place in the signing ecosystem now: We’re at the center of the world.

Students in our School of Language, Education, and Culture benefit from a rich bilingual - and sometimes, trilingual – interdisciplinary learning environment with exemplary faculty members.

The SLEC offers bachelor’s degrees in the following disciplines: American Sign Language, Interpretation and Translation, Linguistics, English, International Development, Spanish, and Education.

Our Education professors are laserfocused on preparing students to pass licensure exams and enjoy fulfilling careers in the classroom. Future educators can pursue specializations in Early Childhood, Elementary Education, or Secondary Education.

Interpretation and Translation is the other most popular major within the SLEC. As the number of career openings is

expected to grow another 20% in the next five years as the Baby Boomer generation exits the workforce, there is no better time than now to pursue this wonderful vocation.

And no better place.

Gallaudet’s Translation Lab is a gamechanger for interpreting majors, serving as a collaborative sandbox where students benefit from the experiences of mentors, deaf language experts, and their peers. Faculty leaders implement a three-tiered, scaffolded approach to ensure quality: The students always take the first stab.

Then, mentors work line by line beside them so students can observe how experienced interpreters work; and lastly, the work is verified by a Deaf language expert. Hosted weekly, this lab leverages a village approach that energizes and educates young interpreters.

The result? Some of the most prominent translation work in the nation’s capital was created by GU students, including exhibits at the D.C. Public Library and even the Smithsonian.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY Art and Media Design Art History Digital Media Graphic Design Photography Studio Art Deaf Studies Black Deaf Studies History Documentary Studies Philosophy Ethics Theatre Arts Dance

“

Here, students learn how to build their brand and promote their careers as artists and designers. It’s nice to have a deaf ecosystem where students can present their work. I think the audience will be potential clients for these students.”

Professor Mava

_

THE SCHOOL OF

ART AND HUMANITIES

YOU MATTER HERE Where diversity is celebrated, inclusion is lived, and creativity is unleashed.

When Sydney Block (’27), Kaitlyn Ruble (’25), and August Bird (’26) first toured Gallaudet, they probably never dreamed of having their artwork featured 20 feet high, towering over a major campus thoroughfare.

An adjacent mural painted by Etasha Stone, another GU student, uses two rainbow butterflies, hands in multiple skin tones, and big bold letters to perfectly encapsulate Gallaudet’s diverse, inclusive ethos: “You Matter Here.”

Deaf and hard of hearing students from our School of Arts and Humanities shine across a number of liberal arts disciplines: Art and Media Design, Deaf Studies, History, Philosophy and Religion, and Theatre and Dance.

With minors in Digital Media, Graphic Design, and Photography among others, the Arts and Humanities faculty are known for helping students transform their creative pursuits into real-world application and careers.

Gallaudet’s endearingly branded “Tinkerlab” fosters that transformation, playing home to a suite of cuttingedge tools and services for young artists including a digital imaging studio, 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, sewing machines, 3D Magic Touch Screens, and even a virtual reality space.

Only thing missing? Your creativity!

FASHION DESIGN CLASS HOSTS RUNWAY SHOW Wearing a sequined silver top, neon green leggings, and a wild wig of black hair, Professor Mava (Manuel Vazquez, ’06) welcomed a crowd to “Holy Sew,” a fashion show featuring the work his students created this semester in Art 495.01, “Special Topics: Fashion Design.”

“Gallaudet has tremendous potential in this field,” says Mava, a sculptor with a strong interest in fashion theory, history, and sustainability. I’ve been blown away by what my students have 3D printed on fabrics.”

Audience members and judge Zoila Goya, 2023 Miss Virginia, were treated to 48 different looks, including a tank top

armored in bottle caps, a hoodie reimagined with oversized denim sleeves, and a slinky red dress paired with a “Star Wars”-esque hood and belt. Students were instructed to “upscale” three existing garments into a single new one and learn how to do a pattern cutting, which involves precisely measuring a design so it will work in 3D on a human body.

“We forget that clothing is basically sculpture,” Mava said.

A highlight earlier in the semester was a visit from guest presenter Justin Dougan-LeBlanc, an accomplished deaf fashion designer who was a finalist on “Project Runway.”

“He was amazed to see how quickly Gallaudet students picked up the field,” Mava said.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY Psychology Physical Education & Recreation Athletic Coaching Sports Management

RESEARCH

CREATING BETTER OUTCOMES FOR DEAF INDIVIDUALS Our community deserves equal representation in health research Faculty from the School of Human Services and Sciences routinely bring current undergraduate students into their groundbreaking research.

Currently, Gallaudet faculty and staff are exploring how to: Reduce bias against applicants in employment settings Ensure deaf populations are included in current patient-reported outcomes via ASL and English, which will improve treatment models in public health Address the gap in National Institutes of Health Reporting for deaf patient outcomes across physical, mental, and social health domains.

THE SCHOOL OF

HUMAN SERVICES AND SCIENCES

HAPPY MINDS, HEALTHY BODIES Psychology and Physical Education majors lead in post-pandemic world.

Research shows that deaf and hard of hearing children’s mental health needs are underserved.

Deaf children are at greater risk for trauma exposure than their hearing peers, which creates a dire need for mental health professionals with the skills and linguistically accessible treatments to serve our community.

Enter the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child Resilience Center.

SCHOOL DIRECTOR

DR. DANIEL KOO Our psychology students gain research experience, critical and analytical thinking skills, and a deep understanding of behavior, ethics, and diversity that can be tailored to a variety of career objectives.

In 2022, the School of Human Services and Sciences and Dr. Lori Day, a professor in our worldclass psychology program, was awarded a $3 million grant to establish a treatment center geared toward improving outcomes for traumatized deaf children, adolescents, and their families.

If this work pulls at your heartstrings, consider pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology from the School of Human Services and Sciences.

Many undergraduates who are passionate about research and theory go on to receive their Master’s in counseling, clinical psychology, school psychology, speech language pathology, or early intervention studies from Gallaudet.

FROM

CAP & GOWN TO THE CORNER OFFICE Gallaudet Alumni Are Always Workforce Ready Imagine owning a key that unlocks every door to the deaf community–an all-access pass to deaf leaders in business, technology, education, and public policy. A key shared by 23,000 graduates from 80 countries around the world.

That’s a Gallaudet diploma.

THE BEST PART? They want to help you find a job when you graduate.

Every year, Gallaudet’s Office of Career Services hosts employer networking sessions, classroom visits, and mock interviews with marquee organizations from across the United States.

EMPLOYER

LESLIE ASAKA

DELL TECHNOLOGIES SERVICES We recently recruited two Gallaudet University graduates, both of whom were outstanding. The Dell leadership team looks forward to our continued relationship!

Featured Office of Career Services Partners McDonald’s Corporation Apple Inc Dell Technologies Services The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency The U.S. Secret Service Alaska Airlines U.S. Department of Agriculture The World Wildlife Fund JBG Smith U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

97%

OF RECENT GALLAUDET ALUMNI ARE ALREADY EMPLOYED OR PURSUING A MASTER’S DEGREE

DIVERSE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES AS UNIQUE AS...YOU! There are many ways to be deaf.

And all are celebrated here.

With a faculty-to-student ratio of 8:1, you’re never just a number at Gallaudet.

“

I had a challenging experience in a hearing college without interpreters.

Gallaudet’s allowed my to interact directly with my professors – a true gift. I’m now happily employed as a practicing pharmacist!”

Amele Habtemichael, ’16

But beyond that, Gallaudet University is the only college in the world designed with deaf and hard of hearing students in mind. Here, you’ll enjoy: U-Shaped Class & Lounge Seating

Translucent windows & doors

100% Interpreter Availability

Notetaking service

Visual Emergency Systems

Outstanding CART services

Conversation-friendly ramps instead of stairs

That hyper personal level of support is extended to your academic journey as well. Here you’ll receive: Dedicated Academic Advisor Free Writing Support & Tutoring Free Research and Reference Supports Peer Mentor Program Immersive Supports for Emerging Signers (breakout image of JumpStart) Access to 500+ deaf and hard of hearing faculty members

CALLING ALL EMERGING SIGNERS! Worried you’re not fluent enough in ASL to attend Gallaudet?

Don’t be!

Our summer JumpStart program is designed to give emerging signers the foundation they need to be successful.

Immerse yourself on campus with other new signers, and remember: one-third of Gallaudet students are new to ASL!

ALUMNI

STEPHANIE WEISS, ’14 & G-’16

It’s such an awesome idea to bring students together at JumpStart who know little or no ASL at all. I immediately recognized this experience would be transformational for me at Gallaudet. I hit the ground running.

What is JumpStart?

Designed for emerging signers 4-week residential program before fall classes Free to attend Meet other Gallaudet-bound students Explore D.C. and acclimate to living on campus

ALUMNI

CAS MASTROPAOLO, ’24 Some people think Gallaudet is only a deaf school but that’s not at all the case. Everyone benefits from the signing community here. Direct communication has certainly transformed my life.

Gallaudet is truly a special place.

BISON

ATHLETICS Opponents who pencil in victories over our deaf student-athletes better have their erasers handy. @GallaudetBison

40+

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

410

ALL-CONFERENCE STUDENT ATHLETES

212

NCAA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS

Countless unforgettable moments for BISON FANS

BUFF & BLUE VARSITY SPORTS Basketball Cheerleading* Cross Country Disc Golf* Esports Football Men’s Soccer MotionZ Majorette*

We’re the Home of the Huddle. Here, you’ll see so much more than coaches calling plays in ASL. You’ll see passion. Commitment.

Lifelong bonds.

Pickleball* Softball STUNT Swimming Track & Field Volleyball Women’s Flag Football* Women’s Triathlon

YOU’LL SEE CHAMPIONS.

And you’ll smile knowing that when our state-of-the-art, full visual access facilities are packed to the brim with Bison fans–there’s no place in the world like Gallaudet University.

* club

AVERAGE U.S. PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

$20,634

Annual Tuition & Fees

$46,700

$16,158

Room & Board

$14,120

24/7 Interpreter Availability

LESS DEBT THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE

40%

LOWER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE

DeafSpace-Designed Classrooms & Labs

75%

Visual Emergency Systems 500+ Deaf & Hard of Hearing Faculty & Staff On Hand Total Cost Per Year (2 Semesters)

67%

TOTAL OUT OF POCKET COSTS ARE

Cart & Notetaking Services

$36,792

GALLAUDET GRADS LEAVE WITH

$60,820

MORE LIFETIME EARNINGS FOR GRADUATES WITH BACHELOR’S DEGREES VS. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS ALONE

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR YOUR FAMILY

56% 64% 99%

Accessibility is core to everything we do at Gallaudet.

That philosophy extends to our costs and financial aid.

We are committed to ensuring students from all financial backgrounds are able to obtain our world-class degrees.

LOWER TUITION COSTS THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE THANKS TO GALLAUDET’S FEDERAL FUNDING OF STUDENTS RECEIVE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE OF ELIGIBLE STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Financial Aid Scenarios

Joshua

Michael

Sophia

Tuition, Room & Board, & Fees

$36,792

$36,792

$36,792

Merit Scholarships

$11,000

$0

$9,000

Grants

$5,292

$6,978

$3,384

Student Loans

$0

$0

$5,500

VR Coverage

$20,500

$26,000

$1,800

Out of Pocket Cost/Year

$0

$3,814

$17,108

FALL IN LOVE THIS FALL They say students know within 60 seconds of visiting a campus whether they could envision themselves enrolling.

We bet it won’t even take you that long.

Schedule your visit or take a virtual tour at gu.live/tour

CONNECT. DISCOVER. INFLUENCE.

VISIT. APPLY. ENROLL. Applying to Gallaudet is easy!

Online application available at apply.gallaudet.edu/apply ☐ ACT/SAT scores ☐ One letter of recommendation from a teacher of English, mathematics, social studies, or science ☐ A short essay, 200-500 words long ☐ Audiogram ☐ High school transcript ☐ College transcript, if applicable

Email admissions@gallaudet.edu if you have any questions. ** Application requirements for international, hearing, transfer, or online students may differ.

Check out our website for more detailed information on the application process!

More questions?

We’re happy to walk you through it! Chat with us today: gu.live/chatwithus

800 Florida Avenue N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 admissions@gallaudet.edu gallaudet.edu @GallaudetU Copyright © 2025