---

Deaf Studies

Types of Degrees Deaf Studies Majors Are Earning

Those studying Deaf Studies have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	17
Associate’s Degree	38
Bachelor’s Degree	219
Master’s Degree	124

What Deaf Studies Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Deaf Studies build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Deaf Studies graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Deaf Studies emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 5.7 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• Foreign Language — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Sociology and Anthropology — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Deaf Studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Deaf Studies careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Deaf Studies graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.4 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.3 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.2 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.2 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.1 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Deaf Studies professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Course management system software	Computer based training software	—
YouTube	Video creation and editing software	—
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Calendar and scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
Desire2Learn LMS software	Computer based training software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Deaf Studies graduates include:

• Ethnic Origins Teacher
• Gender Studies Lecturer
• Assistant Professor
• Ethnology Professor
• Professor
• Faculty Lecturer
• African Studies Professor
• Lecturer
• College Faculty Member
• Ethnology Teacher
• Black Studies Professor
• Hawaiian Studies Lecturer
• American Studies Professor
• Associate Professor
• Ethnic Studies Professor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Deaf Studies graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	38.8%
Master’s degree	29.9%
Bachelor’s degree	19.7%
Post-master’s certificate	3.4%
High school diploma or equivalent	3.0%
Post-doctoral training	2.5%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	1.6%
First professional degree	0.7%
Postsecondary certificate	0.5%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Deaf Studies?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 89.9% of Deaf Studies degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	358	89.9%
Men	40	10.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Deaf Studies graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	220	55.3%
Asian	12	3.0%
Hispanic or Latino	92	23.1%
Black or African American	40	10.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.3%
Two or More Races	19	4.8%
Race Unknown	11	2.8%
International Students	3	0.8%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Deaf Studies Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Deaf Studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$32,619
4 years	$46,128
5 years	$53,144

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $53,144 — roughly 63% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Deaf Studies Programs

Fully online options is reported by IPEDS for Deaf Studies. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	1	1
Bachelor’s	2	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Deaf Studies Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Deaf Studies graduates earn a median of $46,128 four years after completion — roughly 21% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	05.02
African-American/Black Studies	05.0201
American Indian/Native American Studies	05.0202
Asian-American Studies	05.0206
Comparative Group Studies	05.0212
Disability Studies	05.0210
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other	05.0299
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies	05.0200
Folklore Studies	05.0209
Gay/Lesbian Studies	05.0208
Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies	05.0203
Women’s Studies	05.0207

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.