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What is FIRST YEARS and
why are you offering a certificate?
As more children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are served
in inclusive settings, a growing number of special educators, speech pathologists,
and other professionals are being asked to serve these children and their
families. While most are experienced professionals in their respective
disciplines, many have limited educational preparation to work with these
populations. FIRST YEARS is a continuing education program
for professionals interested in expanding their knowledge and skills related
to speech and language intervention with children who are deaf or hard-of
hearing. A certificate of completion will be awarded at the end of
the program to document coursework and practicum.
Am I a good candidate for your program?
The FIRST YEARS courses and
the mentorship experience were designed, in a
convenient distance format, to meet the on-going educational needs of practicing
professionals. To determine if distance education is a good fit for you,
review our materials at Successful
Online Learning.
What level of expertise is this program intended for?
The courses are intended for post-baccalaureate study
by professionals who have been working for at least two years with children
who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. There are graduate credits associated
with each course. The Units of Study page
covers the credit designation assigned to the courses.
Is the coursework introductory -- for "beginners" only?
The FIRST YEARS certificate offers intermediate-level
content. Thus, it is designed to meet the needs of professionals
who have been who have been practicing in the field, but feel a need to
acquire current information and update their skills.
Can I take just one course?
No, the courses are offered exclusively as part of the FIRST
YEARS certificate.
How long will it take to complete the program?
The certificate can be completed in 2 years if a course is
taken each semester, including summer.
Can parents audit these courses?
No. While we appreciate the desire of parents to be better
informed, current demand for continuing education requires us to limit
our courses to professionals.
How much will it cost?
The current fees are listed on the admission
requirements page and vary from year to year. However, to get
a ballpark idea of the total cost, multiply the per-credit-hour fee times
15 (the total credit hours for the certificate). Cost of texts will vary
with each course. Costs of transportation and housing during the
mentorship experience will differ depending on where the student lives
and to which mentorship site they are assigned.
Do you offer tuition stipends?
We are not currently offering tuition stipends.
If a group of students from a facility work together, is there a group
discount?
No. Each student must pay the full tuition and fees.
Are there deadlines for registration?
Yes. These deadline dates appear on the main
web site for FIRST YEARS.
Will this course of study lead to a teaching certificate?
No. Teaching certification is the purview of each state's
department of education/ public instruction.
Will FIRST YEARS offer a distance opportunity for professionals
to become AV certified?
No. This is not a means of attaining Auditory Verbal
Therapy Certification, although we anticipate that some professionals will
want to pursue the more advanced training required for AVT certification.
For information on that process, please go to http://www.agbellacademy.org
What do you foresee as the value of this new certificate?
FIRST YEARS is designed to inform professionals of current
theories and practice aimed at helping children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing
acquire spoken language. Successful completion of the program will
provide professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to provide better
intervention and instruction to the children and families they serve.
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