COURSE CURRICULUM

The BStSu (Hons) Deaf Studies program is a four-year course designed to develop advanced skills in Irish Sign Language (ISL) and a deep understanding of deaf culture and society. In the first year, students are introduced to ISL as a language, alongside concepts of second language learning and language acquisition, while also exploring the role of the deaf community as active participants in business and society. In the second and third years, students study topics such as ethics, representation of deaf people in the media, the legal and political status of signed languages, access to healthcare and public services, the structure and sociolinguistics of ISL, and language acquisition for deaf children. They also learn research methods, research design, and academic integrity, with second-year students introduced to translation and interpreting theory. Students specialising in ISL/English interpreting focus on practical interpreting and translation skills guided by ethics in the third and fourth years, while those on the teaching pathway study curriculum planning and student assessment. In the fourth year, students complete a Capstone research project and undertake two supervised placements in organisations serving the deaf community. Across all four years, students build high-level ISL competence aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, while assessments include continuous coursework and end-of-semester exams to support diverse learning styles.