Gallaudet University

What is the history of Gallaudet University?

Gallaudet University grew out of an institution established in Washington, DC, in 1857 to educate deaf children. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the congressional act authorizing it to award college degrees. That history remains central to Gallaudet's identity as a university where American Sign Language (ASL) and English shape academic life.

The college was named for Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet in 1894 and became Gallaudet University in 1986. A defining later milestone was the 1988 Deaf President Now protest, after which I. King Jordan became the university's first deaf president. The event continues to matter beyond campus because it brought national attention to deaf leadership and representation in higher education.

What are the faculties and departments at Gallaudet University?

Gallaudet offers undergraduate and graduate study across the arts, sciences, education, business, and health and human services, alongside fields closely connected to deaf communities and signed languages. Its academic organization includes departments and programs devoted to subjects such as ASL and Deaf Studies, interpretation, education, psychology, biology, and social work.

Prospective undergraduates can explore conventional majors as well as programs that take particular advantage of Gallaudet's expertise in language and accessibility. Graduate offerings include education and other professional fields. Applicants should check the current academic catalog for a program's degree level, required courses, fieldwork, and admission conditions; a subject offered at one degree level is not necessarily available at another.

ASL and English are both important to the learning environment. Students comparing programs should look beyond the major title to how classes, clinical placements, internships, and required communication skills are structured.

What is the location of Gallaudet University?

Gallaudet's main campus is in northeast Washington, DC, near the NoMa and Union Market areas. It is an urban, residential campus with access to the region's government agencies, nonprofits, employers, and cultural institutions.

Washington's Metrorail and bus network provides commuting options, although the most convenient route depends on a student's housing and class schedule. The nearest major airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Students considering off-campus housing should compare travel time and transportation costs, not just rent: the campus draws students from across the country, but nearby housing is part of a relatively expensive metropolitan market.

What is the mission and vision of Gallaudet University?

Gallaudet states that its educational purpose centers on the intellectual and professional development of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in a bilingual environment using ASL and English. Its stated priorities also include research, leadership, and service connected to deaf communities.

That mission has practical implications for applicants. Language access and the presence of deaf peers and faculty are not peripheral accommodations; they are part of the institution's academic model. Hearing students also attend under applicable admission policies, but applicants should understand that Gallaudet's educational setting is designed around a signing community rather than a conventional spoken-English campus with interpretation added to it.