About CPSO

The College of Professional Studies and Outreach (CPSO) supports Gallaudet’s mission to ensure the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of hearing individuals by providing a comprehensive array of exemplary professional development and outreach programs and services designed to promote career development, advocacy and leadership abilities, and other life-long learning skills.

Programs and services address the needs and interests of diverse internal and external constituencies and include both credit and noncredit offerings within a bilingual (ASL/English) learning environment. To meet participants’ learning needs, instruction is conducted in multiple formats – within traditional classroom settings, online and distance learning, or through a hybrid approach – delivering various professional development, enrichment, and leadership programs both on campus and at sites around the country through its network of Gallaudet University Regional Centers.

Through its regional, national, and international programs, CPSO is further able to extend university programs and services through:

• Delivery of graduate, undergraduate, and professional studies courses across the United States, often in collaboration with sponsoring schools, programs, and agencies, providing opportunities to study with experts in fields such as American Sign Language, deaf education, language planning, bilingual education, Deaf Studies, interpreting, and linguistics;

• Direct programming and outreach services to schools, agencies, and corporations actively engaged in the provision of education and/or human services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals;

• Coordination of international exchange programs, such as the student abroad and global internships, and the English Language Institute, which provide rich academic and cultural opportunities for visiting students, scholars, researchers, and professionals.

• Coordination of Gallaudet University’s Summer Programs, which offers a broad array of academic and enrichment programs and courses for graduate, undergraduate, and professional studies credit, and a number of dynamic and empowering programs for high school students and scholars providing educational, student development, and experiential learning opportunities.

• Hosting Gallaudet University’s regional and national Academic Bowl competitions, which recognize academic achievement among deaf and hard of hearing high school students and also serve as significant recruitment and enrollment tools for the university;

• Approval and provision of continuing education credits for noncredit learning opportunities as an International Association for Continuing Education and Tracking (IACET) authorized provider.