CSUN is one of only two institutions in the country that offers an undergraduate program in the area of Deaf Studies.  The program focuses on the study of human beings from all regards including both the hearing and the deaf.  The program at CSUN is constantly active in sponsoring a number of campus and community activities.

CSUN has the largest number of students who are deaf and hard of hearing at a mainstream institution.  More than 220 deaf and hard of hearing students attend CSUN and are mainstreamed into regular university classes.

“Those who major in Deaf Studies have a number of classes they can take,” said Deaf Studies Department Chair Dr. Lawrence Fleischer.  “We have language courses, to develop your skills in American Sign Language through direct communication in the classroom and not through an interpreter.”

Dr. Fleischer was born deaf to two deaf parents in New York.  He moved out to California in 1972 and began teaching at CSUN.  He has proven to be a strong leader and role model throughout the deaf community on campus.  On his staff in the department, Helen Hayter Quiroz works as an interpreter to help any students or faculty in need.

“I am the staff interpreter for the Deaf Studies department,” said Quiroz.  “I also have a staff position at the National Center on Deafness.”