American Sign Language Major

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College of Arts and Humanities - Department of World Languages

 

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE MAJOR

The World Language Department offers the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in American Sign Language, with concentrations in American Sign Language/English Interpreting and in Deaf Studies.

The American Sign Language program provides students with a foundation in American Sign Language (ASL) and associated courses that cover the history, culture, and literature of the Deaf Community in the U.S. within a social justice framework. Students choose to concentrate in American Sign Language/English Interpreting or in Deaf Studies.  Students with prior knowledge of, or instruction in, ASL must be assessed to determine their level of entry into the ASL course sequence. Students needing ASL prerequisite preparation coursework for ASGN 301 Advanced American Sign Language I may utilize up to four of their open electives in order to take the necessary courses.


View program mission statements and learning objectives >

The General Education Requirement
All students must satisfy a general education requirement consisting of ten (10) courses outside of the major department. The General Education Domain I-C (Language) requirement is satisfied through the completion of the major.

Course Prerequisites
Courses may have specified conditions for enrollment, such as prior completion of less advanced courses, permission of the instructor, or appropriate placement test scores. Students should refer to course descriptions in the department listings for prerequisite requirements.

Major Core Requirements (U_AS)

Core Language Courses (5):

  • ASGN 200 American Sign Language Linguistics
  • ASGN 301 Advanced American Sign Language I
  • ASGN 302 Advanced American Sign Language II
  • ASGN 401 Advanced American Sign Language III
  • ASGN 402 Advanced American Sign Language IV

CONCENTRATION IN ASL/ENGLISH INTERPRETING (UASE)

The ASL/English Interpreting concentration provides students with a theoretical and practical foundation in the knowledge, values, skills, and ethical judgment necessary for the successful transfer of meaning, cultural mediation, and professional conduct required of working interpreters. The goal of the program is to graduate students who are prepared to take and pass state or national-level credentialing exams within one year of graduation.  Students are involved in coursework, research, community engagement, and practicum experiences within the context of a public liberal arts education that seeks to strengthen and deepen the knowledge base and critical thinking skills that all successful interpreters must possess.

 

Program Learning Objectives

Graduating students should be able to:

  • Communicate in their working languages (American Sign Language and English) at level of proficiency equivalent to the Advanced High Level of speaking and listening as established by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language.
  • Interpret in settings appropriate to entry-level interpreters.
  • Integrate their knowledge of the history, culture, values and diversity of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind communities into their interpreting practice.
  • Integrate their knowledge of interpersonal and intercultural communication dynamics into their interpreting practice.
  • Participate in undergraduate-level research in interpreting or linguistics.

Concentration Core Requirements (10 courses; 8 course-credits):

  • ASGN 221 American Sign Language/English Interpreting I
  • ASGN 222 American Sign Language/ English Interpreting II
  • ASGN 242 Communication Dynamics in Interpreted Encounters (0.5 course-credit)
  • ASGN 313 American Sign Language/English Interpreting III
  • ASGN 314 American Sign Language/English Interpreting IV
  • ASGN 333 Ethical Decision-Making in the Interpreting Profession (0.5 course-credit)
  • ASGN 430 Reading and Analysis of Research in Interpreting (0.5 course-credit)
  • ASGN 440 Undergraduate Research in Interpreting (0.5 course-credit)
  • ASGN 451 Interpreting Practicum and Seminar I
  • ASGN 452 Interpreting Practicum and Seminar II

Deaf Studies Courses (4):

  • DFST 101 Introduction to Deaf Studies
  • DFST 201 Introduction to the Interpreting Profession
  • DFST 222 Introduction to American Sign Language Literature
  • DFST 236 Social Justice and the Deaf Community

Related Required Courses (2):

  • ANTH 161 Cultural Anthropology (meets Domain III-B)
  • COMM 107 Effective Speaking (meets Domain I-A)

CONCENTRATION IN DEAF STUDIES (UASD)

The Deaf Studies concentration provides students with a foundation in American Sign Language (ASL) and associated courses that cover the history, culture, and literature of the Deaf Community in the U.S. in a social justice framework. Students graduating with this concentration qualify for entry-level work in Deaf services agencies, residential programs, and educational and human service settings requiring fluency in ASL. Graduates of this program also qualify to pursue graduate studies in Deaf education, rehabilitation counseling, linguistics, or social work, among other fields. The knowledge and skills acquired in this program may also be applied to other professional domains where Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind individuals are served.

Program Learning Objectives

Graduating students should be able to:

  • Communicate in American Sign Language at a level of proficiency equivalent to the Advanced Low Level of speaking and listening as established by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages.
  • Integrate their knowledge of the history, culture, values and diversity of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind communities into their interactions with D/HH/DB individuals.
  • Design an advocacy project that integrates their understanding of the impact of power, privilege and oppression on the Deaf experience.
Concentration Core Requirements (6 courses):
  • DFST 101 Introduction to Deaf Studies
  • DFST 201 Introduction to the Interpreting Profession
  • DFST 222 Introduction to American Sign Language Literature
  • DFST 236 Social Justice and the Deaf Community
  • DFST 450 Senior Seminar in Deaf Studies
Related Required Courses (1):
  • ANTH 161 Cultural Anthropology (meets Domain III-B)

Effective as of the 2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog