American Sign Language

There is a constant demand for professionals who have fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) to work either as interpreters or service providers. With Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind people seeking services in many realms such as education, health care, finances, counseling, and law, ASL skills are an asset across countless occupations.

Ranked among the top 10 American Sign Language programs in the country for affordability, class size and student success, our program is known for being Deaf-centric and for its emphasis on student language development. You will master foundational skills and also complete associated courses that cover the history, culture, and literature of the Deaf Community in the U.S. within a social justice framework.

FSU is the only public university offering a major in ASL/Deaf Studies in the state of Massachusetts, and we are proud of the attainable cost of tuition and fees. The program offers up to eight semesters of American Sign Language, surpassing all other Deaf Studies programs in New England, with most courses taught by Deaf instructors to ensure that you’ll learn the language, culture and history of the Deaf community from a Deaf point of view.

As a student in the Deaf Studies Concentration, you’ll complete a one-semester externship in your junior or senior year, with local partners such as The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham, the READS Collaborative in the South Shore, the Rhode Island School for the Deaf amongst many others.

As a student in the ASL/English Interpreting Concentration, you’ll complete two semesters of internship in your senior year, under the supervision of interpreter mentors across the state, both face-to-face and remotely. Upon graduation, you’ll be able to pursue state-level interpreter credentialing in order to obtain a permit to work in the states of MA, RI, and NH.

Our active ASL Club hosts numerous presentations and large events each academic year. You will also have the opportunity to study abroad if you are interested in learning another country's signed language. The range of occupations working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people is wide and jobs in this field are readily available.