American Sign Language Studies, Certificate
(Code 622-602)
The Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program offers a certificate program for interested students in American Sign Language (ASL). The goals of this program are for students to develop a depth of knowledge and skill in the use of ASL; appreciate the distinct culture of the Deaf community and behave according to the social norms of the culture; and apply semantic and/or linguistic elements of ASL in their use of the language. This certificate is an excellent option for anyone wanting to develop skill in ASL, but it will not satisfy external standards for teaching or interpreting, nor will it lead to licensure. Interpreters must complete a minimum of an Associate’s degree; teachers of ASL must be licensed to teach ASL or hold Deaf and Hard of Hearing teacher licensure.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of the ASL Certificate requires 18 credits of ASL coursework OR 12 resident credits of ASL coursework beyond SLHS 102 | ||
| Required courses: | ||
| SLHS 101 | American Sign Language I | 3 |
| SLHS 102 | American Sign Language II | 3 |
| SLHS 103 | American Sign Language III | 3 |
| SLHS 201 | American Sign Language IV | 3 |
| SLHS 210 | Cultural Perspectives of the Deaf | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| SLHS 202 | American Sign Language V | 3 |
| SLHS 301 | American Sign Language Semantics | 3 |
| SLHS 302 | American Sign Language Linguistics | 3 |
Program Learning Outcomes
Students completing this program will be expected to meet the following learning outcomes:
- demonstrate expression and comprehension skills in American Sign Language.
- demonstrate knowledge of grammatical features, narratives, target vocabulary, and cultural norms.
- demonstrate analytical knowledge and recognize ASL linguistics.
- demonstrate sensitivity and understanding of Deaf culture and Deaf history perspectives in a global society.
- examine how ASL applies to their lifelong learning and future career.