American Sign Language (A.S.)

American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most studied world language in the United States. The demand for college-educated individuals with a degree in ASL is increasing nationwide as the skills and knowledge are useful in careers where interactions with Deaf individuals are likely, such as human services, education, health services, and business, just to name a few. In addition, growth in the ASL-English interpreting field continues at an undaunted pace with endless career possibilities. If you picture yourself working in a career that uses American Sign Language, then this degree program will be of interest to you. The A.S. degree in American Sign Language is designed to provide students with a broad educational experience, which includes the balance and diversity of general education, acquired competence in American Sign Language, and development of an understanding of the American Deaf community, culture, and history. While this program is designed for those students seeking successful transfer to a 4-year ASL-English Interpreting program, it also lends itself to students seeking to supplement another degree so they may integrate with their foundation of American Sign Language and the Deaf community to a particular academic area of study and career.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate intermediate-high level of mastery and proficiency in expressive and receptive use of the language across a broad range of topics including other academic disciplines.
2. Develop an understanding of ASL phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics.
3. Express and comprehend authentic ASL discourse and stories at an intermediate-high level of mastery and proficiency while effectively using visual spatial skills with classifiers, depiction, and nonmanual signals.
4. Analyze and explain key cultural, linguistic, political, educational and social issues that have shaped Deaf culture, community, literature, and history.
5. Develop sensitivity to and understanding of how past and current issues within the Deaf community impact potential interactions with Deaf individuals within various careers. 
6. Examine historical and current theories, practices, terminology, and other key components of signed language interpreting that have shaped the profession.
7. Develop the prerequisite sub-skills needed for the process of interpretation.