American Sign Language (ASL)

ASL 1110 Beginning American Sign Language I — 4 credits

In this introductory course students will engage in receptive and expressive language readiness activities as well as learn vocabulary, basic use of ASL grammatical structure and signing space, conversational regulators, fingerspelling and introductory aspects. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.

ASL 1120 Beginning American Sign Language II — 4 credits

In this introductory course students will engage in receptive and expressive language readiness activities. In addition, students will participate in scaffolding learned signed vocabulary, new signed vocabulary. Scaffold and expand the basic use of ASL grammatical structure, signing space, conversational regulators, fingerspelling, and introductory aspects of Deaf culture. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.
Prerequisite: ASL 1110.

ASL 2010 Multicultural Deaf Lives — 4 credits

In this course students will study the culture of the American Deaf community. This course will introduce students to various perspectives and theories about Deaf people and ways of viewing the Deaf Experience. This course aims to provide a view of Deaf people within the broad lens of human diversity and how they have historically shaped their own lives within society, including how society has responded to signed language and the presence of Deaf People. Offered in the College for Women.
Prerequisite with concurrency: ASL 2110.

ASL 2110 Intermediate American Sign Language I — 4 credits

In this intermediate course students will engage in receptive and expressive language development activities. In addition, students will participate in scaffolding, learned sign vocabulary, learned new sign vocabulary, intermediate use of ASL grammatical structure, signing space, conversational regulators, fingerspelling, and continue to develop understanding regarding aspects of Deaf culture. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults.
Prerequisite: ASL 1120.

ASL 2120 Intermediate American Sign Language II — 4 credits

In this intermediate course students will engage in receptive and expressive language development activities. In addition, students will participate in scaffolding, learned sign vocabulary, learned new sign vocabulary, intermediate use of ASL grammatical structure, signing space, conversational regulators, fingerspelling, and continue to develop understanding regarding aspects of Deaf culture. Offered in the College for Women.
Prerequisite: ASL 2110.

ASL 2200 Applied ASL Skills — 4 credits

This course introduces learners to applying and expanding ASL skills such as classifiers, non-verbal and visual-gestural communication, fingerspelling, conversational styles, and various contexts. Learners explore how the signer’s perspectives influence the sign parameters, among other linguistic features and aspects, and will be equipped with additional cultural knowledge, enhanced language skills, and a rich toolbox to work directly with deaf community members.

ASL 2681 Directed Study — 1 credit

Directed study is provided for students whose unusual circumstances prohibit taking a regularly scheduled course but who need the material of that course to satisfy a requirement. Availability of this faculty directed learning experience depends on faculty time and may be limited in any given term and restricted to certain courses.
Prerequisites: Faculty, department chair and dean approval.

ASL 2684 Directed Study — 4 credits

ASL 3110 Advanced American Sign Language I — 4 credits

Designed as a lecture/lab course to expand students' vocabulary and develop their language skills and conversational fluency. Students will identify and apply strategies needed to give instructions, explanations, and provide factual information. Students will also learn how to discuss more complex topics such as finance and to effectively use persuasion in discussions that require decision making. Deaf community interaction required. Offered in the College for Women.
Prerequisite: ASL 2120.

ASL 3120 Advanced American Sign Language II — 4 credits

A continuation of ASL 3110, with an additional focus on narrative skills. Deaf community interaction required. Offered in the College for Women.
Prerequisite: ASL 3110.

ASL 3340 Systemic Barriers to Disability Equity — 4 credits

This course will critically evaluate systems in which people with disabilities exist and the impact identified barriers within the systems have on disability equity and justice. The lens will be through systems rooted in but not limited to education, medical, government, occupation, psychological sciences, humanities, art, social sciences, and/or media. Disability is the object for understanding the workings of a capitalist society or as a political category which through social, political, and cultural practices developed a cultural script marked by processes of normalization and an ontological experience shaped by a host of external factors. This course will also hold the deaf* experiences as a central part of the discussions alongside intersections with other characteristics. Offered in the College for Women and the College for Adults. * The term deaf refers to various deaf identities and ways of being in this world.

ASL 4602 ASL Internship — 2 credits

The internship gives students in the ASL and Deaf Communities major the intellectual support and opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the program to a real-world setting and participate in internships nationally or internationally. The course explores the role of culture in shaping and understanding human experience and engages learners in discussions regarding global competence, cultural intelligence, and the challenges/opportunities of living and working interculturally. Learners work with deaf community members directly using the target language that provides cultural immersion, language interaction, and cultural competency. Additionally, the course introduces learners to the basic principles of globalization and encourages them to integrate their academic coursework with their work experiences, career development goals, personal skills, and values. Evaluated by a faculty member within the major department and on-the-site supervisor, an internship challenges learners to reflect on practical, hands-on experience in a professional field related to the major. Internship placements must be approved and established prior to enrollment in this course by the ASL program coordinator.
Prerequisites: ASL 4200.

ASL 4684 Directed Study — 4 credits

Directed study is provided for students whose unusual circumstances prohibit taking a regularly scheduled course but who need the material of that course to satisfy a requirement. Availability of this faculty directed learning experience depends on faculty time and may be limited in any given term and restricted to certain courses.
Prerequisites: Faculty, department chair and dean approval.

ASL 4952 Independent Study — 2 credits

Independent study offers students the opportunity for specialized research not covered in a course offering, by the action project or thesis. Students work with a faculty advisor to develop a learning contract, which specifies the content and objectives of the study as well as the requirements and procedures for evaluation. The amount of credit earned for the study also is included in the learning contract.
Prerequisites: Permission of the faculty and department chair or program director.

ASL 4954 Independent Study — 4 credits

Independent study offers students the opportunity for specialized research not covered in a course offering, by the action project or thesis. Students work with a faculty advisor to develop a learning contract, which specifies the content and objectives of the study as well as the requirements and procedures for evaluation. The amount of credit earned for the study also is included in the learning contract.
Prerequisites: Permission of the faculty and department chair or program director.