COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in American Sign Language program requires students to complete a structured curriculum that develops advanced language proficiency, cultural understanding, and communication skills within the Deaf community. Students begin with prerequisite courses in elementary American Sign Language, followed by a sequence of major courses progressing from intermediate to advanced levels, ensuring steady development of fluency and expressive ability. Core coursework also includes topics such as sociolinguistics of the Deaf community or Deaf studies, which provide insight into the cultural, social, and linguistic aspects of Deaf life.In addition to required courses, students complete upper-division ASL electives that further strengthen their language skills and allow for deeper exploration of advanced concepts. Additional ASL electives focus on areas such as applied grammar, fingerspelling, numbers, and visual communication techniques, enhancing both accuracy and fluency. Students also choose major electives from related fields, including Deaf culture, interpreting, sociology, anthropology, and special education, which broaden their understanding of communication, culture, and social issues affecting the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.Beyond the major, students fulfill general education requirements in composition, mathematics, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, ensuring a well-rounded academic experience. A significant number of general electives are also required to meet the total credit hours for graduation. The program requires a minimum of 120 credit hours, including upper-division coursework. Overall, this curriculum combines language mastery, cultural awareness, and interdisciplinary study to prepare students for careers in interpretation, education, social services, and community engagement, as well as for advanced academic pursuits.