Program of Studies
23-24 Program of Studies
24-25 Program of Studies
American Sign Language
ASL is a visual language with vocabulary, grammar, idioms, and syntax different from English. This course focuses on the development of conversational sign-language skills and the grammatical structure of American Sign Language. Students are exposed to a variety of sign systems and modes of communication used by the Deaf community. This course introduces the history of sign language and the importance of Deaf culture. Class participation is an integral part of the course. Since ASL is a visual-gestural language, students will need to develop unique communication skills. These consist of using the hands, body, face, eyes and space. In order to achieve progress in this class, it is important to become comfortable communicating with your whole body and listening with your eyes.
Prospective students should note that not all colleges and universities have formal policies accepting ASL in fulfillment of the foreign language requirement. That is why we are posting the most comprehensive online list of institutions that accept ASL. (The list is maintained from the University of New Mexico’s World Language Department and it is updated regularly.) Please note that this is an informal list, and therefore not exhaustive. There may be schools which accept ASL as a foreign language which are not listed. Furthermore, the type of acceptance can vary greatly from school to school. Some institutions have formal policies accepting ASL in fulfillment of the foreign language requirement. Others accept ASL only within certain colleges, divisions, or departments.