Academic Programs
 

Courses in American Sign Language

ASL 001: Junior Practicum Workshop (0)

Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of the ASL faculty. To be taken the semester before enrolling in ASL 360 Junior Practicum.
This workshop will address the goals, objectives, and documentation requirements for the Junior Practicum. It will also assist students in locating and contacting a practicum site, completing the necessary approval, paperwork and background checks, and arranging for housing as needed.
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 002: Senior Internship Workshop (0)

Prerequisite: Senior standing or consent of the ASL faculty. To be taken the semester before enrolling in ASL 450 Internship in American Sign Language.
This workshop will address the goals, objectives, and documentation requirements for the Senior Internship. It will also assist students in locating and contacting an internship site, completing the necessary approval, paperwork and background checks, and arranging for housing as needed.
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 101: Sign Language (1)

Prerequisite:
An introductory course that develops both expressive and receptive skills in American Sign Language (ASL). Characteristics of the hearing-impaired culture are covered. (Offered as needed.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 110: Intro to the Deaf Community (3)

Prerequisite:
A survey of American Sign Language and deaf culture. Emphasis on American Sign Language structure, history, and usage. Discussion of a socio-cultural perspective of deaf people, including readings from anthropology, sociology, linguistics, and education. Includes an examination of American attitudes toward sign language and deaf culture. Assessment: journals, written examinations, and oral presentations. (Offered every semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 111: American Sign Language I (3)

Prerequisite: Pre- or corequisite for American Sign Language majors, minors, and concentrations: ASL 110
Development of basic ASL communication skills with appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures. Emphasis on communicative and linguistic functions. Thirty hours of laboratory practicum required. Assessment: satisfactory completion of course requirements and the laboratory practicum, and demonstration of signing skill. (Offered every fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 112: American Sign Language II (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 111
A continuation of American Sign Language I. Thirty hours of laboratory practicum required. Assessment: satisfactory completion of course requirements, the laboratory practicum, and demonstration of appropriate signing skill. (Offered every spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 211: American Sign Language III (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 112 or by placement
Review of ASL grammatical features and further development of communicative functions at the intermediate level. Thirty hours of laboratory practicum requirement. Assessment: satisfactory completion of course requirements, the laboratory practicum, and demonstration of appropriate signing skills. (Offered every fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 212: American Sign Language IV (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 211
A continuation of ASL 211. Thirty hours of laboratory practicum required. Assessment: satisfactory completion of course requirements, the laboratory practicum, and demonstration of appropriate signing skill. (Offered every spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 265: Introduction to Interpreting (3)

Prerequisite: Pre- or corequiste: ASL 211
Introduction to the theory, practice, and criticism of interpretation and transliteration: simultaneous and consecutive, and to interpreting as a discourse process. Study includes various models of the interpreting and transliterating processes, problems of linguistic and communicative equivalence, historical foundations, the role of Deaf community interaction in developing ASL processing speed and bicultural affiliation, knowledge and skills, as well as professional issues. Students analyze spoken and signed texts for both meaning and form and develop strategies to more accurately receive verbal, nonverbal, visual and auditory information. (Offered every fall.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 275: Interpreting I (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 265
Introduction to the analysis and production aspects of ASL-to-English interpretation. Designed as a lecture/lab course, students develop the composition aspect of the consecutive interpreting process and begin to analyze the differing linguistic techniques for achieving the same communication function in ASL and English. Students analyze texts using a Goal-to-Detail information management system and practice a variety of visualization techniques. This course builds a foundation based on the interpreting tasks identified by the Conference of Interpreter Trainers (CIT) including text analysis, decision-making, image search, vocabulary/phrase search, nonverbal behavior search, role shifting, addition, subtraction, deletion and omission with emphasis on register, topic shift, pronominalization, and affect. Students are introduced to peer feedback and self-analysis. (Offered every spring.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 311: American Sign Language V (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 212
Advanced American Sign Language development with a focus on grammatical and lexical expansion. Communication dialogues will emphasize sociocultural aspects of deafness. (Offered every fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 312: American Sign Language VI (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 311
Continuing development of ASL proficiency and fluency. Focuses on more advanced linguistic aspects of ASL and a synthesis of all concepts previously learned. (Offered every spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 315: Interpreting Code of Ethics Workshop (0)

Prerequisite:
A workshop in values clarification and the ethics of interpreting. Designed to provide students with training on ethical behaviors as outlined in the Code of Ethics as promulgated by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf and the implications of non-ethical behaviors in the interpreting profession. Students will learn several methods of analyzing ethical dilemmas as well as the application of various decision-making models. Students will discuss and problem-solve alternative behaviors; how to handle conflict situations; the role and function of interpreters; and ethical issues as they pertain to specific settings and populations. Case studies will be used to integrate and apply knowledge learned in this course. (Offered every fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 320: Linguistics of American Sign Language (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 211, ENG 308
Analysis of the symbolic and linguistic structure of American Sign Language and other sign systems. Includes aspects of phonology, morthology, syntax, semantics, grammar, and discourse. Examination of bilingual and bicultural practices, sociolinguistics, and related research. Assessment: written examination. Course will be taught in ASL. (Offered every odd-year spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 350: ASL: Deaf Literature (3)

Prerequisite: Pre- or corequisite: ASL 212
This course involves the use of ASL poetry and storytelling. ASL poetry will be analyzed and incorporated as part of receptive/expressive language development and advanced skills enhancement. Includes story-telling techniques through the use of standard American folk lore and other culturally valued forms of literature (ABC stories, “one-deaf” stories, and sign play). Students will evaluate existing video tapes of deaf poets and sign language stories. Assessment: written examination and demonstration and/or videotaping of storytelling techniques. Course will be taught in ASL. (Offered every spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 360: Junior Practicum (3)

Prerequisite:
Practical experience using ASL in a professional environment with supervision of an agency staff person approved by department faculty. Assessment: positive evaluation by field supervisor, a daily log, and a final written report analyzing the experience. (Offered every semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 361: Deaf Culture (3)

Prerequisite: Pre- or co-requisite: ASL 212
A survey of sociocultural factors that define deaf persons as members of a cultural minority. Emphasis is placed on the role of language in deaf culture, cultural rules, beliefs shared among members, and the difference between the deaf community and deaf culture. Cross-cultural communication and mediation between deaf and hearing cultures will be addressed. Course will be taught in ASL. (Offered every fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 365: Interpreting II (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 275
Designed as a lecture/lab course, students continue to develop the technique of consecutive interpreting as a tool for increasing schema, visualization, message equivalence and as a practice form for simultaneous interpreting. Students will expressively and receptively interpret from recorded texts in a consecutive format, and will gradually transition to simultaneous interpreting. In the lab, students will analyze tests for register, style and effect; practice consecutive interpretations of pre-analyzed monologues and dialogues; and practice consecutive interpretations of unfamiliar material. The students will continue to apply the concepts of peer feedback and self-analysis. (Offered every fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 374: Interpreting Field Period (3)

Prerequisite:
Introductory observation of interpreters in authentic interpreting situations. In addition to individual goals, students will investigate ethics, certification, licensure, and legislation which affects the profession of interpreting. Emphasis on specialized settings in which interpreter expects to function. Student will choose from a range of interpreting settings and situations such as deaf/blind, hospital/ medical, religious, social work/welfare, education, and community based. (Offered every January and summer semesters.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 375: Interpreting III (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 365
Designed as a lecture/lab course, this course concentrates on the production aspects of spontaneous ASL to-English and English-to-ASL interpreting. Students incorporate linguistic and functional text analyses into their consecutive interpreting performances. Students are introduced to team interpreting techniques including the open interpreting model where both teamed interpreters feed each other in full view of the Deaf consumer. Students work with recorded messages and with guest speakers in interpreting situations that include monologues, dialogues, interviews and group discussions. Emphasis is on accurate and fluent interpretations and on learning troubleshooting strategies to ensure accurate voicing. (Offered every spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 385: Level I Interpreting Practicum (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 365 or consent of instructor
Requires a minimum of 140 clock hours in an approved work situation. This practicum introduces students to specialized communication and interpreting techniques that are used with a variety of consumers and in specific situations. The student must submit a log documenting the work dates and times and describing the work activities according to at least three pre-approved objectives. In addition, the student will submit three essays describing and evaluating each of the following: the role of the on-site supervisor, the quality of the work environment, and the usefulness of extended internships. The student will also prepare a resume. (Offered every spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 394: ASL Field Period (3)

Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of the adviser
Off-campus experiential education opportunity that allows the student to improve his/her proficiency in signing ASL, expand ASL vocabulary, acquire knowledge of ASL colloquialisms, learn non-verbal communication skills and advance an understanding of deaf culture. The focus of this field period should be on language acquisition and improvement, not on a career. (Offered every January and summer semester)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]

ASL 399: Independent Study (1)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
(Offered every semester as needed).
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 440: Interpreter Certification Evaluation Workshop (0)

Prerequisite:
Evaluation Workshop. (Offered every spring)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 450: Internship in ASL (3-12)

Prerequisite: senior standing and at least 24 credit hours in the major.
Supervised field work in an approved setting to provide an opportunity to learn the specialized language of a particular business or corporation. Internship requires a minimum of 2 hours per credit hour per week for 14 weeks or its equivalent in total hours. A series of videos and other requirements will be assigned by the supervising faculty member. (Offered every semester).
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 465: Interpreting IV (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 375
Designed as a lecture/lab, this course concentrates on the successful interpretation of texts within a simultaneous interpreting framework. Students incorporate linguistic and functional text analyses into simultaneous interpretations, work with both recorded material and guest speakers, and are introduced to the techniques of relay (Deaf intermediary) interpreting. Students are expected to produce accurate and fluent simultaneous interpretations and increasingly difficult monologues, dialogues, interviews and group discussions. Students are introduced to transliteration, producing accurate and fluent transliterations over a variety of topics. (Offered every fall semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 474: Interpreting Field Period II: Interpreting in Specialized Settings (3)

Prerequisite: ASL 374 and ASL 375
:. Off-campus educational opportunity that allows the student to observe interpreters in authentic, specialized interpreting situations. To fulfill this Field Period the student must spend at least 140 hours shadowing a practicing, RID or NAD certified interpreter. (Offered every January or summer semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 480: Professional Interpreting Issues (2)

Prerequisite: Corequisite: ASL 485
All students enrolled in ASL 485 will meet with the internship instructor for purposes of discussion, support and problem solving. Techniques for stress management and personal health will be covered as well as financial record-keeping and management. (Offered every spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 485: Level II Interpreting Internship (12)

Prerequisite: ASL 465 or consent of instructor. To be taken concurrently with ASL 480.
A practical experience in an approved clinical setting at which the student will interpret under the guidance and supervision of an on-site interpreter certified by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID) or the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). Students will keep a log to record their interpreting experiences and a journal to reflect on these experiences. Internships require the time commitment or the equivalent of 12 weeks of full-time employment. (Offered every spring semester.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: None. [ Back to Top ]

ASL 495: Advanced Study in American Sign Language (3)

Prerequisite: consent of the instructor.
An advanced study of American Sign Language. Intended for juniors and seniors, or for students with an appropriate background in American Sign Language. The student may repeat the course, but not the topic. (Offered as needed.)
Gen. Ed. Attributes: LA [ Back to Top ]