American Sign Language Minor

The minor in American Sign Language will help students develop practical conversational skills and gain theoretical and experiential awareness of deaf culture and community. The American Sign Language minor is designed to provide students with a quality undergraduate preparation that will enhance their careers in a variety of fields.

  • Student Learning Outcomes
    1. Students who complete the ASL minor will gain a biblical understanding of the roles of the Christian and of the church with regard to the Great Commission and the deaf world.
    2. Students will be globally minded and informed of what many (including the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention) consider “the largest unreached people group on the planet.”
    3. Students who successfully complete the program will be functionally, conversationally competent in the use of ASL and academically informed of its linguistic and cultural foundations.
    4. Students will be prepared to advance in graduate education and professional training for numerous fields of public service, including interpreting for the deaf, education, health services, counseling and mental health, law enforcement and Christian ministry.

 

Prerequisites

 

ASL115 American Sign Language I

An introductory course designed for students with no previous experience using ASL. Beginning with the alphabet, students will learn the basic components of ASL-fingerspelling, vocabulary, grammar and syntax, expressive and receptive skills, along with Deaf culture and social etiquette. (3 units; Fall/Spring & OPS)

ASL115-A
Blair, Daniel
05/08/2023 M 6:00 PM - 10:30 PM Yeager Center B222
ASL115-C
Blair, Daniel
09/05/2023 MWF 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM The Village at CBU 300
ASL115-B
Blair, Daniel
09/05/2023 MWF 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM BUS 103
ASL115-E
Bucol, Jessica I.
09/05/2023 TTh 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM TBA
ASL115-A
Blair, Daniel
09/05/2023 MWF 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM BUS 103
ASL115-D
Rock, Charles John,, Jr.
09/05/2023 TTh 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM Building 36 36A1
ASL115-A
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 MWF 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM TBA
ASL115-B
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 MWF 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM TBA
ASL115-D
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 MWF 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM TBA
ASL115-E
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 TTh 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM TBA
ASL115-C
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 TTh 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM TBA

ASL125 American Sign Language II

This course is for students who possess a functional knowledge of fingerspelling, vocabulary formation, placement and directionality. Acquaintance with current and historical aspects of Deaf culture and social etiquette is also assumed. In this course students will refine their expressive and receptive skills, while broadening their understanding of the Deaf-world. Prerequisite: ASL 115. Must pass with a C- or better to continue in ASL 215. (3 units; Fall/Spring & OPS)

ASL125-A
Blair, Daniel
07/03/2023 M 6:00 PM - 10:30 PM Yeager Center B222
ASL125-B
Blair, Daniel
09/05/2023 TTh 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM James Complex 192
ASL125-A
McAllister, Rebecca N.
09/05/2023 MWF 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM James Complex 245
ASL125-C
Blair, Daniel
09/05/2023 TTh 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM James Complex 192
ASL125-C
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 TTh 8:45 AM - 10:15 AM TBA
ASL125-B
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 TTh 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM TBA
ASL125-A
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 TTh 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM TBA

Lower Division Requirements

 

ASL215 Inter. American Sign Language I

Students will be introduced to advanced language and vocabulary development with special emphasis placed on sentence construction and expressive skills. The course will provide further development of conversational techniques and use of ASL in normal everyday situations such as the location of items around the home, complaints, making suggestions and requests, and exchanging personal information through life events. This course will also expand the study of Deaf cultural issues. Prerequisite: ASL 125. Must pass with a C- or better to continue in 225. (3 units; Fall)

ASL215-A
Bucol, Jessica I.
09/05/2023 TTh 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM TBA
ASL215-A
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 TTh 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM TBA

ASL225 Inter. American Sign Language II

This course will introduce students to the art of hand shape storytelling and legends within the Deaf community. This section will include the grammatical use of ASL in sign movements conveyed and modified in the language, how and when to use facial movements; and how body, head and eye movements are used in phrasing and agreement. In this section, students will learn to sign everyday information through description and identification of things and talking about weekend events. Class emphasis will be on expressive and receptive skills. Prerequisite: ASL 215. (3 units; Spring)

ASL225-A
Long, Jaclyn R.
09/05/2023 TTh 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM TBA
ASL225-A
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 TTh 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM TBA

Upper Division Requirements

 

ASL315 Deaf Studies

An interdisciplinary introduction to the concepts, issues and literary genre of the DEAF-WORLD. This course emphasizes the Deaf community as a cultural linguistic people group and the centrality of ASL, heritage and traditions, and values in this community. From a literary and theoretical view, the course locates the field of Deaf Studies within the broader field of Disability Studies by analyzing intersections and differences between the two. (3 units; As offered)

ASL315-A
Long, Jaclyn R.
09/05/2023 TTh 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM TBA

ASL325 American Sign Lang Linguistics

This course offers a comparative analysis of linguistic properties and tendencies of American Sign Language and English. General topics of study include an overview of the historical evolution of sign languages, leading into contemporary thought on phonology, morphology and syntax of ASL. Students will also explore regional and dialectical linguistic variations that occur within sub-communities such as Black, Hispanic and Asian Deaf communities. Prerequisite: ASL 225. (3 units; As offered)

ASL325-A
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 TTh 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM TBA

ASL415 American Deaf Culture

This course explores the history, traditions and issues of Deaf American culture from its 18th century European origins to contemporary multicultural USA. Utilizing a multilayered approach to learning-lecture, readings, case study, film study, contextual experience and classroom debate-students will analyze the complex web of influences and issues-linguistic, political, economic, educational, religious, medical and social-that form what we commonly refer to as "culture." (3 units; As offered)

ASL415-A
Willis, Sarah Kristine
09/05/2023 TTh 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM TBA
ASL415-A
STAFF, STAFF
01/08/2024 TTh 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM TBA

 

Upper Division Elective Requirement

Complete 3 units from the following:

ASL307 Deaf Ministry

Demographic and congregational studies suggest that only a fraction of the deaf population has been effectively evangelized in their own primary language. Students will learn practical methods of communicating the gospel to the deaf population using a cultural-linguistic model for deaf ministry. (3 units; Fall/Spring)

ASL307-A
Blair, Daniel
09/05/2023 TTh 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM James Complex 192

ASL425 Intro to Intrprtng for the Deaf

To be an effective interpreter one needs high levels of skill in the languages being interpreted. This course is full of challenging exercises with videotaped source materials that make ASL skills strong and flexible and prepares students to move on to more advanced skills. Helpful theoretical introduction for each topic, study questions and comprehension sections called "Get to Know the Signer," make these materials a thorough, powerful learning tool. Prerequisite: ASL 225. (3 units; As offered)

ASL425-A
McAllister, Rebecca N.
09/05/2023 MWF 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM James Complex 171