Major Requirements

The American Sign Language (ASLA) major requires twelve classes: four core courses and eight electives. Strong ASLA language skills are required for students declaring a major in ASLA, and for the successful completion of the advanced ASLA classes. Therefore, a student should have completed ASLA 101 and ASLA 102 prior to declaring a major in ASLA.

Registering for Courses

For the ASLA 102–106 and the 200-level ASLA courses, students must have taken a class in which all communication is in ASLA in the immediately preceding semester. Otherwise, they must obtain permission of the instructor.

Students must obtain a permission code from the ASLA program advisor to register for ASLA 106. ASLA majors and minors will be permitted to register first.

Please note that some of the courses listed below require prerequisites.

Core Courses

  • ASLA 105: Intermediate American Sign Language I
  • ASLA 106: Intermediate American Sign Language II*
  • ASLA 203W: Advanced ASLA
  • ASLA 200: Structure of Signed Languages

*Students must obtain a permission code from the ASLA program advisor to register for ASLA 106. ASLA majors and minors will be permitted to register first.

Advanced Elective Courses

Students are required to complete eight advanced elective courses with at least two courses in the categories of ASLA literature and culture and other advanced electives, and two-three courses in the cultures, language, and history category.

Please note that a total of no more than three of the courses taken for the major can be conducted in spoken English.

See the courses page for course descriptions. Some courses may require prerequisites.

ASLA Literature and Culture—select at least 2

  • ASLA 201: Introduction to ASLA Literature
  • ASLA 202: History and Culture of the American Deaf Community
  • ASLA 205(W): Art of Translation: ASLA and English
  • ASLA 250: Sociolinguistics of the American Deaf Community

Cultures, Language, and History—select 2-3

  • ANTH 101: Cultural Anthropology
  • ASLA 208 (BCSC/PSYC 259/LING 208): Language Development
  • ASLA 260 (BCSC/PSYC 152/LING 217): Language and Psycholinguistics
  • LING 110: Introduction to Linguistic Analysis
  • CLTR 200: Censorship/Topics In Critical Thinking
  • CLTR 389: Research Seminar
  • GSWS 105: Sex and Power
  • GSWS 200: History of feminism: Colloquium (cross-listed: HIST 259, HIST 402)
  • GSWS 205:PHIL Foundation of Feminism (cross-listed: PHIL 171)
  • GSWS 296: International Human Rights (cross-listed: HIST 303, HIST 403)
  • GSWS 218: Gender and Disability
  • HIST 259: History of Feminism: Colloquium (cross-listed: GSWS 200, HIST 259W, HIST 402)
  • HIST 303W: International Human Rights (cross-listed: GSWS 296, HIST 403)
  • HIST 402: History of feminism: Colloquium (cross-listed: GSWS 200, HIST 259W, HIST 259)
  • AAAS 207: Race, Ethnicity and American Politics (cross-listed: PSCI 228)
  • AAAS 183: Incarceration Nation (cross listed: RELC 183, PSCI 224)
  • PSCI/INTR 267: Identity, Ethnicity, and Nationalism
  • PSCI/INTR 224: Incarceration Nation (cross-listed: RELC 183, AAAS 183)
  • PSCI/INTR 228: Race, Ethnicity and American Politics (cross-listed: AAAS 207)
  • RELC 183: Incarceration Nation (cross-listed: AAAS 183, PSCI 224)
  • PHIL 171: Foundation of Feminism (cross-Listed: GSWS 205)
  • PHIL 247: Philosophy of Language
  • PHIL 223: Social political philosophy
  • PHIL 226: philosophy of Law

Other Advanced Electives—select at least 2

  • ASLA 110: Comparative Study of French Sign Language
  • ASLA 113: French Sign Language and Deaf Culture in France
  • ASLA 204: Theory and Practice of Sign Language Interpreting
  • ASLA 209: Teaching subjects through ASL
  • ASLA 222: ASLA Fine Art
  • ASLA 280: Deaf-Related Careers
  • BCSC/PSYC 172): Development of Mind and Brain