American Sign Language (ASL)

ASL 1410. Beginning American Sign Language I.

This course offers a beginner level introduction to American Sign Language (ASL) and foundational elements of Deaf culture. Students develop expressive and receptive communication skills through the study of vocabulary, basic grammar, nonmanual markers, and conversational strategies. Instruction includes practice with the manual alphabet, numbers, and simple sentence construction. The course also introduces cultural norms associated with interaction within the Deaf community, emphasizing observation, turn taking approaches, and visual attention strategies. Activities focus on signing in structured contexts, recognizing key cultural concepts, and building confidence in basic ASL communication. Successful completion prepares students for ASL 1420.

ASL 1420. Beginning American Sign Language II.

This course builds on ASL 1410 by expanding students’ expressive and receptive abilities in American Sign Language at the beginner level. Students practice constructing and comprehending simple conversations, using target vocabulary, grammatical structures, and nonmanual features. The course also introduces communication behaviors commonly used in ASL interactions, including attention getting strategies and turn taking signals. Thematic units such as family, daily routines, time, housing, and food guide vocabulary and grammar acquisition. The course prepares students for more advanced ASL study and continued language development. Students who take ASL 1410 toward degree requirements must also complete ASL 1420. Prerequisite: ASL 1410 with a grade of "D" or better.

ASL 2310. Intermediate American Sign Language I.

This course builds intermediate level competency in American Sign Language (ASL) through structured practice with classifiers, manual and nonmanual markers, conversational behaviors, and extended discourse structures. Students refine skills learned in ASL 1410 and 1420 while developing greater fluency in producing and comprehending signed communication. Course topics include introductory sociolinguistic concepts relevant to ASL, commonly used communication patterns within Deaf communities, and the representation of geographic information in ASL narratives. Activities focus on developing accuracy, clarity, and confidence in ASL communication across a range of personal, academic, and cultural contexts. Prerequisite: ASL 1420 with a grade of "D" or better.

ASL 2320. Intermediate American Sign Language II.

This course develops intermediate level expressive and receptive skills in American Sign Language (ASL) through continued practice with vocabulary, grammar, classifiers, and conversational strategies. Students review major concepts from ASL 1410, 1420, and 2310 and expand their ability to communicate in increasingly complex situations. Course topics include communication modes used in educational settings, the application of classifiers, discussion of health and leisure contexts, and the study of Deaf art as a cultural expression. Activities emphasize accuracy, clarity, and analysis of signed messages across a range of discourse types. Prerequisite: ASL 2310 with a grade of "D" or better.