Presents a brief introduction to the U.S. Deaf Community, focusing on the differences in language and literature.  Introduces many common pitfalls experienced by adults when acquiring ASL as a second language.  Provides students with an experience bridging spoken English and ASL via use of visual-gestural, non-verbal communication.  Lecture 2 hours per week.

Introduces the fundamentals of American Sign Language (ASL) used by the Deaf Community, including basic vocabulary, syntax, fingerspelling, and grammatical non-manual signals.  Focuses on communicative competence.  Develops gestural skills as a foundation for ASL enhancement.  Introduces cultural knowledge and increases understanding of the Deaf Community. Lecture 4 hours per week. Laboratory 0 hours per week. Total 4 hours per week.

ASL 125 History and Culture of the Deaf Community I (3 cr.)

Examines the history of the Deaf Community and presents an overview of various aspects of Deaf Culture, including educational and legal issues. Lecture 3 hours per week.

ASL 150 Working with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People (3 cr.)

Explores career options for serving Deaf/hard-of-hearing people and/or for using American Sign Language skills in a career.  Examines interests, skills, and educational assessments.  Investigates job market viability via the Internet and professional periodicals.  Develops opportunities for students to network with professionals in the field of deafness.  Lecture 3 hours per week.

ASL 201-202 American Sign Language III-IV (3 cr.) (3 cr.)

Develops vocabulary, conversational competence, and grammatical knowledge with a total immersion approach.  Introduces increasingly complex grammatical aspects including those unique to ASL.  Discusses culture and literature.  Encourages contact with the Deaf Community to enhance linguistic and cultural knowledge.  Prerequisite:  ASL 102 or permission of instructor.  Lecture 3 hours per week.

ASL 220 Comparative Linguistics:  ASL and English (3 cr.)

Describes spoken English and ASL (American Sign Language) on five levels:  phonological, morphological, lexical, syntactic, and discourse.  Compares and contrasts the two languages on all five levels using real-world examples.  Documents similarities between signed languages and spoken languages in general.  Describes the major linguistic components and processes of English and ASL.  Introduces basic theories regarding ASL structure.  Emphasizes ASL's status as a natural language by comparing and contrasting similarities and unique differences between the two languages.  Prerequisite:  ASL 102.  Lecture 3 hours per week.

ASL 225 Literature of the U.S. Deaf Community (3 cr.)

Presents an overview of various aspects of literature common in the U.S. Deaf Community, including those forms written in English and those forms signed in ASL.  Applies the recurring themes and metaphors in the context of the history of the U.S. Deaf Community.  Lecture 3 hours per week.

ASL 261-262  American Sign Language V-VI (3 cr.) (4 cr.)

Develops advanced American Sign Language comprehension and production skills.  Emphasizes advanced linguistic aspects of ASL.  Presents ASL literary forms.  Encourages contact with the Deaf Community.  Prerequisite:  ASL 202.  Lecture 3 hours per week for ASL 261. Lecture 4 hours per week for ASL 262.

ASL 290 Coordinated Internship (2 cr.)

Supervises on-the-job training in selected business, industrial or service firms coordinated by the college.  Credit to practice ratio is 1:2.  May be repeated for credit.  Laboratory 4 hours per week.

02.18.08