American Sign Language is the universal language of the deaf community. As a field of study in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kent State University, the American Sign Language program is a four-year, 121-credit hour concentration that leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. It primarily serves to prepare students for teaching positions.
In fact, students who major in American Sign Language as a foreign language and complete an education minor, a 37-credit hour concentration, may earn K-12 teaching licensure in the state of Ohio. American Sign Language graduates with teaching certification predominantly teach sign language to hearing students in public school systems.
In addition to teaching, students who major in American Sign Language may also pursue careers in translating and interpreting. According to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, career opportunities for American Sign Language graduates are substantial and continue to increase, as they have since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Qualified American Sign Language interpreters often accompany deaf individuals to medical appointments, banks and job interviews. American Sign Language graduates also may pursue careers interpreting in educational settings, as well as in social service, rehabilitation, medical, criminal justice and business fields.
With the growing demand for qualified graduates, the American Sign Language program in Kent State’s Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies continues to evolve and expand in an attempt to meet the ever-changing needs of the deaf community.
For information about this Kent State program, visit the Kent State American Sign Language Program Web site. |
