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American Sign Language

American Sign Language (ASL) Degree – B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in American Sign Language (ASL) presents American Sign Language as a culture- and community-based language that interacts with other world languages. Through techniques – including immersion and bilingual-bicultural comparison classes, community interaction, research, lab activities, and the use of digital video technology – students gain documented proficiency in American Sign Language, validity within the Deaf community, and numerous networking opportunities within the professional community.

Want to learn more about the program objectives and possible career paths with an American Sign Language degree from Kent State? If so, please review our program outline or reach out to our team for more information.

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About Our B.A. in American Sign Language

Kent State University's ASL degree provides students with comprehensive language skills and cultural understanding of the Deaf community. The program focuses on developing fluency in ASL while exploring the history, literature, and social aspects of Deaf culture. 

Through immersive language practice and theoretical study, students gain the expertise needed to pursue careers in interpreting, education, or advocacy, or to engage in further academic study in Deaf studies and linguistics. Graduates are prepared to work in diverse settings where communication and cultural competency in ASL are essential.

Program Information for American Sign Language (ASL) Degree – B.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in American Sign Language presents American sign language as a culture- and community-based language that interacts with other world languages. Through techniques — including immersion and bilingual-bicultural comparison classes, community interaction, research, lab activities and use of digital video technology — students gain documented proficiency in American sign language, validity within the deaf community and networking within the professional community.

Admissions for American Sign Language (ASL) Degree – B.A.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Participate in informal conversations with other speakers of American sign language.
  2. Engage in some formal conversations in American sign language in workplace settings.
  3. Watch films, plays and other multimedia presentations in American sign language with minimal need to use closed captions.
  4. Interact in American sign language in culturally-appropriate ways.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Prerequisite Requirements 1
ASL 19201
ELEMENTARY AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I
ASL 19202
ELEMENTARY AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II
Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ASL 29201INTERMEDIATE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 3
ASL 29202INTERMEDIATE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II 3
ASL 39201ADVANCED AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 3
ASL 39202ADVANCED AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II 23
ASL 39223SOCIOLINGUISTICS OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY (WIC) 33
or ASL 49309 INTRODUCTION TO DEAF STUDIES (ELR) (WIC)
or SPED 43309 INTRODUCTION TO DEAF STUDIES (ELR) (WIC)
American Sign Language (ASL) Upper-Division Electives (40000 level only)6
American Sign Language (ASL) Electives, choose from the following:6
ASL 29212
APPLIED AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE GRAMMAR
ASL 29213
FINGERSPELLING, NUMBERS AND DEPICTION
Any American Sign Language (ASL) Upper-Division course (30000 or 40000 level)
Major Electives, choose from the following:6
ANTH 48214
POLITICS OF CULTURE (ELR) (WIC) 3
ASEI 43100
SURVEY OF THE INTERPRETING PROFESSION
ASL 19401
EXPLORATION OF DEAF CULTURE
ASL 29212
APPLIED AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE GRAMMAR
ASL 29213
FINGERSPELLING, NUMBERS AND DEPICTION
MCLS 30420
FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURE STUDIES
MCLS 40095
SELECTED TOPICS
MCLS 40096
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION
SOC 32570
INEQUALITY IN SOCIETIES (DIVD)
SPED 43306
FUNDAMENTALS OF AUDIOLOGY FOR STUDENTS WITH HEARING LOSS
SPED 43307
LISTENING, LANGUAGE AND PHONEMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HEARING LOSS
Any American Sign Language (ASL) Upper-Division course (30000 or 40000 level)
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)50
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Students with previous study in American sign language should take the American Sign Language Placement Test and enroll in the correct course based on their score. Students who must enroll in any of the prerequisite courses based on their placement test score will earn general elective credit hours toward the degree.

2

Students should show documentation of a proficiency level of intermediate or above on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (administered off-site) upon completion of ASL 39202.

3

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • To earn the degree, students must successfully show documentation of a proficiency level of either (a) Intermediate or above on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI); or (b) a 2+ on the ASL Proficiency Interview (ASLPI); or (c) a PASS on the Ohio American Sign Language (ASL) Assessment for Teachers of World Languages (Subtests I and II).

Program Note

  • Some courses in the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies are offered on a rotating basis, and course availability may change at any time. Please see the program coordinator or your academic advisor for course planning.

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete the following:

  1. Elementary I and II of any language (or equivalent) and
  2. One of the following options:
    1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
    2. Elementary I and II of a second language
    3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
      1. Intermediate I of the same language
      2. One to two college-level course(s) completed outside the United States
      3. Courses: ARAB 21401, ASL 19401, CHIN 25421, MCLS 10001, MCLS 20001, MCLS 20091, MCLS 21417, MCLS 21420, MCLS 22217, MCLS 28403, MCLS 28404

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer courses. This may be accomplished in one of three ways:

  1. Passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level
  2. Receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University
  3. Demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language

Certain programs may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need a particular language proficiency.

Roadmap

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
!Prerequisite or Major Elective or General Elective 3-4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
!Prerequisite or Major Elective or General Elective 3-4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
!ASL 29201 INTERMEDIATE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 3
Major Electives or General Electives 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
!ASL 29202 INTERMEDIATE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II 3
Major Electives or General Electives 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
!ASL 39201 ADVANCED AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 3
ASL 39223
or ASL 49309
or SPED 43309
 SOCIOLINGUISTICS OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY (WIC)
or INTRODUCTION TO DEAF STUDIES (ELR) (WIC)
or INTRODUCTION TO DEAF STUDIES (ELR) (WIC)
3
Major Electives or General Electives 6
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
!ASL 39202 ADVANCED AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE II 3
American Sign Language (ASL) Elective 3
American Sign Language (ASL) Upper-Division Elective (40000 level only) 3
Major Electives or General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
American Sign Language (ASL) Elective 3
American Sign Language (ASL) Upper-Division Elective (40000 level only) 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
General Electives 14
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Accreditation for American Sign Language (ASL) Degree – B.A.

Accreditation

The American Sign Language teacher licensure program (through this major and the Education minor) is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for American Sign Language (ASL) Degree – B.A.

Graduates of Kent State’s B.A. in American Sign Language are well-prepared for careers in interpreting, education, and advocacy within the Deaf community. The ASL bachelor’s degree program focuses mainly on language fluency, Deaf culture, and communication skills, equipping students to work effectively in diverse settings. 

After receiving their degree, graduates often pursue roles such as ASL interpreters, Deaf education teachers, and community outreach coordinators, contributing to fields like language interpretation, special education, and social services.

Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

5.7%

faster than the average

30,600

number of jobs

$69,920

potential earnings

Interpreters and translators

20.0%

much faster than the average

77,400

number of jobs

$52,330

potential earnings

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

3.8%

about as fast as the average

1,050,800

number of jobs

$62,870

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Why Kent State Is Your Source for an American Sign Language Degree

There are numerous reasons why students continue to select Kent State University for their American Sign Language degree, including the fact that there are plenty of opportunities to expand their professional network and build rapport with individuals within the ASL industry. This can be accomplished through a diverse array of events and workshops, which help students to gain more professional experience as they complete their courses.

Additionally, the passionate team at Kent State is dedicated to providing you with unwavering support throughout your journey at our university. So, whether you’re looking to pursue a career in education, advocacy, or any other related field, know that we want to supply you with the definitive resources needed to excel in any role of your choosing. 

Ultimately, our team understands that each student’s journey within our bachelor's degree in American Sign Language is personalized to their unique interests. That’s why we want to do our part in providing a one-of-a-kind college experience that is tailored to these goals and aspirations.

Apply to Our ASL Bachelor’s Degree Program Today

Ready to take the next steps toward a successful and long-lasting career in the translation industry? If so, please apply for our ASL degree program. And if you have any questions about our program objectives, contact us directly, as we look forward to discussing your future with you.

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