Nov 21, 2024

Catalog 2024-2025

American Sign Language and Deaf Culture

Location(s): Catonsville, Online

Important Information

Short Description

This degree prepares students with the cultural competency and conversational-level fluency needed to engage with members of the American deaf and hard of hearing community. Students can apply the skills they learn in American Sign Language to a variety of job settings.

Type of Credential

Associate of Arts (A.A.)

Program Code

140

Contacts and Additional Information

Program Coordinator

Ricky Perry, Associate Professor
Catonsville Campus
Office: ARTS 202
443-341-5569 (VP) or rperry@ccbcmd.edu

Additional Information

The A.A. program in American Sign Language and Deaf Culture is offered both face to face and fully online.
Opportunities for Prior Learning Assessment - Contact the program coordinator for information on Prior Learning Assessment opportunities. See Portfolio, Departmental Exam, CLEP, DSST, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate. Several General Education classes have Prior Learning Assessment opportunities.
Articulation and Transfer Agreements - This degree is designed to articulate with other four-year programs in Deaf Studies, Interpreting, and Deaf Education. While there are no program-specific agreements, see other types of agreements such as guaranteed admission, block transfer, and discounts.
The ASLS program does not consider ASL classes from other community colleges to be equivalent to ASL classes here at CCBC. Students may have their ASL skills screened and receive credit by exam for a fee. See Departmental Exam.

Pathway

Humanities Pathway

Curriculum Maps

Curriculum Maps are a tool to provide students with a clear understanding of which courses to take and the order in which to complete them. Curriculum Maps help define a student’s individual path towards graduation, ensuring their time and efforts are not spent on credits that fall outside their program of study.

Each map identifies critical courses that must be completed in order to progress through the program and graduate. Curriculum Maps come complete with helpful hints for students - like recommended course electives and a reminder to apply to graduate.

Select the link(s) below to view the Curriculum Map(s) for this program:

American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Curriculum Map

Semester Sequence

This is a suggested full-time schedule for a student who has completed any developmental course work and has no transfer credits. Refer to the College catalog for specific requirements in selecting General Education Courses .

Semester 1

ASLS 101 - American Sign Language I 3 Credit(s).
Note: Students may take ASLS 101 or ASLS 102 in the summer or be screened into the appropriate starting level. Students should complete ASLS 101 - American Sign Language I through ASLS 206 - American Sign Language V in consecutive order.
ENGL 101 - College Composition I 3 Credit(s).
Gen. Ed. Elective - Mathematics (MATH 125 recommended) 3 Credit(s).
Gen. Ed. Elective - Information Technology 3 Credit(s).
Gen. Ed. Elective - Wellness and Health 3 Credit(s).

Semester 2

ASLS 102 - American Sign Language II 3 Credit(s).
ASLS 121 - Introduction to Deaf Culture 3 Credit(s).
CMNS 101 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 Credit(s).
ENGL 102 - College Composition II 3 Credit(s).
Gen. Ed. Elective - Biological & Physical Sciences with Lab 4 Credit(s).

Short Session

ASLS 203 - American Sign Language III 3 Credit(s).

Semester 3

ASLS 204 - American Sign Language IV 4 Credit(s).
ASLS 213 - Fingerspelling and Number Use in ASL 3 Credit(s).
PSYC 105 - Multicultural Psychology 3 Credit(s). **
Gen. Ed. Elective - Biological & Physical Sciences 3-4 Credit(s).

Semester 4

ASLS 206 - American Sign Language V 4 Credit(s).
ASLS 211 - Linguistics of American Sign Language 3 Credit(s).
INTR 116 - Introduction to Interpreting 3 Credit(s).
SOCL 141 - The Sociology of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture 3 Credit(s). **

Courses Needed for this Program*

General Education Requirements and Electives - 34-35 Credits

General Education Requirements:

ASLS 121 - Introduction to Deaf Culture 3 Credit(s).
CMNS 101 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 Credit(s).
ENGL 101 - College Composition I 3 Credit(s).
ENGL 102 - College Composition II 3 Credit(s).
PSYC 105 - Multicultural Psychology 3 Credit(s). **
SOCL 141 - The Sociology of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture 3 Credit(s). **

General Education Electives:

Choose courses in each category from the list of approved General Education Courses .

Biological & Physical Sciences 7-8 Credit(s).
Information Technology 3 Credit(s).
Mathematics (MATH 125 recommended) 3 Credit(s).
Wellness and Health 3 Credit(s).

Program Requirements - 26 Credits

ASLS 101 - American Sign Language I 3 Credit(s). ***
ASLS 102 - American Sign Language II 3 Credit(s).
ASLS 203 - American Sign Language III 3 Credit(s).
ASLS 204 - American Sign Language IV 4 Credit(s).
ASLS 206 - American Sign Language V 4 Credit(s).
ASLS 211 - Linguistics of American Sign Language 3 Credit(s).
ASLS 213 - Fingerspelling and Number Use in ASL 3 Credit(s).
INTR 116 - Introduction to Interpreting 3 Credit(s). ***

Total Number of Credits Required for Degree: 60

Notes

*Credit students who are new to college (no successfully completed transferable college credits from other institutions) are required to take ACDV 101 - Academic Development 101 . This 1-credit course is designed to be taken in the first semester at CCBC. Students must provide an official transcript(s) from an accredited institution to document successful completion of college coursework for the ACDV 101 requirement to be waived.

**Students who have already completed PSYC 101 or SOCL 101 should meet with the program coordinator. These courses may be used in place of PSYC 105 and SOCL 141.

***This course has an English readiness requirement. Placement testing or transcript evaluation may be required for new CCBC students. Please contact Academic Advising for more information.

Program Description

The mission of CCBC’s Associate of Arts degree in American Sign Language and Deaf Culture is to prepare students with the cultural competency and conversational-level fluency needed to engage with members of the American deaf and hard of hearing community. Students can apply the skills they learn in American Sign Language to a variety of job settings. The curriculum includes expanded analysis of American Sign Language discourse and American Deaf Culture. Students will gain hands-on experience in ASL both expressively and receptively. The foundation from which we educate is based on admiration and respect for the American deaf community as a rich, diverse cultural and linguistic minority who value American Sign Language as their primary mode of communication. This program is designed for both first-time college students and returning students who seek to enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities.

For new students with prior skills in American Sign Language (ASL), the department offers an assessment, for a fee, that may allow students to test out of some or all of the ASL courses and demonstrate fluency in ASL. Experienced students should contact the ASL and Interpreter Preparation office at (443) 840-4274 no later than two weeks prior to the start of the semester to set up a screening appointment.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

function as independent users of American Sign Language both expressively and receptively;
utilize a variety of structure types in American Sign Language;
comprehend main points and standard language in ASL for familiar topics;
utilize conversational ASL in a variety of settings;
recognize Deaf Culture and its sub-cultures; and
be knowledgeable about Deaf history and literature.

Program Highlights

2015 recipient of over $1 million in endowment funding from the A. Eugene and Bernice Hoeper Foundation.
Recognized in 2014 by the Maryland Governor’s office with a proclamation honoring 30 years of service and commitment to the education of students in ASL and Interpreting.
2008 recipient of the commendable ASL Program Award from the American Sign Language Teachers Association of Maryland for commitment to the advancement of ASL programs.
Students will participate in service learning opportunities with local deaf organizations.