ASL Course Descriptions

Beginning Fall 2022, all American Sign Language courses will use the prefix AMSL instead of AUSP.

AMSL 1010: Intro Amer Sign Lang I (3 cr)

Basic comprehension and expressive skills in American Sign Language (ASL), including vocabulary, grammar, and finger spelling. Includes in- and out-of-class practice and practical applications.

AMSL 1020: Intro Amer Sign Lang II (3 cr)

Further development of production and comprehension of ASL, including vocabulary, grammar, sentence structures, conversational strategies, and cultural/linguistic aspects. Prerequisite: Satisfactory performance in AMSL 1010 or permission of the instructor.

AMSL 2010: Intermed Amer Sign Lang I (3 cr)

Development of visual-spatial (gestural) skills and improvement of expressive fluency and receptive skills. The use of lexicalized signs and fluency/accuracy of finger-spelling will be developed. Prerequisite: Satisfactory performance in AMSL1020 or permission of the instructor.

AMSL 2020: Intermed Amer Sign Lang II (3 cr)

Continued development of conversational ASL skills, expressive fluency, and receptive skills. The use of lexicalized signs and fluency of finger-spelling will be honed. Prerequisite: Satisfactory performance in AMSL 2010 or permission of the instructor.

AMSL 3010: Advanced ASL (3cr)

The course continues development of conversational skills, receptive skills, and expressive fluence in American Sign Language. Prerequisite: Satisfactory performance in AMSL 2020.

AMSL 3020: Advanced Fingerspelling (as of fall 2020) (3 cr)

This course will develop expressive and receptive fingerspelling skills that focus on whole-word and phrase recognition as well as identifying fingerspelling words in context and developing speed, clarity, and fluency. PREREQUISITE: AMSL 1020 or permission of instructor.

AMSL 4205/6205: ASL for Speech Pathologists, Audiologists, and Educators (3cr)

This course presents (1) basic vocabulary and grammar of American Sign Language appropriate for use in the classroom and therapy setting and (2) specific topics, information, and strategies that provide exposure to elements of Deaf Culture and the Deaf community for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and educators. Cross listing: 6205.

AMSL 4206: Deaf Culture and Deaf History (3cr)

This course is designed to introduce the most important aspects of the American Deaf experience by exploring the history, contributions, and contemporary lives of Deaf people in America. Cross listing: 6206.

AMSL 4207: Psychological, Sociological, and Educational Perspectives of Deafness

This class focuses on multiple perspectives including psychological, sociological, and educational issues from the point of view of d/Deaf adults and professionals in these fields who work with the d/Deaf. PREREQUISITE: AMSL 1010 or AMSL 4205/6205. Cross listing: AMSL 6207

AMSL 4208: Introduction to Interpreting American Sign Language (3cr)

This course guides the student through the process necessary for becoming a qualified interpreter in a market that is rapidly changing by providing a broad base of knowledge that addresses current trends and promotes critical thinking and open dialogue about the necessary competencies, conditions, boundaries, and ethics to become an interpreter. Prerequisite: AMSL 1020 and AMSL 3020.

AMSL 4209: Linguistics of American Sign Language (3cr)

This course defines language and linguistics as it refers to American Sign Language focusing on the primary traditions of communication, pattern formation, and cognition. Prerequisite: AMSL 2010.

AUSP 2001: Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders (3cr)

Introduction to the broad field of communication sciences and disorders through exploration of treatment areas, populations that are served, and settings in which individuals with communication disorders and differences are served.

AUSP 4106/6106: Introduction to Audiology (3cr)

Introduction to anatomy and physiology of the ear; the etiology, pathology and treatment of hearing loss; and the education implications of hearing loss; also introduces hearing assessment techniques, including audiogram interpretation.