ASL Course Descriptions

AMSL 1010: 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 1011: Visual Gestural Communication (3 cr)

The course defines the ability to communicate nonverbally. It places special emphasis on how to use and interpret body language, pantomime, and facial expressions. COREQUISITE: AMSL 1010

AMSL 1015: Introduction to Fingerspelling (3 cr)

This course focuses on fingerspelling techniques, improving students’ receptive and expressive skills so that students will be able to communicate with speed, dexterity, and clarity.

AMSL 1020: 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: Amer Sign Lang III (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 AMSL 1020 or permission of the instructor.

AMSL 2020: Amer Sign Lang IV (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: Amer Sign Lang V (3cr)

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

AMSL 3011: Amer Sign Lang VI (3cr)

This course develops advanced production and comprehension skills in American Sign Language (ASL). Students will learn ASL vocabulary, structure, and grammar. Students will develop and refine advanced conversational abilities, culturally appropriate behaviors, and learn about the culture and history of Deaf communities. PREREQUISITE: AMSL 3010 or permission from the instructor.

AMSL 3020: Advanced Fingerspelling (3cr)

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 2020 or permission from the instructor.

AMSL 4205/6205: Deaf Sensitivity in Healthcare (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 2010 or permission from the instructor.

AMSL 4209: ASL Linguistics (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 2020 or permission from the instructor.

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.

AMSL 4210: Amer Sign Lang Classifiers (3cr)

This course is designed to emphasize ASL depiction by using different categories of classifiers in narrative and conversation. PREREQUISITE: AMSL 3010 or permission of instructor.

AMSL 4211: Amer Sign Lang Literature (3cr)

This course includes storytelling techniques using standard American folklore and other culturally valued forms of literature. This course also examines how culture and language intersect in 20th-century ASL literature. It explores the origins of deaf literature, its relationship with written literature, especially its effect on the development of aesthetic expression of ASL literature. PREREQUISITE: AMSL 3010 or permission of instructor.