The Deaf Language and Culture Minor prepares students in the multidisciplinary study of American Sign Language (ASL), Deaf people, their language and culture. Students will focus on acquisition and understanding of American Sign Language and Deaf Culture in order to gain linguistic and cultural competence. The minor coursework highlights a variety of topics in the study of Deaf language and culture; including the study of ASL and its structure, literature pertaining to the Deaf experience, the history of Deaf people in America and around the globe, arts, life experiences and intersectionality of racial, ethnic, age, and other minority groups, oppression in the lives of Deaf people, political, legal, sustainability perspective on the potentialities of the Deaf identity, and educational issues impacting members of the Deaf community. Emphasis is placed on inclusion, allyship, access, diversity and becoming a global citizen. A Deaf Language and Culture Minor complements majors across a variety of fields, including but not limited to; education, business, science, health science, political science, communication, psychology, and various technical fields.
Contact Information
languageandculture@css.edu
Learning Outcomes
The student completing the Deaf Language and Culture Minor will be able to:
- Handle most communicative tasks and social situations, and be able to initiate, sustain, and close a general conversation using a wide variety of communicative strategies that are easily understood by native signers.
- Understand and respond appropriately to longer stretches of connected discourse in American Sign Language on a variety of topics.
- Sign cohesive summaries, narratives, presentations and essays.
- Comprehend and respond critically to prose of several signed paragraphs in length, such as short stories, news items, correspondence and general technical, cultural, and historical texts.
- Integrate their knowledge of the history, culture, values and diversity of Deaf communities into their interactions while understanding the impact of power, privilege and oppression on Deaf experiences.
Requirements
Students must achieve the following program requirements for all courses listed under Program Requirements and Program Required Courses for the Deaf Language and Culture Minor.
Program Requirements
Minor Credits: 20
Minimum Grade: C-
Program Required Courses
20 credits beyond ASL 1112 Beginning American Sign Language and Culture II that must include:
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| ASL 2201 | Intermediate American Sign Language I 1 | 4 |
| ASL 2202 | Intermediate American Sign Language II 1 | 4 |
| ASL 2305 | Deaf Culture in the World | 4 |
| ASL 3305 | In Search of Deafhood-Advanced Signing in Context | 4 |
| ASL 4555 | ASL Internship | 4 |
| or ASL 3999 | Independent Study in ASL |
| or ASL 4777 | Topics in American Sign Language |
| or ASL 4999 | Independent Study |
| or GSJ 4555 | GSJ Internship |
| Total Credits | 20 |
