AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) AND DEAF STUDIES MINOR
Information Sheet
Academic Advisor: Jennifer Stengel-Mohr, Jennifer.Stengelmohr@qc.cuny.edu
Lead Lecturer and ASL Coordinator: Robert Flaucher, Robert.Flaucher@qc.cuny.edu
ASL is a distinct language with its own unique set of grammatical rules, which differ from those of English. In New York City alone, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community includes approximately 208,000 people, most of whom communicate primarily through ASL. Students in this proposed minor will also learn about US Deaf culture, which is based on the Deaf community’s shared experience and history, and struggle for rights and respect. Learning ASL offers many benefits including expanding students’ understandings of diversity and about Deaf culture, the ability to communicate with Deaf people, and enhanced career opportunities.
The minor consists of 20 credits. The courses are listed below:
Course Name | Number Credits | Relevant Information
ASL 111: American Sign Language | 4 credits | Required Course Eligible for Pathways QC College Option: Language
ASL 112: American Sign Language II | 4 credits | Required Course Eligible for Pathways QC College Option: Language
ASL 211: American Sign Language III | 3 credits | Required Course Eligible for Pathways QC College Option: Language
ASL 212: American Sign Language IV | 3 credits | Required Course Eligible for Pathways QC College Option: Language
ASL 300: Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 credits | Required Course Eligible for Pathways QC College Option: Language
ASL 301: Deaf Literature | 3 credits | Elective
ASL 310: Deafness and Technology | 3 credits | Elective
Course Descriptions:
Required
ASL 111: American Sign Language I-4 credits (eligible for Pathways QC College Option: Language)
Introduction of the fundamentals of American Sign Language (ASL) as used by the Deaf community, including vocabulary, syntax, grammar, semantics, and language in use. Students will be exposed to Deaf Culture in the U.S. and elsewhere, and learn about Deaf history. The course focuses on the development of language and communication competencies.
ASL 112: American Sign Language II-4 credits (eligible for Pathways QC College Option: Language)
This course is an introduction to beginner intermediate level of American Sign Language (ASL). Students will learn the basic skills in developing production and comprehension skills in ASL. Students will expand their skills in using proper ASL vocabulary, classifiers, structure, and grammar with regard to topics covering residency, communities, scheduling, and daily activities.
Students’ goals are to develop basic conversational abilities, practice culturally appropriate behaviors, and learn about the modern culture and history of Deaf communities.
ASL 211: American Sign Language III- 3credits (eligible for Pathways QC College Option: Language)
This course is an introduction to the advanced intermediate level of American Sign Language (ASL). Students will expand their knowledge in developing production and comprehension skills in ASL, in addition to ASL vocabulary, classifiers, structure, and grammar. Course content will cover a wide range of food, descriptions and appearances of people and their ethnic backgrounds, and describing homes in greater details. Also, students will develop basic conversational abilities, culturally appropriate behaviors, and learn about the culture, history and current affairs of the Deaf communities.
ASL 212: American Sign Language IV-3 credits (eligible for Pathways QC College Option: Language)
This course is an introduction to beginner intermediate level of American Sign Language (ASL). Students will learn the basic skills in developing production and comprehension skills in ASL. Students will expand their skills in using proper ASL vocabulary, classifiers, structure, and grammar with regard to topics covering residency, communities, scheduling, and daily activities. Students’ goals are to develop basic conversational abilities, practice culturally appropriate behaviors, and learn about the modern culture and history of Deaf communities.
ASL 300: Introduction to Deaf Studies
Introduction to topics focused on the deaf and deaf community, including audiology, education, culture, and history. Students will explore topics through readings, lectures, and group discussion. In addition, students will learn about the anatomy and causes of deafness, early intervention and education of deaf children, communication strategies and their effectiveness, the deaf as a cultural group and deaf/hearing relationships. Upon course completion, students will understand deaf individuals and their community in a holistic perspective and apply this knowledge toward further studies into the deaf culture and community.
Electives
ASL 301: Deaf Literature-3 credits
In addition to the introduction to the advanced and conversational level of American Sign Language (ASL) students will continue to expand in developing production and comprehension skills by exploring the six major forms of ASL Literature and Poetry. In learning these six forms: ASL Poetry, Classifier stories, Handshape Rhymes, ABC stories, Number stories, and Narratives– students will learn to construct linguistic patterns in using ASL elements such as repetition, rhyme, alliteration, and rhythm by presenting each six major forms. Course content also includes discussions about and analysis on ASL literature and poetry via videos. Students will demonstrate their own ASL narrative using the elements learned throughout the course study.
ASL 310: Deafness and Technology-3 credits
Focus on technology for communication and sound access and its use within the Deaf Community. The history of this technology and its development will be examined for what makes it useful and acceptable to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. This overview will include analysis of the processes of development and marketing of these devices. The hidden burden of device development and usage will be examined.