Earning the American Sign Language (ASL) Certificate of Achievement can be an attractive credential for many employers, including schools, workplaces, hospitals, and cultural venues, seeking to be more accessible to the Deaf community. In addition, knowing ASL allows people to make new friends, enhances cross-cultural understanding, and strengthens and enhances one’s mental flexibility.
The American Sign Language Certificate of Achievement Program requires the completion of six courses for a total of 18 credit hours. In three of those courses, students will learn ASL up to an intermediate level. In addition, they will take three other courses that will develop a greater understanding of the Deaf community and culture, as well as exploring the diversity of language and communication modes.
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Engage in a sustained complete conversation on daily events in ASL for 10 minutes.
- Differentiate between cultural expectations of the Deaf Community and hearing communities.
- Use commands and provide instructions in ASL.
- Appraise and summarize the human language experience.