American Sign Language Studies

Contact Us

ASL Studies

Kara Gournaris

ASL Studies Program Coordinator

Office: RWEC 132

Phone: 503-838-8324

Email: gournark@wou.edu

Our mission is to create and transmit knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) in a climate that promotes respect for Deaf culture, Deaf history and Deaf Community.

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate the ability to express and comprehend ASL.
Portray the ability to recognize and analyze ASL linguistics features.
Practice sensitivity and understanding toward diverse Deaf
communities.
Develop foundational skills suitable for pursuing higher education
and careers that use ASL.

ASL course rotation

Course	Term Taught
ASL 101: ASL I	Fall
ASL 102: ASL II Prerequisite: ASL 101	Winter
ASL 103: ASL III Prerequisite: ASL 102	Spring
ASL 201: ASL IV Prerequisite: ASL 103	Fall
ASL 202: ASL V Prerequisite: ASL 201	Winter
ASL 203: ASL VI Prerequisite: ASL 202	Spring, Summer
ASL 205: Introduction to ASL Studies	Fall, Winter, Spring
ASL 215: Visual / Gestural Communication Prerequisite: ASL 103	Spring
ASL 301: ASL VII Prerequisite: ASL 203	Fall
ASL 302: ASL VIII Prerequisite: ASL 301	Winter
ASL 303: ASL IX Prerequisite: ASL 302	Spring
ASL 315: American Deaf Culture Prerequisite: ASL 203	Fall, Winter, Spring
ASL 320: Deaf Women: Sociolinguistic, Historical and Contemporary Issues Prerequisite: ASL 203	Spring
ASL 325: ASL Literature Prerequisite: ASL 203	Fall, Winter, Spring
ASL 330: Special Topics in ASL Prerequisite: ASL 203	Spring
ASL 340: Introduction to the Deaf Latino Community Prerequisite: ASL 203	Spring
ASL 353: Linguistics of ASL Prerequisites (or corequisites): ASL 303, LING 310	Spring, Summer
ASL 360: Black Deaf Culture Prerequisite: ASL 203	Spring
ASL 407: Seminar Prerequisite: ASL 203	Spring
ASL 409: Practicum	Fall, Winter, Spring
ASL 413: ASL Cherology / Phonology Prerequisites: ASL 303, ASL 353	Fall
ASL 414: ASL Morphology Prerequisites: ASL 303, ASL 353	Winter
ASL 415: ASL Syntax and Semantics Prerequisites: ASL 303, ASL 353	Spring
ASL 420: Sociolinguistics of Deaf Communities Prerequisites: ASL 303, LING 310, GenEd Writing Course	Fall
ASL 429: American Deaf History	Fall, Spring, Summer
ASL 440: Mental Health in the Deaf Community	Winter
ASL 456: First and Second Language Acquisition: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Prerequisites: ASL 303, ASL 353	Winter, Summer
ASL 460: Black American Sign Language Prerequisite: ASL 353	Winter
ASL 470: DeafBlind Culture Community Guiding	Winter

View Course Plan for ASL Major

View Course Plan for ASL Minor

Careers

Opportunities for our graduates include deaf rehabilitation counseling, deaf education, ASL teacher, linguistics, research specialist, consultant, advocate, deaf/hearing interpreting, and more.

Successful graduates are prepared in ASL linguistics and deaf culture, and are sought after for non-interpreter positions where they must interact in ASL, for example, in schools and other programs for the deaf, video relay services and other businesses catering to deaf clientele.

The ASL degree also prepares students for graduate programs where this language and cultural knowledge is required, for example, in rehabilitation counseling and teacher education.