With an Associate in Arts, you can bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing worlds. Upon completing the program, graduates will have a broad understanding of the types and scope of support services available to deaf persons as well as extensive knowledge of deaf culture. The program prepares graduates to facilitate communication between deaf and hearing people using English and American Sign Language.
There are career opportunities that the ability to use ASL supports, such as being an instructional aide for Deaf students, a dorm counselor at a Deaf school, in functions of everyday situations at grocery stores, coffeehouses, or places where Deaf people frequents. Also, to communicate with Deaf family member(s).
The curriculum includes ASL language, immersive interaction, and real-life orientation.
Courses cover basic ASL linguistics, an introduction to Deaf Culture, instruction of receptive/expressive skills, fingerspelling, numbers, and classifiers. Also, grammatical structure and syntax.
Career Opportunities
- Interpreting for colleges and public schools
- Interpreting for non-profit and for-profit organizations
- Interpreting on a freelance basis
Degrees or Certificates
Skills
- Ability to work in changing environments
- Capability to understand the cultural norms of diverse clients
- Effective and sensitive cross-cultural communication
- Knowledge of the structure and content of both English and American Sign Language
- Fluency in two or more languages ›Knowledge of rules of composition and grammar
- Ability to make decisions quickly ›Interpersonal relationships
- Flexibility and adaptability in a variety of settings
