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American Sign Language

The American Sign Language Program offers two undergraduate programs. It also offers a number of courses open to all students. They include a four-semester course sequence in American Sign Language (ASL), courses for teacher licensure (see "Hearing Impaired Endorsement for Teachers" below), and courses on fingerspelling, deaf culture, ASL literature, ASL interpreting, and other topics. The four-course ASL sequence satisfies the World Languages requirement of the General Education Program (see "Language for General Education" below). Classroom instruction is supplemented by video materials and interactive software in the Language Media Center.

The American Sign Language Program is one of the academic units in the Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.

Undergraduate Programs

• Certificate in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies
• Minor in American Sign Language

Certificate

The Certificate in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies requires 34 s.h. The certificate program is open to current University of Iowa undergraduate students and to all individuals who hold a bachelor's degree and are not enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in work for the certificate. Completion of the certificate is noted on the student's transcript; it confirms for potential employers and prospective graduate schools that the student has specialized knowledge in the field.

Students may earn the Certificate in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies or the minor in American Sign Language, but not both.

The certificate program teaches students about the history, culture, and language of the American deaf community. It is interdisciplinary, permitting students to link study in two or more disciplines into an organized investigation of a language and culture. Through their study of American Sign Language, students learn a language that is semantically and grammatically very different from their own and that operates in a different sensory channel. They also encounter a rich and complex culture, including a rapidly growing literature recorded on film and videotape since the early 20th century.

Certificate requirements include the four-course American Sign Language sequence (16 s.h.) or demonstration of equivalent proficiency; 6 s.h. of core courses; and 12 s.h. of focused electives in two or more disciplines.

Students may use each course required for the certificate to satisfy only one certificate requirement. But they may use a course to satisfy a certificate requirement as well as a requirement for a major or for a minor in another discipline. Courses used to satisfy certificate requirements may not be taken pass/nonpass.

A maximum of 6 s.h. of transfer credit may be accepted toward certificate requirements, with the approval of the American Sign Language and deaf studies advisor.

Students must declare their intention to pursue the certificate with the American Sign Language and deaf studies advisor. They also must submit a plan of study.

The Certificate in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies requires the following course work.

Language Sequence

Certificate students must complete the following sequence or be able to demonstrate equivalent proficiency.

Core Courses

Students complete at least two of these (minimum of 6 s.h.):

Focused Electives

Students earn a total of at least 12 s.h. in courses chosen from the lists below. They must choose courses from at least two different disciplines.

American Studies

Anthropology 

Communication Sciences and Disorders 

English

History 

Linguistics 

Psychology

Social Work

Special Education

Minor

The minor in American Sign Language requires 15 s.h. of ASL course work, including 12 s.h. in courses numbered 100 or above taken at The University of Iowa, except 158:106 (ASLE:2500) Introduction to ASL Interpreting, which does not count toward the minor. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. The minor must include 158:014 (ASL:2002) American Sign Language IV or demonstrated equivalent proficiency. Students may count a maximum of one course taught in English toward the minor, 158:100 (ASL:4201) History of the American Deaf Community or 158:110 (ASLE:3905) Teaching Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students, and must enroll in the 4 s.h. option with discussion conducted in ASL.

Students may earn the minor in American Sign Language or the Certificate in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies, but not both.

Language for General Education

The American Sign Language Program offers a four-course sequence that satisfies the World Languages requirement of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. The sequence includes the following courses.

Hearing Impaired Endorsement for Teachers

The American Sign Language Program offers courses that fulfill requirements for the Hearing Impaired Endorsement offered by the College of Education. The University of Iowa currently is the only institution in Iowa that offers this endorsement program. Holders of the endorsement are authorized to serve deaf and hard-of-hearing students from birth to age 21. Applicants to the program must hold or be in the process of completing requirements for an elementary or secondary teaching license.

Courses