BA in American Sign Language
Program Requirements
120 credit hours are required for graduation. Students must earn a 2.000 overall GPA, a 2.000 Wichita State GPA, and a 3.000 GPA in their major. Students also must complete graduation requirements for the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the WSU General Education Program.
The major in ASL consists of 36 credit hours of coursework within one of the following tracks, each of which includes 12 credit hours of ASL foundation courses and 9 credit hours of upper-division course work in deaf culture, interpreting and nonverbal communication.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Select courses to meet General Education requirements 1 | 34-35 | |
| College Requirements | ||
| Select courses to complete all LAS Competency Areas 1 | 36 | |
| Required ASL Courses for All Tracks | ||
| ASL 104/CSD 270 | Introductory American Sign Language | 3 |
| ASL 105 | Elementary American Sign Language I | 3 |
| ASL 106 | Elementary American Sign Language II | 3 |
| ASL 204 | Intermediate American Sign Language | 3 |
| MCLL 482 | Intro to Sign Language Interpreting | 3 |
| MCLL/CSD 518 | Deaf Culture | 3 |
| MCLL 520 | ASL: Visual-Gestural Communication | 3 |
| Track Requirements | ||
| Select one of the tracks below | 15 | |
| Open Electives | ||
| Select enough electives to reach 120 credit hours | 13-14 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Required major courses may also count towards General Education and/or LAS Competencies. Students will need to select additional electives to reach 120 credit hours required for graduation with assistance from an advisor.
The Structure of Language Track
The nature of language, language acquisition and ASL linguistics. In addition to the required ASL courses for all tracks, this track includes the courses below. Students in this track are strongly encouraged to pursue additional coursework in structural linguistics.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses for the Structure of Language Track | ||
| LING 151 | Nature of Language | 3 |
| LING 315 | Introduction to English Linguistics | 3 |
| ANTH 352 | Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| MCLL 351 | Linguistics and World Languages | 3 |
| MCLL 670 | Interpreting Interaction: Translation and Consecutive Interpretation | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
Language and Culture in Context Track
Historical foundations of the profession, deaf culture, deaf studies and social justice concerns. In addition to the required ASL courses for all tracks, this track includes the courses below. Students in this track are strongly encouraged to pursue additional coursework in sociolinguistics.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses for the Language and Culture in Context Track | ||
| LING 151 | Nature of Language | 3 |
| LING 663 | Languages and Language Attitudes in USA | 3 |
| ANTH 352 | Linguistic Anthropology | 3 |
| MCLL 351 | Linguistics and World Languages | 3 |
| MCLL 670 | Interpreting Interaction: Translation and Consecutive Interpretation | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
Interpreting Methods Track
Theories of interpretation and translation along with ethics and protocols for interpreting in legal, medical and educational settings. In addition to the required ASL coursework for all tracks, this track includes the courses below. Students in this track are strongly encouraged to pursue additional coursework in translation and interpreting.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses for the Interpreting Methods Tracks | ||
| LING 151 | Nature of Language | 3 |
| MCLL 351 | Linguistics and World Languages | 3 |
| MCLL 370 | American Sign Language Elocution | 3 |
| MCLL 570 | American Sign Language and English Translation | 3 |
| MCLL 670 | Interpreting Interaction: Translation and Consecutive Interpretation | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
Applied Learning
Students in the BA in American Sign Language are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by successful completion of MCLL 670 Interpreting Interaction: Translation and Consecutive Interpretation or MCLL 570 American Sign Language and English Translation, a course that allows students to experience how English and ASL, as discrete sign systems, convey messages in business, medical and educational settings among others.