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 134-35
College Requirements
Select courses to complete all LAS Competency Areas 136
Required ASL Courses for All Tracks
ASL 104/CSD 270Introductory American Sign Language3
ASL 105Elementary American Sign Language I3
ASL 106Elementary American Sign Language II3
ASL 204Intermediate American Sign Language3
MCLL 482Intro to Sign Language Interpreting3
MCLL/CSD 518Deaf Culture3
MCLL 520ASL: Visual-Gestural Communication3
Track Requirements
Select one of the tracks below15
Open Electives
Select enough electives to reach 120 credit hours13-14
Total Credit Hours120
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 151Nature of Language3
LING 315Introduction to English Linguistics3
ANTH 352Linguistic Anthropology3
MCLL 351Linguistics and World Languages3
MCLL 670Interpreting Interaction: Translation and Consecutive Interpretation3
Total Credit Hours15

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 151Nature of Language3
LING 663Languages and Language Attitudes in USA3
ANTH 352Linguistic Anthropology3
MCLL 351Linguistics and World Languages3
MCLL 670Interpreting Interaction: Translation and Consecutive Interpretation3
Total Credit Hours15

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 151Nature of Language3
MCLL 351Linguistics and World Languages3
MCLL 370American Sign Language Elocution3
MCLL 570American Sign Language and English Translation3
MCLL 670Interpreting Interaction: Translation and Consecutive Interpretation3
Total Credit Hours15

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.