UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Undergraduate students can now study American Sign Language (ASL) thanks to a new minor offered by the Penn State Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
The minor in American Sign Language — open to any undergraduate student at the University — is particularly beneficial to students who plan to pursue a career in fields such as education, social services, healthcare, business, linguistics and communication.
This new minor offers students the opportunity to acquire proficiency in ASL while gaining a deeper understanding of Deaf culture, communication and history. Courses throughout the minor provide both linguistic and cultural knowledge and equip students with the necessary skills to engage with the Deaf community in personal, professional and educational settings.
Students will develop a strong foundation in ASL, focusing on conversational fluency and grammar in both expressive and receptive communication. The ASL minor also explores the social, historical and political dimensions of Deaf culture, allowing students to appreciate the diversity of the Deaf community and the complexities they can at times face.
“ASL and its application transcends any specific major or field of study and can be a beneficial skill to leverage across many industries,” said Sommar Chilton, associate teaching professor of communication sciences and disorders, director of the communication sciences and disorders undergraduate program and ASL program coordinator. “The lineup of coursework for the ASL minor is not only about being skilled in the language but also being knowledgeable about the cultural differences and how to integrate deaf and hearing culture together for success, communication and collaboration from both sides.”
The ASL minor consists of 18 credits — five prescribed courses, each worth three credits, and one additional three credit course that students can choose from a predetermined list. Due to the sequential nature of the ASL language courses, students should allow at least four semesters to fulfill the requirements and complete the minor. The ASL minor does not provide sufficient preparation for a career as an ASL interpreter.
Students interested in the ASL minor can visit the ASL minor page to learn more about how this program may benefit their studies and future career goals. Students who wish to declare the minor can do so via the “Update Academics” feature in LionPATH.