Minor and Clusters

The American Sign Language (ASLA) minor requires six classes, two intermediate- level language classes, and four electives.

Strong ASLA language skills are required for students declaring a minor in ASLA, and for the successful completion of the advanced ASLA classes. Therefore, a student should have completed ASLA 101 and ASLA 102 prior to declaring a minor in ASLA.

Students in this minor learn about the rich heritage of Deaf people and their language, and will learn how to think critically about what it means to be a member of the Deaf community. Advanced coursework is selected by the student with the ASLA undergraduate advisor, in accordance with the student’s interests and career goals.

Minor Requirements

For the ASLA 102–106 and the 200-level ASLA courses, students must have taken a class in which all communication is in ASLA in the immediately preceding semester. Otherwise, they must obtain permission of the instructor. Some courses may require additional prerequisites. Please note that no more than two of these courses can be conducted in spoken English. See the courses page for complete course information.

Core Courses

Both of the following courses are required:

  • ASLA 105: Intermediate ASLA I
  • ASLA 106: Intermediate ASLA II*

*Students must obtain a permission code from the ASLA program advisor to register for ASLA 106. ASLA majors and minors will be permitted to register first.

Elective Courses

Choose four of the following courses, with at least two courses having an ASLA course number:

  • ASLA 203W: Advanced ASLA
  • ASLA 200: Structure of Signed Languages
  • ASLA 201: Introduction to ASLA Literature
  • ASLA 202: History and Culture of the American Deaf Community
  • ASLA 205W: Art of Translation: ASLA and English
  • ASLA 250: Sociolinguistics of the American Deaf Community
  • ASLA 110: Comparative Study of French Sign Language
  • ASLA 113: French Sign Language and Deaf Culture in France
  • ASLA 204: Theory and Practice of Sign Language Interpreting
  • ASLA 209: Teaching subjects through ASL
  • ASLA 222: ASLA Fine Art
  • ASLA 280: Deaf-Related Careers
  • BCSC/PSYC 172: Development of Mind and Brain
  • ANTH 101: Cultural Anthroology
  • ASLA 208 (BCSC/PSYC 259/LING 208): Language Development
  • ASLA 260 (BCSC/PSYC 152/LING 217): Language and Psycholinguistics
  • LING 110: Introduction to Linguistic Analysis
  • CLTR 200: Censorship/Topics In Critical Thinking
  • CLTR 389: Research Seminar
  • GSWS 105: Sex and Power
  • GSWS 200: History of feminism: Colloquium (cross-listed: HIST 259, HIST 402)
  • GSWS 205:PHIL Foundation of Feminism (cross-listed: PHIL 171)
  • GSWS 296: International Human Rights (cross-listed: HIST 303, HIST 403)
  • GSWS 218 : Gender and Disability
  • HIST 259: History of Feminism: Colloquium (cross-listed: GSWS 200, HIST 259W, HIST 402)
  • HIST 303 W: International Human Rights (cross-listed: GSWS 296, HIST 403)
  • HIST 402: History of feminism: Colloquium (cross-listed: GSWS 200, HIST 259W, HIST 259)
  • AAAS 207: Race, Ethnicity and American Politics (cross-listed: PSCI 228)
  • AAAS 183: Incarceration Nation (cross listed: RELC 183, PSCI 224)
  • PSCI/INTR 267: Identity, Ethnicity, and Nationalism
  • PSCI/INTR 224: Incarceration Nation (cross-listed: RELC 183; AAAS 183)
  • PSCI/INTR 228: Race, Ethnicity and American Politics (cross-listed: AAAS 207)
  • RELC 183: Incarceration Nation (cross-listed: AAAS 183, PSCI 224)
  • PHIL 171: Foundation of Feminism (cross-Listed: GSWS 205)
  • PHIL 247: Philosophy of Language
  • PHIL 223: Social political philosophy
  • PHIL 226: Philosophy of Law

Clusters

We offer three clusters, two in the humanities academic division and one in the social sciences academic division. For more information about clusters, see the .

Humanities Clusters

(H1ASLA001)
Students in this cluster take beginning-level and intermediate-level courses in American Sign Language (ASLA), the sign language used by the Deaf community of the United States and parts of Canada. By completing this cluster, students will have basic proficiency in expressing themselves in ASLA as well as comprehending basic conversational ASLA.

(H1ASLA002)
For students with prior proficiency in American Sign Language, this cluster offers intermediate and advanced sign courses as well as advanced courses on the structure, literature, and translation of the language. Students must be approved for entry into ASLA 105: Intermediate American Sign Language by the ASLA program director.

Social Sciences Cluster

(S1ASLA001)
In this cluster, students explore the literature, history, and culture of the American Deaf community. All courses are taught in ASLA and require intermediate-level proficiency in ASLA before entering. Students who have taken ASLA outside of the University must be approved for entry into their first 200-level ASLA course.