American Sign Language, Bachelor of Arts

REQUIRED MAJOR HOURS	48
REQUIRED MINOR HOURS	NONE
TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS	48
PRESCRIBED COURSES ATTAINABLE IN GEN ED: SGLG 101 AND SGLG 102

The mission of the ASL Program at Gardner-Webb is to graduate students with advanced language proficiency and the cultural awareness and sensitivity to function within the deaf community as interpreters, teachers, counselors etc.

Entrance Requirements to the ASL Major

A student wishing to major in ASL must apply to be accepted into the major. The student may not apply until they are in SGLG 202 or have placed out of SGLG 202. The application process is as follows.

1. The student must submit to the ASL Studies Program a letter requesting entrance to the major, explaining their interest in the major and what their goals are for the future.
2. The student must submit a copy of their transcript along with their letter. The student must have a B average in all ASL courses taken to that point at Gardner-Webb University.
   1. If a student is transferring from another college, the student must submit their transcript and have a B average in all ASL courses taken at another institution.
   2. If the student places out of SGLG 202 but has no prior college-level ASL courses, the student will apply to the major at the end of his or her first semester at Gardner-Webb and at that point must have a B average in all ASL courses taken at Gardner-Webb.
3. The student must provide documentation that he or she has passed the SLPI at the Intermediate Level. All Gardner-Webb students will take the SLPI during the semester they are in SGLG 202. Students transferring in or placing out of SGLG 202 will take the SLPI at the beginning of their first semester at Gardner-Webb. Contact the ASL Program Coordinator for more information about the SLPI.
4. The ASL Studies Program Faculty will jointly review all applications to determine acceptance into the program.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students engage in conversations and correspondence in American Sign Language to provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions;
2. Students comprehend and interpret live and recorded American Sign Language on a variety of topics;
3. Students present information, concepts, and ideas in American Sign Language to an audience of viewers on a variety of topics;
4. Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of American Deaf Culture;
5. Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through American Sign Language; and
6. Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through American Sign Language and Deaf Culture.

Program Requirements

Required Major Hours

SGLG 201	Intermediate ASL I	3
	AND
SGLG 202	Intermediate ASL II	3
	OR
SGLG 211	Intensive ASL I	6
	AND
SGLG 212	Intensive ASL II	6
SGLG 300	Introduction to the Deaf Community	3
SGLG 301	Advanced ASL I	3
SGLG 302	Advanced ASL II	3
SGLG 305	Deaf Culture	3
SGLG 407	Linguistics of ASL	3
SGLG 495	Internship	3
SGLG 496	Internship	3
WLLC 480	Senior Seminar (Capstone Course)	3
WLLC 101	The Science of Language: an Introduction to Linguistics	3
WLLC 102	One World, Many Voices: an Introduction to Intercultural Communicative Competency	3
WLLC 103	The Art of 'Reading:' Introduction to Literary and Film Studies	3

Electives (Choose three of the following)

SGLG 401	The Sociolinguistics of Sign Language	3
SGLG 402	ASL Literature and Folklore	3
SGLG 408	Introduction to Teaching ASL	3
SGLG 409	Special Topic	3
SGLG 494	Independent Study	1-3
	OR
SLIN 303	Fundamentals and Theories of Interpreting	3

SLIN 303: if the student is not an Interpreting minor

Total Credit Hours: 48

Additional Requirements for Transfer Majors

None.

Each student must pass the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) at the Intermediate level during the fourth semester of ASL study in order to apply to major in ASL. The SLPI must be passed at the Advanced level in order to graduate. The student should contact the Director of the ASL program for additional information concerning this process. A fee is charged for each SLPI administration. There is no limit regarding the number of exams that can be taken, but a six-month waiting period is required between each exam.