American Sign Language (ASL) is used as a primary language of communication by hundreds of thousands of people in the United States. From a linguistic perspective, ASL is unique because it requires very specific facial expressions to convey the grammar of the language, which give context and meaning to its particular lexical body, the signed vocabulary. Unlike spoken language, ASL is not structured around voice usage. Instead, it is a fully grammatically structured visual (rather than auditory) language. It is also one of only a handful of languages in the world that have no written form.

Learning ASL gives you the ability to communicate with Deaf friends, clients, colleagues, and new acquaintances. In our ASL Program, you’ll gain an interdisciplinary understanding of the language, Deaf culture, history, and experiences. You’ll also explore innovative ways to address the challenges that contribute to the marginalization of Deaf individuals, helping create positive change in society.

The ability to communicate in ASL with Deaf people and other ASL users is an invaluable asset, especially in assistive professions such as hearing and speech pathology, nursing, social work, criminal justice, advocacy, and more. Additionally, a combination of ASL competency and cultural knowledge are strengths that create strong candidates for higher-level academic pursuits and future employment opportunities.