About General Education ASL Classes
Our 1101-1103 courses meet for 55 minutes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and are taught primarily in the target language of ASL. Classes are capped at 24 students to ensure quality instruction and interaction with your classmates and instructor. As our classes are taught in the target language (ASL), we require that all students participate using ASL and adhere to our "voices off" policy.
ASL classes are "hands-on" and highly interactive, which provides students with a positive environment they can get to know one another and create a unique little community. Students are always involved in whole class, small group, and partner activities using ASL and visual-gestural communication. Additionally, our classes include written, signed, and online tests as well as assignments to reflect on developing intercultural competence.
ASL Course Offerings
Prerequisites: None. Not open to students with credit for ASL 101, EDU T&L 101, English 101, or EM credit for ASL 101/1101. Credit hours: 4
Course Description: This is the first course in the three course series in American Sign Language (ASL) that fulfills the GE skills category for foreign language credit. Students will develop beginning level ASL communication skills -receptive (listening) and expressive (speaking) - with vocabulary and grammar in a cultural context. American Deaf culture and history will be introduced with an emphasis on making comparisons and connections to one’s own culture. Course instruction and activities are primarily in ASL. Courses in ASL may necessitate physical contact between students and/or instructor. This contact may include demonstrating culturally appropriate behaviors and/or remediating students’ sign production.
Prerequisites: ASL 101/1101 or EM credit. Not open to students with credit for ASL 102, EDU T&L 102, English 102, or EM credit for ASL 102/1102. Credit hours: 4
Course Description: This is the second course in the three course series in American Sign Language that fulfills the GE skills category for foreign language credit. Students will continue to develop ASL communication skills -receptive (listening) and expressive (speaking) - with vocabulary and grammar in a cultural context. American Deaf culture and history will be expanded upon with an emphasis on family dynamics and making comparisons and connections to one’s own culture. Course instruction and activities are primarily in ASL. Courses in ASL may necessitate physical contact between students and/or instructor. This contact may include demonstrating culturally appropriate behaviors and/or remediating students’ sign production.
Prerequisites: ASL 101/1101 and 102/1102 or EM credit. Not open to students with credit for ASL 103, EDU T&L 113, Speech & Hearing Sciences 103, or EM credit for ASL 104/1104. Credit hours: 4
Course Description: This is the third course in the three course series in American Sign Language that fulfills the GE skills category for foreign language credit. Students will continue to develop ASL communication skills -receptive (listening) and expressive (speaking) - with vocabulary and grammar in a cultural context. American Deaf culture and history will be expanded upon with an emphasis on sports, education, cochlear implants, and the Deaf President Now movement. Course instruction and activities are primarily in ASL. Courses in ASL may necessitate physical contact between students and/or instructor. This contact may include demonstrating culturally appropriate behaviors and/or remediating students’ sign production.
Prerequisites: ASL 1103. This course can be taken simultaneously or after ASL 3105.
Students will develop conversational discourse and personal narrative skills in ASL. Students will continue the development of ASL communication skills both receptively (listening) and expressively (speaking), by expanding on ASL vocabulary and ASL grammar. These skills will allow students the ability to expand conversations in ASL beyond everyday topics. Course instruction and activities are in the target language of ASL.
This course will be taught each Autumn and Spring.
Prerequisites: A grade of C- or above in ASL 1103 or permission/approval from the ASL Program. This course can be taken simultaneously or after ASL 2104.
This course is an introduction to American Sign Language Literature through exploration and analysis of storytelling and poetry of the American Deaf Community. Students will expand their expressive (speaking) and receptive (comprehension) skills by examining and deciphering ASL Literary works by native ASL users as well as by creating their own works of literature using ASL.
This course will be taught each Autumn and Spring.
Prerequisite: None, although some basic knowledge in American Sign Language will be of benefit to the student.
Course Description: This course will survey literary and artistic works, specifically in America, about being deaf that are written or created by individuals who are American and deaf. Through the application of critical, literary, historical, and production theories, we will develop an understanding and appreciation of the complexities of experiencing, living and identifying with, and reflecting on, being deaf in America.
The course will be offered each Autumn.
Prerequisites: 1101, and permission of instructor or department. Completion through 1103 is highly recommended.
Additional enrollment information: For instructor permission, students must have completed minimally ASL 1101, carry a B average in ASL courses, and receive a recommendation for enrollment from an ASL instructor. You must attend an informational meeting. Please see the events for dates, times, and location.
Course Description: Designed to increase student awareness of agencies and organizations that serve the central Ohio deaf community. Students will have the opportunity to use American Sign Language with fluent users and apply their understanding of cultural norms and expectations through providing needed services and support at those organizations.
The course will be offered each Spring.
Prerequisites: Complete ASL 1101,1102,1103 and 2104. Students must also take Italian on the Ground- IT 1198.71 (1 hour) the Spring semester ahead of their program. These prerequisites ensure that students have the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful experience in Italy.
Engage in a Deaf-World that expands beyond America. This 3-week immersion program (typically beginning in mid-June) provides ASL users a foundation for transnational engagement that invites a fresh perspective on ASL as a visual and spatial language. In addition to acquiring knowledge of basic grammar and fundamental vocabulary of Italian Sign Language (LIS) for everyday topics, students will learn about Italian Deaf culture and history. Students will also take basic Italian to improve navigation of life in the city of Siena.
Application deadline through OSU Global Education: February 1st
For more information, see “Study Abroad for Deaf and Signers” on the Office of International Affairs website
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Classes are capped at 24 students to ensure quality interaction with your classmates and your instructor, and are taught primarily in the target language and require that all students adhere to the "voices off" policy. Our classes provide a safe and positive learning environment for our students. Your attendance and participation in every class meeting is expected and highly encouraged for your success.
Several sections of all levels are offered autumn and spring semesters. A limited number of courses may be offered in summer semesters but is not guaranteed. Check Buckeye Link Master Schedule or contact us in advance.
American Sign Language 1101: Elementary Sign Language I
American Sign Language 1102: Elementary Sign Language II
American Sign Language 1103: Intermediate Sign Language
YES! As of Autumn 2020 the ASL Program offers a minor in American Sign Language Studies. Our ASL 1101-1103 series fulfills the university's general education (GE) foreign language requirement as well as the pre-requisites into the minor.
You are encouraged to add your name to the waitlist through Buckeye Link for all sections for which you are available. Contact the instructor prior to the start of the semester and show up to the first class to indicate your interest. If there is enough space in the classroom the instructor may allow you to stay for class so that if you are enrolled through the waitlist, you will be on track. Be prepared that the instructor may not allow you to stay in class if there are not enough seats or space to allow for visual access. None of this guarantees that you will get into the class. The waitlist is operated automatically by the Registrar.Otherwise, continue to monitor your status on the waitlist and be prepared to attend and participate in class if you are enrolled.
No. Our classes are capped at 24 students to ensure quality interaction with your classmates and your instructor. Waitlists are run automatically by the OSU Registrar through the first Friday of every semester. Instructors can only sign in a student after that IF there is a seat available. This is at the instructor's discretion and on a first-come, first-served policy.
It all depends on the circumstances for any given semester, such as if and how many seats become available and your position on the waitlist. The ASL Program has no control over the waitlist process.
Students can sign up for a class waitlist via Buckeye Link and SIS. As spaces open, students are moved up the waitlist and ideally into the class in the order they signed up.
- If the section you are interested in is full, you will be given the option to waitlist for that section.
- You are added into a course from the waitlist on a "first-on, first-off" basis as space becomes available that fits your schedule.
- You should attend the first week of classes if your waitlist number is low. This is especially important for ASL 1101 class since instruction starts on the first day of class.
- The waitlist is run automatically by the Registrar through the first Friday of the semester. After the first Friday, the waitlist is deleted and no one will be added to a course from the waitlist.
- It is your responsibility to know whether or not you have been put into a course and to monitor your waitlist on a regular basis. You will be notified by email if you are added to a course from the waitlist, so be sure to frequently check your email and your schedule from the time you register through the first Friday of the semester.
- After the first Friday of the semester, instructors may sign in a student IF there is a seat available. This is at the instructor's discretion and on a first-come, first-served policy.
This is not recommended, but it can be done. First, you will need to know if an ASL class(es) at another institution has already been approved for automatic transfer credit to Ohio State. See: http://www.transferology.com/. If it does, you will have to complete the ASL class(es) with a passing grade and submit your transcript to the OSU Registrar before you can register for the subsequent OSU ASL class. This means that you will be registering after the OSU registration period has opened and may have decreased chances of being able to enroll in a class and may be delayed one semester.
Note: Course Enrollment Permission Forms will not be signed for students transferring ASL credit from Columbus State or any other college/university.
If an ASL class(es) at another institution does not transfer automatically to Ohio State, you will then need to submit those course materials for evaluation. This evaluation process may take up to three weeks and does not guarantee equivalent transfer credit approval. See the transfer credit page for more information.
If your projected graduation date is your priority, it may be in your best interest to consider other language options. We would love to have you in our series, but we want you to reach your goals too!