The College of Arts and Sciences is excited to announce the launch of the new undergraduate major in American Sign Language: Applied Communication and Community Studies. The program combines language proficiency, cultural competency and community engagement to prepare students to work effectively with and within Deaf communities.

The major is designed for students interested in the formal study of American Sign Language and the experiences of Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, Children of Deaf Adults (CODA) and other ASL users. Through coursework in language, literature, linguistics, history, culture and civic engagement, students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to communicate across communities and contribute meaningfully to organizations, agencies and public institutions.

“The launch of American Sign Language: Applied Communication and Community Studies reflects Ohio State’s commitment to expanding access, connection and belonging through language,” said Director of Undergraduate Studies Kristin Wickham-Saxon, who has helped bring this major from ideation to reality.

The launch comes at a critical time, as the need for professionals with expertise in communication access and disability-related issues continues to grow. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 6% of adults in the United States are Deaf or have serious difficulty hearing, and nearly 29% live with some form of disability. From birth to adulthood, every Deaf person needs full access to language, allowing them to meet developmental milestones, build relationships and engage fully with the world around them. 

“ASL is now the third most studied language in U.S. colleges, and with ASL instruction offered in 180 Ohio high schools, we know there is tremendous interest among students to continue their studies at the collegiate level,” said Wickham-Saxon. “We are especially proud that Ohio State is the only Big Ten institution offering an ASL-related major, providing a unique opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of language, culture and community engagement.”

Dana Renga, dean of arts and humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences, echoed that sentiment. “The college is committed to world language education and is proud to offer 31 languages. A key part of the university’s land-grant mission is represented in the motto ‘education for citizenship’ and this call to action to develop an engaged, informed and civic-minded citizenry is embodied in the new ASL major,” said Renga.

The curriculum emphasizes three key areas: ASL language proficiency; intercultural competence, the ability to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds; and historical knowledge of Deaf communities. Students will study ASL conversational discourse, Deaf literature, Deaf culture and history, linguistics, social systems, civic engagement and more. They’ll also have opportunities to earn course credit through immersive service-learning experiences within Deaf communities, participate in professional internships, and study abroad through the Study Abroad for Deaf & Signers Program in Siena, Italy.

Graduates will be prepared to pursue careers across a wide range of industries and sectors, including business, community organizing, cultural services administration, disability services, finance, healthcare and public health, hospitality, human resources, journalism, law enforcement, nonprofit organizations and public service.

To learn more about the new major, visit the ASL Program website here.