Languages and Cultures

American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Studies Program

The Deaf Studies Program at West Chester offers two minors: ASL and Deaf Studies.

 

ASL Minor

Our ASL minor consists of six (6) courses

• ASL101/CSD 110 – Elementary ASL 1
• ASL102/CSD 111 – Elementary ASL 2
• ASL 201 – Intermediate ASL 1
• ASL 202 – Intermediate ASL 2
• ASL 301 – Advanced ASL 1
• ASL 302 – Advanced ASL 2

DST Minor

Our Deaf Studies minor offers two (2) track options: Culture track and Diversity track.

1.) Deaf Studies Culture track

The Deaf Studies Culture track consists of six (6) courses:

• ASL101/CSD 110 – Elementary ASL 1
• ASL102/CSD 111 – Elementary ASL 2
• ASL 201 – Intermediate ASL 1
• ASL 202 – Intermediate ASL 2
• DST 255 – Introduction to Deaf Studies
• DST 357 – Deaf Culture Perspectives

2.) Deaf Studies Diversity track

The Deaf Studies Diversity track consists of six (6)  courses:

• ASL101/CSD 110 – Elementary ASL 1
• ASL102/CSD 111 – Elementary ASL 2
• DST 255 – Introduction to Deaf Studies
• DST 355 – Deaf History

and two (2) choices of the following:

• ASL 201 – Intermediate ASL 1
• ASL 202 – Intermediate ASL 2
• DST 457 – ASL Literature
• CSD 203 – Speech and Hearing Science
• CSD 204 – Speech and Language Development

Course Offerings

As of now, follow the list of courses offered below.

Fall Semester :

• ASL 101 – Elementary ASL  1
• ASL 102 - Elementary ASL 2*
• ASL 201 – Intermediate ASL 1
• ASL 202 - Intermediate ASL 2*
• ASL 301 – Advanced ASL 1
• DST 255 – Intro to Deaf Studies
• DST 457 – ASL Literature

Spring Semester:

• ASL 101 - Elementary ASL 1*
• ASL 102 – Elementary ASL 2
• ASL 201 - Intermediate ASL 1*
• ASL 202 – Intermediate ASL 2
• ASL 302 – Advanced ASL 2
• DST 355 – Deaf History
• DST 357 – Deaf Culture Perspectives

Summer Semester:

• ASL 101 – Elementary ASL 1 (Session I)*
• ASL 102 – Elementary ASL 2 (Session II)*
• ASL 201 – Intermediate ASL 1 (Session I)*
• ASL 202 – Intermediate ASL 2 (Session II)*
• DST 255 – Intro to Deaf Studies

*contingent on students' enrollment

WCU ASL Club

ASL Club is open to all students at WCU who may be interested in learning about ASL. The club meets every couple of weeks on Monday evenings at 7:00pm. Check out their Instagram: "wcu_aslclub" to follow their page and announcements:  https://www.instagram.com/wcu_aslclub/.

If you are interested to add ASL and/or DST minor, please follow the directions on the Update/Change Program form

Career Opportunities

Employers increasingly seek a workforce with ASL proficiency. 
The following are a few fields in which ASL is important:

ADA Compliance Officer
Archaeology
Architecture
Armed Forces
Artificial Intelligence
Arts and Entertainment
Bilingual Coach
Business 
ASL Choreographer
Communication
Counseling
Criminal Justice
Deaf Educator
Diplomacy
Filmmaker
Foreign Service
Geology
Health Science/Worker
Higher Education
Human Rights Advocacy
Journalism
Law
Linguist
Manufacturing
Management
Marketing
Medicine & Nursing
Music
Non-profit organizations
Oceanography
Poet/Literature Performer
Psychologist
Public Affairs
Rehabilitation/Family Counselor
Researcher
Social Work
Special Educator
Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
Support Professional (Mentor, Specialist)
Teaching
Technical Writer
Transportation
Travel Industry
Translator & Interpreter

Deaf Studies Photos