American Sign Language (ASL): Applied Communication and Community Studies

Upon admission to the university, students can declare a major in ASL: Applied Communication and Community Studies within the College of Arts and Sciences. Students in the major work with an academic advisor to create a program of study to complete General Education requirements and major course work that best suits their interests and career plans.

ASL 1101-1103 are prerequisites to the upper-level courses. Students take ASL 2104, Conversational Discourse I, and nine additional core courses to complete the major.

Courses within the major are taught completely in ASL, providing students the opportunity to experience deep engagement through language immersion. Coursework focuses on the development of:

• Strong communication abilities
• Critical thinking skills
• Applying one’s knowledge and skills related to both language and community studies 

Language studies consist of:

• ASL linguistics
• Discourse
• Signed literature
• Rhetoric

Community studies consist of:

• History
• Culture
• Arts
• Accessibility
• The lived experiences of deaf and hard of hearing people

Study abroad opportunities are available and can be an essential part of gaining advanced language skills and developing intercultural competence. One example is the Study Abroad for Deaf & Signers in Siena, Italy program.

Undergraduate ASL: Applied Communication and Community Studies majors are encouraged to interact with members of Deaf and signing communities through opportunities such as:

• The Immersive Service-Learning Within Deaf Communities course
• Internships
• Work study

There are numerous ways for undergraduate ASL: Applied Communication and Community Studies majors to enhance their language skills outside the classroom including:

• Two student organizations for signers, Deaf-Hearing OSU and Minority Students Learning Signs,
• Presentations by faculty and visiting scholars
• Volunteer opportunities and social activities sponsored by the ASL Program and Buckeye Sign Language and Multimodal Collaborative
• Signing Carmen Ohio and the national anthem on the field during home football games

Students with a Bachelor of Arts in ASL: Applied Communication and Community Studies will be viable candidates for a variety of public, private, and non-profit sector positions within areas such as:

• Business
• Civil service
• Community organizing
• Cultural services administration
• Digital interface design
• Finance
• Health services
• Hospitality
• Human resources
• Journalism
• Law enforcement 
• Medicine
• Mission work
• Performing arts
• Politics (lobbying and legislation)
• Public health
• Research
• Tutoring

Graduates are also strong candidates for positions requiring engagement within Deaf communities including:

• Residential schools
  • Administration
  • Human resources
  • Student life
  • Teacher’s aide
• Advocacy organizations and social service agencies
  • Adult education
  • Counseling
  • Deaf community services centers
  • Domestic violence survivor advocacy
  • Job coaching
  • Senior services for the Deaf
  • Support services for deaf people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

The major also provides a foundation for students to apply their knowledge and skills in their pursuit of graduate or professional study opportunities in various fields of study such as:

• ASL education
• Audiology
• Deaf education
• Disability rights
• Early childhood education
• Interpreting
• Law
• Linguistics
• Medicine
• Mental health counseling
• Nursing
• Occupational therapy
• Psychology
• Public policy
• Social work
• Speech and language pathology
• Vocational rehabilitation counseling

A key part of the university's land-grant mission is represented in the motto "education for citizenship.” This call to action to develop an engaged, informed, and civic-minded citizenry is embodied in the ASL: Applied Communication and Community Studies major. Our graduates ensure appropriate policies and practices are effectively implemented throughout agencies, organizations, and communities. 

The goals of the ASL: Applied Communication and Community Studies major are for students to develop:

1. Intermediate-level ASL proficiency,
2. The attitudes, knowledge, skills, and qualities to behave and communicate effectively and appropriately to achieve their goals, and
3. An understanding of the history and culture of deaf communities in the United States and beyond.