American Sign Language, Associate in Arts

The Associate in Arts in American Sign Language (ASL) program is designed for students who wish to acquire verbal and written language proficiency, develop an awareness of Deaf culture, and pursue a career or further degrees in ASL, Deaf Studies, interpreting, linguistics, education, audiology, and other related fields. ASL is taught using the communicative approach, emphasizing conversational practice, work with authentic texts, linguistic competence, and cultural awareness

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Engage in conversation and interactions with users of ASL employing the necessary rules of pronunciation, grammar, and syntax.
  • Understand and interpret ASL and respond to it at all levels of proficiency.
  • Understand and interpret texts (video) in ASL at various levels of proficiency.
  • Convey information, concepts, and ideas in text (video) of the target language to an audience on a variety of topics.
  • Exhibit a comprehensive understanding of Deaf culture and its social and cultural influences.

Associate in Arts Degree Major Requirements

Required Core
LING 10Foundations of Language3
SIGN 1AElementary American Sign Language I5
SIGN 1BElementary American Sign Language II5
SIGN 2AIntermediate American Sign Language5
SIGN 2BAdvanced American Sign Language II5-6
or SIGN 10
SIGN 20
Structure and Culture of American Sign Language
and Introduction to Deaf Culture
TOTAL MAJOR UNITS23-24
Additional Requirements36-37
Complete Competency Requirements, general education pattern (MPC General Education, CSU General Education, or IGETC), and electives, if needed, for a total of 60 degree-applicable units.
Total Units60

Please refer to the graduation requirements section of the Catalog for information about degree and certificate requirements including Reading and Writing, Mathematics, Information Competency, and General Education requirements.  
 

The model sequence of coursework below is one pathway for students to complete the program. The information below is not an official educational plan. An MPC Counselor can assist you with creating a personalized education plan based on your academic, career, and personal goals. Visit MPC’s Counseling website for more information about Counseling and up-to-date program requirements.

Suggested 2-Year Course Sequence 

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallUnits
ENGL 1A
College Composition
or College Composition: Enhanced
3
LIBR 50 Introduction to Library and Research Skills 1
MPC GE Area A2 (MATH 10 or MATH 16 Recommended) 4
SIGN 1A Elementary American Sign Language I 5
Elective (COUN 10 Recommended) 1
Elective 1
 Units15
Spring
SIGN 1B Elementary American Sign Language II 5
LING 10 Foundations of Language 3
MPC GE Area B & Lab 4
Electives (ENGL 2 Recommended) 3
 Units15
Year 2
Fall
SIGN 2A Intermediate American Sign Language 5
SIGN 10 Structure and Culture of American Sign Language 3
Electives (SPCH 1, SPCH 2, or SPCH 3 Recommended) 3
Electives (US-2 & US-3 Course Recommended) 3
Elective 1
 Units15
Spring
SIGN 2B Advanced American Sign Language II 5
MPC GE Area E 3
MPC GE Area F (US-1 Course Recommended) 3
Electives (SIGN 20 Recommended) 3
Elective 1
 Units15
 Total Units60