Deaf Studies: American Sign Language Option

The associate in arts degree program in Deaf Studies: American Sign Language Option has been designed to provide students with a broad educational experience, including the balance and diversity of general education and the knowledge and skills of American Sign Language (ASL). Students are provided the opportunity to develop an understanding of American Sign Language, Deaf Culture and the world around them. Graduates will be able to both continue their education at other institutions of higher learning and to gain employment in group homes, sheltered workshops and other facilities providing services for deaf people as the program provides for career exploration within the deaf community and the basic academic preparation for transfer to bachelor degree programs. A minimum of 64 credit hours are required for graduation.

Program Prerequisites: ASL101 Elementary ASL I and ASL102 Elementary ASL II with a "B" or better or demonstrate comparable skills/knowledge. See a representative in the Office of Admission for additional admissions criteria for this program. All ASL and DST courses, with the exception of DST101, require a DST major or permission of the instructor.

Students interested in participation in an academic program that involves working with children, the disabled, or the elderly, or a cooperative education experience or a program that includes a clinical affiliation with a private or public health care provider, may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, a Criminal Records Central Repository (CHRI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check. Students will need to provide a government issued photo identification and sign a release form allowing the college to view the student’s CORI, CHRI or SORI reports. Depending on the contents of a student’s CORI, CHRI or SORI reports, participation in an academic program or a cooperative education experience or a clinical or practicum affiliation related thereto, may be denied. CORI checks may be performed pursuant to Mass. General Laws, Chapter 6, Section 172, and consistent with guidelines promulgated by the Executive Office for Health and Human Services, and/or the Commonwealth’s Department of Public Health. SORI checks may be performed pursuant to Mass. General Laws, Chapter 6, Sections 178(J) & 178(K). CHRI checks may be performed pursuant to New Hampshire law. For more information, contact the Registrar at 978-556-3700.