Option To Liberal Arts and Sciences, (AS.ASL/DEA)

Whenever people from two cultures that use different languages try to communicate, the message often needs interpretation.  For instance, when (hearing) individuals who speak English try to communicate with Deaf individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL), a qualified Interpreter for the Deaf is often requested, and sometimes mandated by law.  With the enactment of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American With Disabilities Act of 1990, professionals in today's global society need to be aware of, show respect for, and provide services to individuals who use ASL.  Knowing that they will interact with individuals from the Deaf community, astute professionals within education, social services, rehabilitation, medicine, mental health, criminal justice, business, and the arts, especially the theater, chose to learn about this unique community, its culture, and its language.

This degree is designed for students who intend to complete a baccalaureate degree in a chosen field (e.g. Biology, Business Administration, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Education, Nursing, Medicine, Social Sciences, the Arts) which serves individuals who are Deaf and who use ASL to communicate.

Students planning to transfer after graduation should consult the catalog of the college where they intend to complete their studies and enroll in courses which will meet transfer requirements.

Students who complete the ASL/DEA Option to Liberal Arts and Sciences requirements should be able to:

• Understand and express ASL messages that incorporate statements, questions, spatial locations, classifiers, conditionals, rhetorical questions and idioms
• Identify and use various linguistical structures of ASL including the parameters (I.E. hand shape, location, movement) of signs
• Use and respond to facial expressions, gestures, and other nonverbal cues in ASL
• Incorporate fingerspelling appropriately in a message
• Define terms in the field of deafness and Deaf Culture
• Discuss basic historical, social, political, recreational, medical, educational, and linguistical issues that effect individuals who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• Give basic examples of geographical, generational, ethnic, and gender differences in ASL

Graduates not immediately pursuing an additional degree frequently work as paraprofessionals in the student's chosen field of study which serves individuals who are Deaf and who use ASL to communicate.  Positions in biology, such as lab technicians; business, computer science, criminal justice, medicine, or social services, such as office technicians; in education, such as teacher's aide or substitute teacher; are chosen.

ADVISING FORM for AS.ASL/DEA for Full-time Students

Prerequisites:

ENG 101 College Composition I (prior to or concurrent with ASL 101 and ASL 103)

ASL 101 Elementary American Sign Language I
ASL 103 Deafness & Culture (concurrent with ASL 101)
ASL 102 Elementary American Sign Lanugage II
ASL 104 Fingerspelling (concurrent with ASL 102)

*See General Education Requirements (GER) on page 36 & 37 of the 2003-2005 BCC catalog.
Selection of GER and program courses should be made based upon knowledge of the acceptability of transfer to the receiving college.  Transfer articulation guides are available in the campus libraries (Pemberton and Mt. Laurel) or in the Student Service Center (Parker 311B) in Pemberton.

**Selection of Electives should be based upon knowledge of prospective major of the receiving college and of the acceptability of transfer to that receiving college.

Home Page