Bachelor's Degree in American Sign Language – Teacher Certification

Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major: American Sign Language
Concentration: Teacher Certification
Hours: 120

Delivery Options:

ASL - Teacher Certification Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in American Sign Language with a teacher certification at 17�Թ� prepares students for teaching in schools offering ASL for “foreign language” credit in an EC-12 program. You will gain documented proficiency in ASL, validity within the deaf community and networking opportunities within the professional community.

Teaching ASL is considered one of the best, most meaningful jobs in the country. Within this program, you will learn valuable communication skills that you can apply anywhere and with virtually anyone. ASL is a language that brings everyone together, and you will get to learn from experts every day.

The 17�Թ� Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education is an accredited member of the . Lamar presents ASL as a culture- and community-based language that interacts with other world languages. Our program techniques include immersion and bilingual-bicultural comparison classes, community interaction, research, lab activities and use of digital video technology.

ASL - Teacher Certification Courses You May Take

ASL I: This course is an introduction to the basic skills in production and comprehension of American Sign Language (ASL). It includes the manual alphabet and numbers, vocabulary, grammar, sentence structures, conversational strategies, and cultural/language notes. This course will assist the student in developing conversational ability; culturally appropriate behaviors and exposes students to ASL grammar.

Introduction to Deaf Studies: Historical and current trends about the American Deaf community, their culture, and the education of deaf youth.

ASL Structure: A study of the basics of ASL linguistics including phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics.

Linguistics of Fingerspelling: The study of manual performance development of number concepts in American Sign Language used in the Deaf Community.

ASL Literature: A survey of Deaf Cultural themes as expressed in short stories, poetry, drama, humor, and the visual arts will be addressed.

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Career Paths for ASL - Teacher Certification

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most sign language teachers are employed by junior colleges, museums and historical sites and institutions and community services agencies. Top-paying industries for sign language interpreters include the federal executive branch and computer systems design, along with colleges, universities and professional schools.