Courses and Requirements
The associate in arts degree program in American Sign Language Studies 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) and Deaf Culture. The program provides for career exploration within the Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind communities as well as the basic academic preparation for transfer to bachelor degree programs.
Graduates will be able to both continue their education at other institutions of higher learning and/or gain employment in residential settings, independent living programs, and other settings that provide services to the Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind communities.
The core and concentration curriculum allows students an opportunity to explore various American Sign Language Studies fields which enables the student to choose the field of specialization best suited to the students interests and abilities. The concentration areas of ASL Studies include ASL Studies, and Interpreting Transfer, and Human Services. Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all ASL and DST courses in order to move to the next level of courses and for graduation. A minimum of 61 credit hours are required for graduation.
Program Prerequisites: ASL101 Elementary ASL I and ASL102 Elementary ASL II with a “C” or better or demonstrate comparable skills/knowledge.
Additional Admissions Criteria: Enrollment Services will provide additional admissions criteria for this program. All Admission criteria are available on the NECC website at www.necc.mass.edu/programs. Click on Deaf Studies, the degree or certificate of your choice, and courses and requirements. CORI/SORI/CHRI: Students interested in participating in this academic program may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, a Criminal Records Central Repository (CHRI) check, and /or a Sex Offender Record Information (SORI) check. For more information, visit www.necc.mass.edu/cori-chri-sori/.
Requirements
| ANT101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 | Global Awareness Intensive |
| ASL111 | Intermediate American Sign Language I | 4 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| ASL112 | Intermediate American Sign Language II | 4 | |
| ASL201 | Advanced American Sign Language I | 4 | |
| ASL202 | Advanced American Sign Language II | 4 | |
| DST101 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 | |
| ENG101 | English Composition I | 3 | |
| ENG102 | English Composition II | 3 | |
Electives
Choose one of the concentrations below
American Sign Language Concentration
| ASL203 | American Sign Language Linguistics | 3 | Information Literacy Intensive |
| ASL205 | Deaf Literature & ASL Folklore | 3 | |
| COM111 | Public Speaking | 3 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST191 | Deaf Community Practicum | 2 | Written Communication Intensive |
| DST205 | Deaf Culture | 3 | |
Program Elective for American Sign Language Concentration - Choose one of the following courses:
| DST102 | Introduction to the Interpreting Field | 3 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| ECE101 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 | |
| EDU101 | Introduction to Teaching | 3 | Written Communication Intensive |
| HUS101 | Introduction to Human Services | 3 | |
Human Services Concentration
| DST191 | Deaf Community Practicum | 2 | Written Communication Intensive |
| DST205 | Deaf Culture | 3 | |
| HUS101 | Introduction to Human Services | 3 | |
| HUS103 | Community Resources and Client Populations | 3 | |
| HUS170 | Modalities of Treatment | 3 | |
| HUS201 | Group Dynamics | 3 | |
| HUS202 | Behavior Management Principles & Techniques | 3 | |
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
| PSY207 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 | |
Interpreting Transfer Concentration
| ASL203 | American Sign Language Linguistics | 3 | Information Literacy Intensive |
| ASL205 | Deaf Literature & ASL Folklore | 3 | |
| COM111 | Public Speaking | 3 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST102 | Introduction to the Interpreting Field | 3 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST191 | Deaf Community Practicum | 2 | Written Communication Intensive |
| DST205 | Deaf Culture | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
Program Notes
Courses are offered during daytime hours only, two days per week. In the first semester, students must be available one additional day to complete their first-semester practicum requirement. Students must have a reliable means of transportation to and from their practicum sites. Students in this option may switch to the Interpreting Transfer Option by the end of their first year provided they maintain a grade of B or better in all ASL classes.
Recommended Course Sequence ASL Studies American Sign Language Concentration, Associate Degree
Year 1
Fall
| ANT101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 | Global Awareness Intensive |
| ASL111 | Intermediate American Sign Language I | 4 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST101 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 | |
| ENG101 | English Composition I | 3 | |
| MAT | Math Elective | 3-4 | |
Spring
| ASL112 | Intermediate American Sign Language II | 4 | |
| ASL203 | American Sign Language Linguistics | 3 | Information Literacy Intensive |
| DST191 | Deaf Community Practicum | 2 | Written Communication Intensive |
| ENG102 | English Composition II | 3 | |
| | | |
| DST102 | Introduction to the Interpreting Field | 3 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| OR | | |
| ECE101 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 | |
| OR | | |
| EDU101 | Introduction to Teaching | 3 | Written Communication Intensive |
| OR | | |
| HUS101 | Introduction to Human Services | 3 | |
Year 2
Fall
| ASL201 | Advanced American Sign Language I | 4 | |
| COM111 | Public Speaking | 3 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST205 | Deaf Culture | 3 | |
| GOV OR HIS | Government OR History Elective | 3 | |
| Science Elective | 3-4 | |
Spring
| ASL202 | Advanced American Sign Language II | 4 | |
| ASL205 | Deaf Literature & ASL Folklore | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Science Elective | 4 | |
Recommended Course Sequence ASL Studies Human Services Concentration, Associate Degree
Year 1
Fall
| ANT101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 | Global Awareness Intensive |
| ASL111 | Intermediate American Sign Language I | 4 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST101 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 | |
| ENG101 | English Composition I | 3 | |
| HUS101 | Introduction to Human Services | 3 | |
| MAT | Math Elective | 3-4 | |
Spring
| ASL112 | Intermediate American Sign Language II | 4 | |
| DST191 | Deaf Community Practicum | 2 | Written Communication Intensive |
| ENG102 | English Composition II | 3 | |
| HUS103 | Community Resources and Client Populations | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3-4 | |
Year 2
Fall
| ASL201 | Advanced American Sign Language I | 4 | |
| DST205 | Deaf Culture | 3 | |
| GOV OR HIS | Government OR History Elective | 3 | |
| HUS170 | Modalities of Treatment | 3 | |
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
| Science Elective | 3-4 | |
Spring
| ASL202 | Advanced American Sign Language II | 4 | |
| HUS201 | Group Dynamics | 3 | |
| HUS202 | Behavior Management Principles & Techniques | 3 | |
| PSY207 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 | |
| Science Elective | 4 | |
Recommended Course Sequence ASL Studies Interpreting Transfer Concentration, Associate Degree
Year 1
Fall
| ANT101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 | Global Awareness Intensive |
| ASL111 | Intermediate American Sign Language I | 4 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST101 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 | |
| ENG101 | English Composition I | 3 | |
| MAT | Math Elective | 3-4 | |
Spring
| ASL112 | Intermediate American Sign Language II | 4 | |
| ASL203 | American Sign Language Linguistics | 3 | Information Literacy Intensive |
| ENG102 | English Composition II | 3 | |
| DST102 | Introduction to the Interpreting Field | 3 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST191 | Deaf Community Practicum | 2 | Written Communication Intensive |
Year 2
Fall
| ASL201 | Advanced American Sign Language I | 4 | |
| COM111 | Public Speaking | 3 | Public Presentation Intensive |
| DST205 | Deaf Culture | 3 | |
| GOV OR HIS | Government OR History Elective | 3 | |
| Science Elective | 3-4 | |
Spring
| ASL202 | Advanced American Sign Language II | 4 | |
| ASL205 | Deaf Literature & ASL Folklore | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3-4 | |
| Science Elective | 4 | |