Sign Language Studies Course Offerings

Department of Sign Language Studies - Course Offerings

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Course Offerings

Course # Course Credit Hours

SGN 101 American Sign Language I 4

SGN 102 American Sign Language II 4

SGN 103 Fingerspelling and Numbering Systems in American Sign Language 3

SGN 104 CASE: Conceptually Accurate Signed English 1 - 3

SGN 201 American Sign Language III 4

SGN 202 American Sign Language IV 3

SGN 205 American Sign Language V 3

SGN 210 American Sign Language Community: A Cultural Perspective 4

Course Descriptions

SGN 101

American Sign Language V

4 hrs.

Introduces the student to American Sign Language with emphasis on receptive and expressive vocabulary skill development and appropriate use of grammatical structures. Information about the Deaf community and its culture is also presented. Designed for students with no previous experience in American Sign Language.

SGN 102

American Sign Language II

4 hrs.

Reviews American Sign Language vocabulary and grammar essentials presented in SGN 101 and continues receptive and expressive American Sign Language skill development and application of increasingly complex grammatical structures. Additional cultural information is presented.

Prerequisite: SGN 101 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson.

SGN 103

Fingerspelling and Numbering Systems in American Sign Language

3 hrs.

Provides instruction in the rules of fingerspelling and numbering systems in American Sign Language. Students will have opportunities for practice in the development of expressive and receptive skills at increasing levels of complexity. Receptive skill development focuses on whole words and numbers in isolation, as well as reading fingerspelling and numbers embedded in signed sentences. Expressive skill development focuses on accuracy, fluency, clarity and speed.

Prerequisite: SGN 101 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson.

SGN 104

CASE: Conceptually Accurate Signed English

1-3 hrs.

Provides instruction in conceptually accurate signed English and introduces students to deaf culture. Combines English grammatical structures with American Sign Language signs, initialized signs, fingerspelling and specific ASL linguistic principles. Designed for parents and teachers of the hearing impaired, other interested professionals and students preparing to enter the Sign Language Interpreting Program.

One Credit: Covers introduction to the manual alphabet and numbers 1-20, basic linguistic principles including signing space, sight line, sign parameters, Time line and questions, and basic vocabulary skill development and introduces the student to deaf culture.

Two Credits: Covers preceding content along with numbers 20-30, linguistic principles: negation, present and absent referent, person affix/agency, additional lexical items and information regarding myths and stereotypes and conversation regulators.

Three Credits: Covers preceding content along with numbers 30-100, directional verbs, number incorporation, noun-verb pairs, classifiers, and lexical development and cultural information, including the deaf community and deaf education.

SGN 201

American Sign Language III

4 hrs.

Reviews American Sign Language vocabulary, language functions and grammatical structures presented in SGN 102. Focuses on grammatical and lexical expansion with emphasis on idiomatic usage and socio-cultural communicative functions. Introduces students to narrative and other ASL literary forms.

Prerequisite: SGN 102 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson.

SGN 202

American Sign Language IV

3 hrs.

This course reviews American Sign Language vocabulary, language functions and grammatical structures presented in SGN 201. Focuses on grammatical and lexical expansion with emphasis on idiomatic usage and socio-cultural functions. Continues work on narration and expository discourse.

Prerequisite: SGN 201 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson.

SGN 205

American Sign Language V

3 hrs.

Provides an in-depth examination of the linguistic structure of American Sign Language and includes a contrastive analysis of English and American Sign Language syntax. Designed for students interested or currently enrolled in the Sign Language Interpreting Program.

Prerequisite: SGN 202 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson.

SGN 210

American Sign Language Community: A Cultural Perspective

4 hrs.

Examines the history of American Sign Language and the emergence of the Deaf community as a linguistic and cultural group. Focuses on cultural norms, values, traditions, and rules of social behavior of the Deaf community, as well as minority dynamics and cross-cultural interactions.

Prerequisite: SGN 201 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson.

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Course Offerings
Course #	Course	Credit Hours
SGN 101	American Sign Language I	4
SGN 102	American Sign Language II	4
SGN 103	Fingerspelling and Numbering Systems in American Sign Language	3
SGN 104	CASE: Conceptually Accurate Signed English	1 - 3
SGN 201	American Sign Language III	4
SGN 202	American Sign Language IV	3
SGN 205	American Sign Language V	3
SGN 210	American Sign Language Community: A Cultural Perspective	4

Course Descriptions
SGN 101 American Sign Language V 4 hrs. Introduces the student to American Sign Language with emphasis on receptive and expressive vocabulary skill development and appropriate use of grammatical structures. Information about the Deaf community and its culture is also presented. Designed for students with no previous experience in American Sign Language. SGN 102 American Sign Language II 4 hrs. Reviews American Sign Language vocabulary and grammar essentials presented in SGN 101 and continues receptive and expressive American Sign Language skill development and application of increasingly complex grammatical structures. Additional cultural information is presented. *Prerequisite:* SGN 101 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson. SGN 103 Fingerspelling and Numbering Systems in American Sign Language 3 hrs. Provides instruction in the rules of fingerspelling and numbering systems in American Sign Language. Students will have opportunities for practice in the development of expressive and receptive skills at increasing levels of complexity. Receptive skill development focuses on whole words and numbers in isolation, as well as reading fingerspelling and numbers embedded in signed sentences. Expressive skill development focuses on accuracy, fluency, clarity and speed. *Prerequisite:* SGN 101 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson. SGN 104 CASE: Conceptually Accurate Signed English 1-3 hrs. Provides instruction in conceptually accurate signed English and introduces students to deaf culture. Combines English grammatical structures with American Sign Language signs, initialized signs, fingerspelling and specific ASL linguistic principles. Designed for parents and teachers of the hearing impaired, other interested professionals and students preparing to enter the Sign Language Interpreting Program. One Credit: Covers introduction to the manual alphabet and numbers 1-20, basic linguistic principles including signing space, sight line, sign parameters, Time line and questions, and basic vocabulary skill development and introduces the student to deaf culture. Two Credits: Covers preceding content along with numbers 20-30, linguistic principles: negation, present and absent referent, person affix/agency, additional lexical items and information regarding myths and stereotypes and conversation regulators. Three Credits: Covers preceding content along with numbers 30-100, directional verbs, number incorporation, noun-verb pairs, classifiers, and lexical development and cultural information, including the deaf community and deaf education. SGN 201 American Sign Language III 4 hrs. Reviews American Sign Language vocabulary, language functions and grammatical structures presented in SGN 102. Focuses on grammatical and lexical expansion with emphasis on idiomatic usage and socio-cultural communicative functions. Introduces students to narrative and other ASL literary forms. *Prerequisite:* SGN 102 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson. SGN 202 American Sign Language IV 3 hrs. This course reviews American Sign Language vocabulary, language functions and grammatical structures presented in SGN 201. Focuses on grammatical and lexical expansion with emphasis on idiomatic usage and socio-cultural functions. Continues work on narration and expository discourse. *Prerequisite:* SGN 201 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson. SGN 205 American Sign Language V 3 hrs. Provides an in-depth examination of the linguistic structure of American Sign Language and includes a contrastive analysis of English and American Sign Language syntax. Designed for students interested or currently enrolled in the Sign Language Interpreting Program. *Prerequisite:* SGN 202 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson. SGN 210 American Sign Language Community: A Cultural Perspective 4 hrs. Examines the history of American Sign Language and the emergence of the Deaf community as a linguistic and cultural group. Focuses on cultural norms, values, traditions, and rules of social behavior of the Deaf community, as well as minority dynamics and cross-cultural interactions. *Prerequisite:* SGN 201 with a grade of "C" or better or consent of department chairperson.
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