ASL Connect | Education

Acquiring a new language through Gallaudet University American Sign Language (ASL) Professional Studies is an important investment in your education and in your life. The ASL program learning experience is grounded in excellent language and cultural academics and is further enhanced in a uniquely language-specific environment. This site provides a comprehensive overview of all that this program has to offer. We urge you to inquire, experience, and apply, knowing that you will receive a newfound knowledge that will last you a lifetime.

American Sign Language (ASL) Courses

Students are required to attend all classes and apply ASL, not only in the classroom with their peers but also in various aspects outside the classroom to maximize their language development.

Language Application
In addition to class participation, students are given opportunities to attend Deaf events on campus or an event hosted in the ASL community to better understand the use of the language within its dynamic environment.

Comprehensive and Intensive
These courses include student activities that require them to produce video assignments through GoReact, a web-based tool, which allows students to submit and receive graded work including constructive feedback, provided by the instructor to further enhance the student's language growth.
*Courses are not available for audits
**Online courses are reserved for external students

For registration related questions, email aslconnect.admissions@gallaudet.edu
For general ASL related requestions, email aslconnect@gallaudet.edu

The registration deadline is 2 weeks prior to the start date of course.
International Tuition
Application Fee and Refund Policy

Summer ASL classes available at ASL Summer Residency Program

Beginning Fingerspelling (1 credit)

This course focuses on the application and expansion of classifiers. Rules will be provided for classifier use in various contexts, emphasizing how the signer’s perspective influences the selection of the appropriate classifier. This course is designed to help students develop comprehension and pro fingerspelling skills used in American Sign Language. Within a range of contexts and using a variety of topics, the instructor will guide the students through extensive fingerspelling drills that emphasize clear form and transitions.  This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.  Pass/fail grading basis.
Prerequisite: Completion of ASL II or permission of the department.
Tuition: PST: $316
Course Materials: None

Spring Schedule     Sign Up

Summer Schedule     Sign Up

Fall Schedule    Sign Up

This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.

Intermediate Fingerspelling (1 credit)

This course expands the emphasis on using fingerspelled and abbreviated words as well as lexicalized signs in ASL within a range of contexts. The instructor will guide the student through dialogues and short stories that emphasize clear form and transitions. This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.  Pass/fail grading basis.
Prerequisite: Completion of ASL III or permission of the department.
Tuition: PST: $316
Course materials: None

Spring Schedule     Sign Up

Summer Schedule     Sign Up

     Fall Schedule         Sign Up

This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.

Special Topic: Classifiers I

This course introduces the students to basic classifiers. Skill-building activities are included.  This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.  Pass/Fail grading basis.
Prerequisite: Completion of ASL I or permission of department.
Tuition: PST: $316
Course materials: None

Summer Schedule     Sign Up

This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.

Special Topic: Classifiers II

This course focuses on the application and expansion of classifiers. Rules will be provided for classifier use in various contexts, emphasizing how the signer’s perspective influences the selection of the appropriate classifier. This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class. Pass/Fail grading basis.
Prerequisite: Completion of ASL III or permission of department.
Tuition: PST: $316
Course materials: None

Summer Schedule     Sign Up

This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.

Visual Gestural Communication (3 credits)

Students will develop capabilities in non-verbal communication and visual-gestural communication, studying gestures as a form of communication and a basis for visual language. Emphasis is on learning to think in pictures and building production and comprehension communication skills. This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.
Prerequisite: None
Tuition: PST: $950
Course materials: None

Spring Schedule     Sign Up

Summer Schedule     Sign Up

     Fall Schedule         Sign Up

This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.

ASL I (3 credits)

This course introduces the basics of American Sign Language (ASL) and is designed for students who have little or no previous knowledge of ASL. Readiness for learning will be approached via visual-gestural communication techniques, visual discrimination, and visual memory exercises. ASL questions, commands, and other simple sentence structures are introduced to develop rudimentary conversational skills in ASL. Information about the Deaf Community and Deaf Culture will be introduced.
Prerequisite: None
Tuition: PST: $950 
Course materials: 1) Purchase textbook(s) at eCampus.  2)  GoReact  ($29.99)
Syllabus:  ASL I (Online) - PDF
Note: Payment must be received to finalize your course registration.

  Spring Schedule      Sign Up

Summer Schedule    Sign Up

     Fall Schedule         Sign Up

This course is asynchronous.

ASL II (3 credits)

This course is designed to continue the development of American Sign Language (ASL) skills with a primary focus on refining the use of basic ASL sentence types. Pronominalization, classifiers, spatial referencing, pluralization, and temporal and distributional aspects are introduced. Students will learn routine communicative functions of the language: asking, requesting, providing clarification, giving and asking for directions. Information about the Deaf Community and Deaf Culture will be included.
Prerequisite: ASL I with a grade of "B" or better, or equivalent and permission of program coordinator.
Tuition: PST: $950 
Course materials: 1) Purchase textbook(s) at  Course Materials: 1) Purchase textbook(s) at eCampus. 2)  GoReact  ($29.99)
Syllabus:  ASL II  (Online) - PDF
Note: Payment must be received to finalize your course registration.

  Spring Schedule      Sign Up

Summer Schedule    Sign Up

     Fall Schedule         Sign Up

This course is asynchronous.

ASL III (3 credits)

This course builds on skills learned in American Sign Language (ASL) II, adding more complex ASL grammatical features and vocabulary, short stories, narratives, and dialogues. The course will include a description of general surroundings, appropriate sequencing, temporal aspects, and conditionals. Information about the Deaf Community and Deaf Culture will be included.
Prerequisite: ASL II with a grade of "B" or better, or equivalent and permission of program coordinator.
Tuition: PST: $950 
Course materials: 1)     2)  GoReact  ($29.99)
Syllabus:  ASL III (Online) - PDF
Note: Payment must be received to finalize your course registration.

  Spring Schedule      Sign Up

Summer Schedule    Sign Up

     Fall Schedule         Sign Up

This course is asynchronous.

ASL IV (3 credits)

This course expands on the development of American Sign Language (ASL) vocabulary and grammar, including the use of two to three character role shifts. Students describe settings and explain or discuss everyday objects and their use, step-by-step processes, cause and effect, and culturally significant topics relating to the Deaf Community.
Prerequisite: ASL III with a grade of "B" or better, or equivalent and permission of program coordinator.
Tuition: PST: $950
Course materials: 1) Purchase textbook(s) at  eCampus.  2)  GoReact  ($29.99)
Syllabus:  ASL IV (Online) - PDF
Note: Payment must be received to finalize your course registration.

  Spring Schedule      Sign Up

Summer Schedule    Sign Up

     Fall Schedule         Sign Up

ASL V (3 credits)

This course applies knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) grammar and vocabulary to the description of increasingly complex constructs, processes, and situations. Students incorporate multiple character role shifting into medium-length stories, narratives and the discussion of hypothetical issues. Information on cultural values and attitudes as they relate to the Deaf Community is also examined. This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.
Prerequisite: ASL IV with a grade of "B" or better, or equivalent and permission of program coordinator.
Tuition: PST: $950
Course materials: 1) Purchase textbook(s) at eCampus.  2) GoReact ($29.99)
Click to view ASL V Syllabus in PDF format for more information.
Note: Payment must be received to finalize your course registration.

Spring Schedule     Sign Up

Summer Schedule     Sign Up

Fall Schedule     Sign Up

This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.

ASL VI (3 credits)

This course applies knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) grammar and vocabulary to the description of increasingly complex constructs, processes, and situations. Students incorporate multiple character role shifting into medium-length stories, narratives and the discussion of hypothetical issues. Information on cultural values and attitudes as they relate to the Deaf Community is also examined.
Prerequisite: ASL V with a grade of "B" or better, or equivalent and permission of program coordinator.
Tuition: PST: $950 
Course materials: 1) None  2) GoReact($29.99)
Syllabus:  ASL VI - PDF
Note: Payment must be received to finalize your course registration.

Spring Schedule      Sign Up

  Summer Schedule         Sign Up

This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.

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