ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS ANY TIME
Gallaudet University’s Professional Studies ASL Certificate Program offers students unrivaled opportunities to learn American Sign Language and Deaf Studies from Deaf educators both onsite and online. Our 24 credit program provides students with specific and practical skills that prepare them for careers that use ASL. Students will acquire proper ASL grammar, vocabulary, linguistics, conversational skills, and will engage with key aspects of Deaf Studies.
Program Requirements and Procedures
- Prospective students are required to take an ASL screening for ASL course placement. Students who have taken ASL Connect’s courses are not required to take the screening. If students come back to take an ASL course after one year, they have to take the screening again.
- Students must complete a total of 24 credits at Gallaudet University with a grade of B or better.
- If students begin at ASL 1, they have to take two Deaf studies courses (6 credits)
- If students begin at ASL 2, they have to take three Deaf studies courses (9 credits)
- To take Deaf studies courses, students must complete ASL 4 with a grade of B or better
- If a student wishes to transfer Gallaudet credits to their home institution, approval must be obtained from the home institution prior to applying.
- To fully access all the high-quality features of our courses, students will need to use a web camera, or a laptop/desktop with a built-in camera, plus access to reliable high speed internet.
General Application Requirements
- A completed application form
- A one-time application fee of $75
- A one-time admission fee of $100
- Possess a high school diploma, or GED equivalency
- Age of 18 years old, or older
- Must start with ASL level 1 or 2 to enroll in the ASL Certificate Program
Program of Study (24 Credits)
ASL Courses to be completed in order
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.
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.
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) NO TEXTBOOK REQUIRED 2) GoReact ($29.99)
Syllabus: ASL III (Online) - PDF
Note: Payment must be received to finalize your course registration.
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.
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.
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.
This course is synchronous. Meeting times and days will be determined on the first day of class.
Introduction to Deaf Studies (3 credits)
This is an introductory survey to the field of Deaf Studies that highlights cutting edge concepts and theories at use in this field. The course will show how deaf people and sign languages are integral aspects of human diversity and how societies have responded to this diversity across different social, temporal, and cultural moments and movements.
Cross-listings: DST 101 Introduction to Deaf Studies
Prerequisite: Completion of a Deaf Studies course or ASL 4 at Gallaudet in the last 12 months, or screening placement into ASL 5. Contact aslconnect.education@gallaudet.edu to schedule an ASL Screening. Permission of department; contact arlene.kelly@gallaudet.edu.
Tuition: PST: $888
RID CMP: Gallaudet University is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This Professional Studies program is offered for 4.5 CEUs at the introductory content knowledge level. Please click here for Academic Coursework Activity Report Form
Course Materials: Purchase textbook(s) at eCampus.
Note: Payment must be received to finalize your course registration.
Deaf Culture (3 credits)
This is a survey of the various areas of study of deaf culture in the United States (history, folklore, anthropology, and sociology). The course begins with a macro-view at the term "culture" as it is seen through American eyes. The definition will then be applied to the Deaf experience. The course will end with an exploration of diversity within the global Deaf community.
Cross-listings: DST 204 Deaf Culture
Prerequisite: Completion of a Deaf Studies course or ASL 4 at Gallaudet in the last 12 months, or screening placement into ASL 5. Contact aslconnect.education@gallaudet.edu to schedule an ASL Screening. Permission of department; contact arlene.kelly@gallaudet.edu
Tuition: PST: $888
RID CMP: Gallaudet University is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This Professional Studies program is offered for 4.5 CEUs at the introductory content knowledge level. Please click here for Academic Coursework Activity Report Form
Course Materials: Purchase textbook(s) at eCampus.
Note: Payment must be received to finalize your course registration.
Oral Traditions in the Deaf Community (3 Credits )
The dynamics of oral cultures and their traditions will be introduced in this course by studying the development of oral literature and literary artists in other cultures. Then using this as background, attempts will be made to study ASL literary tradition by looking at life histories, narratives, and poetry performances.
Cross-listings: DST 204 Deaf Culture
Prerequisite: Completion of a Deaf Studies course or ASL 4 at Gallaudet in the last 12 months, or screening placement into ASL 5. Contact aslconnect.education@gallaudet.edu to schedule an ASL Screening. Permission of department; contact arlene.kelly@gallaudet.edu
Tuition: PST: $888
RID CMP: Gallaudet University is an approved RID CMP Sponsor for continuing education activities. This Professional Studies program is offered for 4.5 CEUs at the introductory content knowledge level. Please click here for Academic Coursework Activity Report Form
Course Materials: Purchase textbook(s) at eCampus.
Note: Payment must be received to finalize your course registration.
Estimated Cost Breakdown:
All courses in this program are paid individually.
- Application Fee: $75
- Admission Fee: $100
- Program Tuition:
- The total cost for the whole ASL Certificate Program is approximately $8,000 to $9,000 including the application fee and course materials.
- Tuition Breakdown:
- ASL 1-6 each course = $950
- Deaf Studies courses = $888
- Program Textbook/Materials:
- Approximately $500 including GoReact and textbooks.
Financial Aid:
- FAFSA and traditional financial aid does not cover PST/non-degree credits. Alternative aid such as Americorps awards, VR, Vet Benefits, tuition reimbursement etc are often accepted.
Room and Board:
- Pro rata refund based on full weeks only (during summer)
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