Undergraduate Program American Sign Language Minor

PSU student demonstrating American Sign Language

American Sign Language Minor Overview

American Sign Language (ASL) is a valuable language to learn as an estimated 2 million people speak ASL in the United States and parts of Canada. A minor in ASL from Portland State will help you develop the vocabulary and receptive and expressive skills you'll need to become effective communicators with deaf and hard-of-hearing ASL users.

Gaining proficiency in ASL can prepare you for a variety of fields where sign-language interpretation skills are increasingly in demand, including education, medicine, law, and artistic performances.

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Degree Details

Location Definitions:

On campus:: 100% on campus
Online:: 100% online
Flexible:: Combination of online and on campus

m
Minor

Locations

On campus

Total Credits

24

Start Term

Any

Useful Links:

American Sign Language Minor: Why PSU?

PSU's popular ASL program boasts the third-largest enrollment of languages in the World Languages and Literature department.

Our experienced faculty recognize the difficulty in learning a distinct and complex language like ASL and are prepared to assist you every step of the way and provide a wealth of opportunities to practice in a supportive environment.

In your ASL courses, you'll develop fluency in receptive and expressive skills for a variety of settings and contexts, and broaden your understanding of the current attitudes, movements, policies, and trends that affect the Deaf community as a linguistic minority.

What Can I Do With a Minor in American Sign Language?

Being able to communicate with the Deaf community can open the door to exciting careers in teaching and translation/interpretation. Opportunities abound in government offices, social-service agencies, hospitals, courtrooms, schools, churches, banks, offices, and retailers.

U.S. News & World Report says sign-language interpreters should expect an employment boom, thanks to the popularity of video relay, a service that enables people who are deaf to communicate with interpreters online.

Featured Courses

ASL 101, 102, and 103 First-Year American Sign Language
ASL 201, 202, and 203 Second-Year American Sign Language
ASL 299 Special Studies
ASL 301, 302, and 303 Third-Year American Sign Language
ASL 330 Deaf Culture
ASL 399 Special Studies

Core Requirements

An undergraduate world language minor must complete 20 upper-division credits (numbered 300 or above) in language, literature, or culture, at least 12 of which are in the target language, and 4 credits in general linguistics (WLL 390, LING 390, or a linguistics course in the target language).