Undergraduate Program American Sign Language Minor
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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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).
Accreditation
Portland State University is fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
