Hero Image

Women and man signing to each other while sitting on a coach.

Title

American Sign Language

Intro

Strengthen your American Sign Language skills and gain a better understanding of Deaf culture, history and experiences. Teachers, healthcare workers, police officers and other professionals benefit by strengthening their knowledge of, and ability to communicate with, Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, and the demand for interpreters is high and growing.

Degrees

American Sign Language Pre-Interpreting Program

Degree:

Associate of Science (AS)

Location:

Moorhead Campus

Credits:

American Sign Language Studies

Degree:

Certificate

Location:

Moorhead Campus

Credits:

American Sign Language and Deaf Studies

Degree:

Certificate

Location:

Moorhead Campus

Credits:

Overview

Program Overview

Whether you're seeking a foundational understanding of basic American Sign Language or plan to pursue an advanced degree in ASL interpreting, our three different degree and certificate program options are designed to meet your needs. The certificate programs provide general knowledge of the language, culture and history of the American Deaf community, while our associate of science degree lays the foundation for you to pursue a bachelor's degree in ASL interpretation.

Whichever program you choose, you'll learn to:

Demonstrate basic ASL vocabulary and conversational skills
Effectively communicate with Deaf and hard-of-hearing people in a variety of settings
Differentiate between Deaf Culture and deafness as a medical condition
Understand that the Deaf community shares a unique set of values, rules and traditions

Related Programs

You may also be interested in our Associate of Arts – Liberal Arts and Sciences Transfer Pathway.

Scholarships/Cost

M State has one of the lowest tuition rates in Minnesota, and thanks to grants, scholarships and sponsorships, more than half of all M State students have a completely tuition-free experience.

Learn all about our low tuition rates and fees at Detailed Cost. To explore financial aid options, visit Paying for College. We also offer Zero Textbook Cost programs and courses, which can save you substantial money on books; learn more at Z-Degrees.

Foundation Scholarships

M State's two foundations award more than $280,000 in student scholarships each year. You may be eligible — learn more at Foundations.

Workforce Development Scholarships

More than 40 programs at M State offer Workforce Development Scholarships to new students. See if your program is eligible and apply at Workforce Development Scholarships.

Business and Industry Sponsorships

M State collaborates with local businesses to offer valuable student support, such as financial assistance, internships, part-time jobs and full-time career opportunities. Find details at Business and Industry Partner Sponsorships.

Sample Classes

ASL1100 - Introduction to Deaf Studies

Credits:

3 (3/0/0)

This course introduces the language and culture of the Deaf and provides a general introduction to the lives of Deaf people. It covers key concepts within Deaf Studies, the diversity of Deaf community members, technology used by the Deaf and professions involving American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf people. Students will analyze existing stereotypes related to Deaf and hard-of-hearing people and the cultural impacts of being Deaf.

IPP2213 - Topics in Interpreting

Credits:

3 (3/0/0)

This course focuses on addressing recently identified trends, skills and knowledge relevant to the development of interpreting students. The course content consists of introducing special topics in the area of interpreting, including team interpreting, religion, medical, mental health, deaf/blind, video remote, and video relay interpreting. This course also examines current certification exams and assessments.

Meet the Faculty

Jerry Geist

ASL Faculty

jerry.geist@minnesota.edu

Kristi Hilton

ASL Program Coordinator

kristi.hilton@minnesota.edu

Additional Details

Our Associate of Science degree programs make it possible for you to seamlessly transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue an advanced degree. There are many advantages of beginning your postsecondary studies at M State, including cost savings due to our low tuition rate and smaller class sizes with personalized instruction. Learn more about your transfer options at Transfer Programs and Pathways.

American Sign Language

Program Overview

Scholarships/Cost

Sample Classes

Meet the Faculty

Additional Details

Get Started at M State!