Skip to page content

American Sign Language Minor

From the Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education, a minor in American Sign Language (ASL) is for students who want to develop advanced language knowledge and skills in ASL, competence in the linguistic structure of ASL, and understanding of the status of ASL as the language of the Deaf culture in the United States.

Competency in ASL is a natural complement for students interested in education, human services, speech/audiology, as well as a variety of therapeutic and other professional careers. ASL and spoken languages have many similarities and differences that enable the appreciation of the diversity of human language.

Curriculum

Required Courses: 9 hours

  • AMSL 2010 or AMSL 2010E: American Sign Language III (3 hours, required)
  • AMSL 2020 or AMSL 2020E: American Sign Language IV (3 hours, required)
  • AMSL 3000: Deaf Studies (3 hours, required, Spring Semester Only)

Elective Courses: 6 Hours

Students choose two courses from the list below.

  • AMSL 3010: Deaf Culture and History of American Sign Language in France. Summer Study Away (3 hours, elective)
  • AMSL 3020: Visual-Gesture Communication (3 hours, elective, Fall Semester Only)
  • AMSL 4010: Peer Learning Assistants in American Sign Language (3 hours, elective, permission of department required)
  • CMSD/LING 3120: Study of Language Development (3 hours, elective)
  • LING 3150 or LING 3150W*: Generative Syntax (3 hours, elective)
  • LING 3350*: Language, Mind, and Brain (3 hours, elective)
  • LING 4175/6175*: Second Language Acquisition (3 hours, elective)

*LING 2100 is a prerequisite for this course.

Language Placement Evaluation

Students who have taken ASL in high school or at other universities should request a placement evaluation in order to be able to identify the correct level in the ASL language series and potentially obtain permission to register for an upper level course. Placement evaluations are offered during the months of October and March. Completion of the placement examination is required for the assessment of equivalency for course credit at UGA for any student who has not completed the prerequisite course in ASL at UGA.

Application Procedure

Refer to the UGA Bulletin for course requirements. Minors can be added to programs of study through Athena under the “My Programs” menu item.

Contact Us

Please use our online form if you have any questions for the department. Please be as specific as possible so that we may quickly assist you.
© University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
706‑542‑3000