SIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES (SLS)
Course Descriptions

1000 Sign Language in Society 3 s.h.

A survey of American Sign language and Deaf culture. Emphasis on Sign language structure, history, and usage. Discussion of a sociocultural perspective of Deaf people including readings from anthropology, sociology, linguistics, and education. Includes an examination of American attitudes toward Sign language and Deaf culture.

1010, 1020 Beginning American Sign Language I, II (SPH) 4, 4 s.h.

Development of basic ASL communication skills with appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures. Emphasis on communicative and linguistic functions. Prerequisite or corequisite: SLS 1000. Thirty hours of laboratory practicum required for SLS 1010, 1020.

2010 Intermediate American Sign Language II 4 s.h.

First level of immediate instruction and review of ASL grammatical features with further development of communication functions at the intermediate level. Prerequisite: SLS 1020 or placement. Thirty hours of laboratory practicum required for SLS 2010, 2020.

2020 Intermediate American Sign Language II 4 s.h.

Second level of immediate instruction and review of ASL grammatical features with further development of communication functions at the intermediate level. Prerequisite: SLS 2010 or placement. Thirty hours of laboratory practicum required for SLS 2020.

2110 Orientation to Deafness 3 s.h.

A survey of clinical and developmental aspects of hearing and deafness. Includes discussion of basic audiology, deaf education, and communicative implications of hearing loss. Prerequisite: SLS 1000.

2280, 2290 Fingerspelling I, II 1, 1 s.h.

Concentrated instruction in practice of fingerspelling at increasing levels of complexity. Prerequisite: SLS 1020 or placement.

3010 Advanced American Sign Language I 3 s.h.

Advanced American Sign Language development with a focus English and ASL content and text analysis to increase student vocabulary and understanding of ASL syntactical patterns. Communicative dialogues will emphasize sociocultural aspects of deafness. Prerequisite: SLS 2020 or departmental approval.

3020 Advanced American Sign Language II 3 s.h.

Continued advanced ASL development with further emphasis on sociocultural and historical considerations of deaf heritage. Prerequisite: SLS 3010 or departmental approval.

3310 Deaf Culture 3 s.h.

A survey of sociocultural factors that define Deaf persons as members of a cultural minority. Examination of Deaf history, exploration of cultural characteristics of Deaf persons, and a review of contributions of Deaf persons to American society. Prerequisite: SLS 2110.

3450 Deafness and Community Resources 3 s.h.

A course that describes the history and evolution of community resource development that has become a contributing force behind social change within the Deaf Community. Covers such aspects as the American Disability Act, related State and Federal laws, regulations and statutes that affect the lives of Deaf citizens. Includes discussion of service delivery systems such as education, vocational rehabilitation services, community mental health programs for Deaf persons, community service agencies (national, state and local). Prerequisite: SLS 2110 or departmental approval.

4010 American Sign Language: Discourse 3 s.h.

A course that provides for ongoing interaction in Sign Language. Students will be required to prepare lectures, presentations (informative, descriptive, etc.) and conduct interviews in American Sign Language. Prerequisite: SLS 3020 or departmental approval.

4020 American Sign Language: Deaf Literature 3 s.h.

This course involves the use of American Sign Language poetry and story telling. ASL poetry will be analyzed and incorporated as part of receptive/expressive language development and advanced skills enhancement. Includes story telling techniques through the use of standard American folklore and other culturally valued forms of literature (ABC stories, "one-deaf" stories, sign play). Students will evaluate existing videotapes of Deaf poets, Sign Language stories and other esoteric aspects of Deaf culture such as sports signs. Prerequisite : SLS 4010 or departmental approval.

4030 ASL Drama 1-3 s.h.

The use of American Sign Language as a form of drama in the performing arts, including techniques of translation and the development of dramatic skills in American Sign Language. Prerequisites: SLS 3020 and or departmental approval.

4280 Simultaneous Communication 3 s.h.

Theory and application: emphasis on cognitive and sociolinguistic characteristics of simultaneous communication and its role in education. Includes analysis of the psycholinguistic implications of simultaneous communication. Prerequisite: SLS 3020 and/or departmental approval.

4410 Fundamentals of Interpretation & Transliteration 4 s.h.

Introduction to the theory, practice, and criticism of interpretation and transliteration: simultaneous and consecutive. Definition of basic terms and concepts. Study of various models of the interpreting and transliterating processes, problems of linguistic and communicative equivalence, historical foundations, and professional issues. Prerequisite: departmental approval.

4450 Simultaneous Interpretation for Interpreters 3 s.h.

A practical course in the process of interpreting from ASL to English and from English to ASL. Emphasis is on a sociolinguistic model of interpretation. Related linguistic processes will be examined. Prerequisites: SLS 4410 and 4650.

4610 Voice to Sign: Interpreting Lab 3 s.h.

Development of skills in voice to Sign interpreting. Audio and videotaped discourse will be interpreted into ASL which will be recorded and analyzed with the instructor. Prerequisites: SLS 4450, B average (SLS department) and departmental approval.

4620 Sign Language Structure 4 s.h.

Analysis of the symbolic and linguistic structure of American Sign Language and other Sign systems. Includes aspects of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, grammar, and discourse. Examination of bilingual and bicultural practices, sociolinguistics, and related research. Prerequisites: SLS 2020 and ENG 2620 and/or departmental approval.

4650 Contrastive Text Analysis: ASL & English for Interpreters 3 s.h.

Analysis of various texts in ASL and English to identify structures unique to one language or the other. Problems of translation and/or interpretation. Includes discussion of cross-cultural communication between deaf and hearing cultures. Prerequisite: SLS 4620.

4710 Selected Seminar Topics 1-4 s.h.

Workshops or seminars include topics related to Sign Language and interpreting, such as linguistic research, bilingual education and related issues. (May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Students are allowed to apply up to four SLS workshop credits toward SLS major requirements. Additional workshops are optional.)

4720 Interpreting for Deaf-Blind People 1-3 s.h.

A course on how to interpret for Deaf-blind people. Emphasis on techniques, strategies, and tactile interpreting for those people who are Deaf-blind. The course includes discussion of the role as intervener and special service provider for Deaf-blind persons. Prerequisites: SLS 4610, 4810 or departmental approval.

4750 Interpreting in Specialized Settings 3 s.h.

Emphasis on specialized settings in which interpreters are expected to function. A range of interpreting settings and situations will be presented including: deaf/blind, hospital/medical, religious and community based situations. Prerequisites: SLS 4410 and 4450, B average (SLS department) and departmental approval.

4810 Sign to Voice: Interpreting Lab 3 s.h.

Focus on Sign to voice interpreting. Videotapes and in-class speakers will provide interpreting exercises for the student. Sign to voice techniques will be discussed and put into practice. Prerequisites: SLS 4450, B average (SLS department) and departmental approval.

4930 Field Experience 1-16 s.h.

Observation and/or practicum in Sign language interpretation, instruction, community service agency, educational program or related area. Maintenance of daily logs and placement with on-site personnel. Prerequisite: departmental approval.