American Sign Language
Division: Language & Communication Studies
American Sign Language (ASL) instruction at College of the Sequoias prepares students for entry-level employment and/or potential further study in the field of ASL which includes career pathways in interpreting, social services and teaching. We also offer an introduction to sign language interpreting course to prepare students who are interested in becoming interpreters.
Contact Information
Language and Communication Studies Division Chair
Aimee Ahle | aimeea@cos.edu
Kaweah: 251B | Visalia Campus
Dean of Language and Communication Studies/Educational Support Services
Dr. Francisco Castillo, Ed.D. | (559) 737-5362 | franciscoc@cos.edu
Educational Support Services: 113 | Visalia Campus
For a complete list of courses and descriptions visit: COURSES
ASL 001 American Sign Language 1
4 unit(s)
Hours: 4 Lecture/Discussion
This course is a study of fundamentals of American Sign Language. Students will learn the basics of visual/gestural communication and grammatical structures with emphasis on receptive and expressive skills, including intensive practice, finger spelling, individual evaluation, and basic information about Deaf culture.
ASL 002 American Sign Language 2
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
ASL 002 is the second course in a four-course series. Emphasis will be on increasing vocabulary, developing everyday conversational skills, expressing considerably more complicated needs and ideas, and becoming more adept at functioning in the deaf community. Students will also begin translating written text into ASL.
Prerequisites: ASL 001 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C.
ASL 003 American Sign Language 3
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
ASL 003 is the third course in a four-course series. Students learn to communicate at an intermediate level. Emphasis is on expanding conversation adeptly and comfortably in a wide variety of situations in the deaf community.
Prerequisites: ASL 002 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C.
ASL 004 American Sign Language 4
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
ASL 004 is the final course in this four-course series. Emphasis is placed on fluency in functional conversational skills in cultural context. Morphology and grammar of American Sign Language will be explored in depth.
Prerequisites: ASL 003 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C.
ASL 005 Deaf Culture
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
Equivalent Course: ASL 105
This course will provide an introduction of Deaf Culture where students learn a wide array of historical milestones that shaped the belief system, behavioral norms, and perspectives. Students will critically discuss, analyze, and demonstrate understanding about cultural values, traditions, rules of interaction, language, identity, and history of the American Deaf culture.
Advisory on Recommended Preparation: ASL 001 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C.
ASL 006 Deaf Literature
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
Equivalent Course: ASL 106
This course introduces American Sign Language (ASL) literature genres such as folklore and folktales, storytelling, visual vernacular sign language (ASL), personification, classifier story, poetry, ABC and number stories and non-fiction narrative. Topics include analyzing and applying ASL usage in ASL literature genres and media.
Advisory on Recommended Preparation: ASL 001 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C.
ASL 110 Introduction to American Sign Language Interpreting
4 unit(s)
Hours: 4 Lecture/Discussion
Introduction to the profession of sign language interpretation, emphasizing a professional code of ethics applied to real situations. Advanced techniques will include legal, medical, educational, mental health, religious, and deaf/blind interpreting.
Prerequisites: ASL 002 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C.
ASL 210 Interpreting: English to ASL
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
This college-level course is designed to provide students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills required to become proficient interpreters in the field of American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. Through a combination of theoretical instruction, hands-on practice, and experiential learning, students will develop the essential competencies needed to effectively interpret from English to ASL in a variety of settings.
ASL 211 Interpreting: ASL to English
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
This college-level course is designed to provide students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills required to become proficient interpreters in the field of American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. Through a combination of theoretical instruction, hands-on practice, and experiential learning, students will develop the essential competencies needed to effectively interpret from ASL to English in a variety of settings.