Overview
The Certificate in American Sign Language (ASL), offered by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, is open to matriculated and non-matriculated students. The certificate provides students with intermediate-level skills in the widely used language of the deaf in the U.S. and Canada. Students also learn about American Deaf culture and gain valuable insight for future encounters with individuals who are deaf in professional and social contexts. This course of study is particularly useful for students majoring in any of the health professions, education, psychology, law, cognitive neuroscience or linguistics. The certificate program also provides students with foundational skills in ASL for additional education in ASL-English interpreting or education of individuals who are D/deaf or hearing impaired.
Double Counting Policy
In the College of Public Health (CPH) not more than two courses may count toward major and minor/certificate requirements.
This policy relates to each CPH major-minor/certificate or CPH minor-minor/certificate pair individually, so if a student has a major and two minors/certificates in CPH:
- A maximum of two courses can double count between the major and the first minor/certificate.
- A maximum of two courses can double count between the major and the second minor/certificate, but they can be different from the above two courses.
- A maximum of two courses can double count between the first minor/certificate and the second minor/certificate, but they can be different from the above four courses.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: HP-ASL-CERT
Contact Information
Rena Krakow, PhD, Associate Professor, Program Director
Weiss Hall, Room 267
215-204-8407
rkrakow@temple.edu
Lisa Bedore, Chair
Weiss Hall, Room 110
215-204-4482
lisa.bedore@temple.edu
Kara Black, MA, Academic Advisor
Weiss Hall, Room 251
215-204-2063
kara.black@temple.edu
Learn more about the undergraduate certificate in American Sign Language.
Requirements
The Certificate in American Sign Language (ASL) will be awarded to students who complete the following 5-course sequence:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSCD 1001 | American Sign Language I | 3 |
| or CSCD 1901 | Honors American Sign Language 1 | |
| CSCD 1002 | American Sign Language II | 3 |
| or CSCD 1902 | Honors American Sign Language 2 | |
| CSCD 1003 | American Sign Language III | 3 |
| CSCD 1004 | American Sign Language IV | 3 |
| CSCD 2011 | American Deaf Culture (S) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| (S) - Spring only course | ||
Note:
- A minimum grade of C is required for any of these courses to count towards the American Sign Language certificate.
- Students majoring in Speech, Language and Hearing Science must earn a grade of C or better for the course to count towards the major.
- Students can begin ASL I during any Fall term in their freshman or sophomore years. Alternatively, students can take ASL I in the summer.
- ASL I and ASL III are Fall courses, although ASL I is also offered in the summer.
- ASL II and ASL IV are Spring courses.