Skip Navigation
*To search for student contact information, login to FlashLine and choose the "Directory" icon in the FlashLine masthead (blue bar).

American Sign Language - B.A. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

Type Legend: DD Diversity–Domestic; DG Diversity–Global; ELR Experiential Learning; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity, writing-intensive and the experiential learning requirements.

I. DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE (1 credit)
Type Course Title Credits
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1
II.   PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS (14 credits) 1
Type Course Title Credits
  ASL 19201 Elementary American Sign Language I 4
    19202 Elementary American Sign Language II 4
    29201 Intermediate American Sign Language I 3
    29202 Intermediate American Sign Language II 2 3
III. MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (33 credits) 3Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
WIC ANTH 48214 Politics of Culture 4 3
  ASL 39201 Advanced American Sign Language I 3
    39202 Advanced American Sign Language II 3
    49108 American Sign Language Linguistics I 3
    49109 American Sign Language Linguistics II 3
    49201 Advanced Proficiency 3
WIC   49309 Introduction to Deaf Studies 4 3
    49350 American Sign Language Literature 3
    49401 Deaf Culture and Community 3
    49601 Activity Design, Implementation and Evaluation 3
DD SOC 32570 Inequality in Societies 3
IV. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (72 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  Kent Core Composition 6
  Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3-5
  Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 9
  Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 6
  Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7
  Kent Core Additional 6
  College General Requirements (must be from Kent Core Basic Sciences) 5 3
  College General Requirements (must be from Kent Core Social Sciences) 6 3
  General Electives (minimum 9 upper-division credit hours)
Credits required depends on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and minimum 42 upper-division credit hours		 30
MINIMUM TOTAL 
 120


1 Students majoring in American Sign Language may have some proficiency in the language through high-school study. Students with previous American Sign Language study should take the American Sign Language Placement Test, offered twice per semester, and enroll in the correct course based on their score.

2 Students must present a cumulative portfolio and achieve a passing score to move forward.

3 All courses taken from the list of major program requirements are used in the calculation of the major GPA.

4 A minimum C grade must be earned in either ANTH 48214 or ASL 49309 to fulfill writing-intensive requirement.

5 One additional course taken from the Kent Core Basic Science courses in the following Arts and Sciences disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Biological Sciences (BSCI), Chemistry (CHEM), Geography (GEOG), Geology (GEOL) or Physics (PHY). Students may take the courses listed in the "introductory" sequences with the restrictions noted above in the Kent Core Basic Science section. The course may not be from the student's major.

6 One additional course taken from the Kent Core Social Sciences courses in the following Arts and Sciences disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Applied Conflict Management (CACM), Geography (GEOG), Criminology and Justice Studies (JUS), Political Science (POL), Psychology (PSYC) or Sociology (SOC). The course may not be from the student's major.

Foreign Language Note: Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must have the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, and the American Sign Language major requires Intermediate I and II of the same language.

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may begin their university foreign language experience beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by: (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level or (2) receiving credit through Credit by Exam (CBE), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement (AP) exam or credit through the International Baccalaureate (IB) program; or (3) being designated a "native speaker" of a non-English language (consult with the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office for additional information). When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining hours with general electives.


ASL 49096 Individual Investigation is a recommended elective. Students should consult with their major advisor at least one semester before registering since a completed, approved research proposal is required before taking the course.