American Sign Language: Deaf Support Specialist

Return to: SouthWest College for the Deaf Degrees and Certificates

The American Sign Language: Deaf Support Specialist AAS Degree Program is offered for students who desire to enter employment directly after completion of this two year program. The program is open to qualified deaf, hard-of-hearing or hearing students.

Possible Employment Responsibilities: A Deaf Support Specialist is responsible for advocating, educating, and promoting community awareness on the issues that pertain to the Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing communities.

Possible Employment Positions: Educational advocate, job coach, equal-rights advocate for Deaf or Deaf-Blind adults, mediator.

Possible Employment Locations: Companies or government agencies that employ Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals.  An agency or organization that provides an array of services for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.  Schools with Deaf or hard-of-hearing students.

Program Duration: Two years. Additional Prerequisite course(s) may be required depending on student’s prior training/education.

Prerequisites: Students who want to major in the DSS program (certificate or AAS degree) will be required to be enrolled in or have completed ENGL 0315  or any college-level English course, and MATH 0331   or have completed any college-level Math or Science course before they will be allowed to enroll in DSS courses. Taking the Sign Language Proficiency test determine appropriate placement in SGNL 1301  SGNL 1302  SGNL 2301  and SGNL 2302 .

Note: Transfer credits courses from other colleges/universities will not be automatically accepted for SGNL 1301, SGNL 1302, SGNL 2301, and SGNL 2302 unless the student has successfully passed the sign language proficiency test with the appropriate score.

Background Check: Students may be subject to a background check at potential places of employment upon graduation from the DSS program. Students are encouraged to do their own research on background check requirements at their desired place of employment.

Programs

• American Sign Language: Deaf Support Specialist, AAS

• American Sign Language: Deaf Support Specialist, Certificate Level I

Return to: SouthWest College for the Deaf Degrees and Certificates