American Sign Language: Deaf Support Specialist, AAS

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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, hearing, or hard of 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: Taking the Sign Language Proficiency test determining appropriate placement in SGNL 1301 , SGNL 1302 , SGNL 2301 , and SGNL 2302 .

First Semester

ENGL 1301 - Composition I 3 semester hours
SLNG 1317 - Introduction to the Deaf Community 3 semester hours
SGNL 1301 - Beginning American Sign Language I (1st Semester ASL) 3 semester hours
SLNG 1215 - Visual / Gestural Communication 2 semester hours
PSYC 2301 - General Psychology 3 semester hours
EDUC 1100 - Learning Framework 1 semester hour

Total: 15 Hours

Second Semester

SLNG 1300 - Fundamentals and Techniques for Deaf Support Specialist / Service Provider 3 semester hours
SLNG 1321 - Introduction to the Interpreting Profession 3 semester hours
SGNL 1302 - Beginning American Sign Language II (2nd Semester ASL) 3 semester hours
ENGL 1302 - Composition II 3 semester hours
BCIS 1305 - Business Computer Applications 3 semester hours
HRPO 1311 - Human Relations 3 semester hours

Total: 18 Hours

Note: Transfer 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.

Third Semester

SPCH 1315 - Public Speaking I 3 semester hours
Humanities OR Creative Arts - Choose from Core Curriculum 3 semester hours
SGNL 2301 - Intermediate American Sign Language I (3rd Semester ASL) 3 semester hours
SLNG 1348 - Vocabulary Development for Interpreters 3 semester hours
Math OR Life Sciences Elective 3 semester hours OR
Elective 3 semester hours

Total: 15 Hours

Fourth Semester

SGNL 2302 - Intermediate American Sign Language II (4th Semester ASL) 3 semester hours
SLNG 2389 - Internship - Sign Language Interpretation and Translation 3 semester hours
PSYC 2314 - Lifespan Growth and Development 3 semester hours
SLNG 1346 - Working with Deaf-Blind Persons 3 semester hours

Total: 12 Hours

Total Hours in AAS: 60

¹Capstone course. Students must provide their own transportation to and from internship sites.

DSS “Skills” Courses-Grade Requirements

In order for a student to advance to the next course within the DSS course of study, the student must pass each of the following “skills” courses with a grade of “B” or better: SGNL 1301 , SGNL 1302 and SGNL 2301 . DSS majors making a grade of “C” or below on any of these courses will be required to repeat the course. DSS majors are required to pass all other SLNG courses with a grade of “C” or better. DSS majors making a grade of “D” or below on any of these courses will be required to repeat the course.