American Sign Language

Through the ASL Certificate Program, participants develop the necessary manual communication skills to establish connections and work or interact with people who are deaf.

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Exchange basic information about themselves and their families
• Give directions and make requests
• Describe places, objects, and events
• Talk about people and places in a contextually-reduced framework
• Tell about past events

The ASL Certificate Program was developed in cooperation with the Sacramento State Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and School Psychology.

Benefits
The ASL Certificate Program enables participants to:

• Fulfill the Sacramento State foreign language proficiency graduation requirement
• Fulfill foreign language requirements at any institution accepting Sacramento State credit
• Earn 14 units of academic credit from California State University, Sacramento
• Enhance their marketability as an employee
• Network with members of the deaf community
• Obtain a solid foundation for the pursuit of additional ASL training en route to national certification

Audience
These courses are geared toward:

• Anyone interested in learning American Sign Language
• High school, community college or university level students needing to fulfill a foreign language requirement
• Individuals who work or interact with members of the deaf community

Career Preparation
While additional training would be required to test for interpreter certification, these four courses will help prepare participants to enter an interpreter training program.

Sign language interpreting requires the ability to pay attention to and understand what is communicated in both spoken English and signed ASL, and to clearly express thoughts and ideas. Strong research and analytical skills, mental dexterity and an exceptional memory also are important.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of interpreters and translators is projected to increase by more than 36% between 2002 and 2012. Urban areas, especially those in California, provide the largest numbers of employment possibilities for interpreters. Similarly, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws mandate that, in certain situations, an interpreter must be available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Given the lack of qualified candidates meeting these requirements, interpreters for the deaf will continue to have favorable employment prospects.

Program Structure
The program consists of four courses for a total of 14 units of academic credit. EDS 151 and 152 are delivered online. EDS 153 and 154 are offered in the summer in an intense immersion program at Sacramento State's College of Continuing Education. Participants are expected to “turn off their voices” and communicate using only ASL throughout the program. For more information about the ASL Immersion Program, please visit ASL Summer 2009.
The certificate program can be completed within one year.

Each course builds upon its prerequisite and participants will not be able to advance to the next level without taking the courses in the following order:

• EDS 151 – American Sign Language 1 (3 units)
• EDS 152 – American Sign Language 2 (3 units)
• EDS 153 – American Sign Language 3 (4 units)
• EDS 154 – American Sign Language 4 (4 units)

View ASL brochure.

To register, please call (916) 278-6984.