Deaf Cultural Studies-American Sign Language

The Deaf cultural studies-American Sign Language certificate offers deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing students the opportunity to understand the deaf community as an entity unto itself and within the context of society as a whole.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities learned through this program of study include: understanding the structure of ASL and the application of linguistic principles to other languages (specifically English); enhancement of bilingual skills to improve communication; increased knowledge of Deaf culture and Deaf history; a heightened sense of self-concept, self-esteem, and self-confidence; improved presentation skills; and enhanced literacy and critical thinking skills.

The certificate in Deaf cultural studies/ASL is offered to students enrolled in degree programs at RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) and the other RIT colleges as an enhancement to their portfolio of general academic, career, and technical skills. It is not a stand-alone certification. The certificate offers you an opportunity to learn about historical, anthropological, linguistic, literary, artistic, and multicultural aspects of deaf people's lives. Courses expose you to a breadth and depth of topics in Deaf cultural studies and ASL, and address NTID General Education goals for critical thinking, writing, and public presentations.

The overall program goals of the Deaf cultural studies/ASL certificate are to:

• study the Deaf experience from the perspective of a disenfranchised minority group
• understand and appreciate Deaf culture
• promote the development of English and ASL literacy
• promote the development of critical thinking skills
• promote the development of communication skills