ASL Program FAQ Sheet

This page contains answers to the following questions:
What ASL courses do you offer at UVSC?
Can Deaf students take these courses?
Can I get credit for ASL classes even though I learned the language somewhere else?
How do I know which class to take if I already know some ASL?
What academic department is the ASL Program in?
Can I get a degree in ASL, Deaf Studies, or Interpreting?
Are there any non-ASL classes that count toward the ASL emphasis in Integrated Studies?
Can I use ASL to satisfy foreign language requirements?
If I am enrolled into Integrated Studies and B.A. program in ASL is approved, can I apply my ASL classes to it?
Is there an ASL club on campus?
Does UVSC have an interpreter training program?


What ASL and Deaf Studies courses do you offer at UVSC?

We currently offer a wide variety of ASL courses. These include both lower and upper division courses. View the catalog descriptions of all the ASL & Deaf Studies courses.

Can Deaf students take these courses?

Yes. The upper division classes are open to Deaf students, and we encourage them to take these courses. Not only is a benefit to Deaf students to learn about their own language and culture, but having them in the classes creates a unique experience for the other students because of the personal knowledge and experiences they bring.

The lower division courses are open to deaf students who are not already proficient in ASL. However, these courses are not open to those who already know ASL, whether they be deaf or hearing.

Can I get credit for ASL classes even though I learned the language somewhere else?

Yes. There are two types of credit you can get credit: Ungraded Credit and Ungraded Credit. Each has a different process.

Ungraded Credit: First, you may receive (ungraded, that is, "P") credit in the lower division ASL classes by completing a higher level course (with a C- or better grade) in that language. The following chart shows which course credits you can purchase for each of the higher classes:

This credit costs you $5 per credit hour (with a maximum of $75) plus a $15 processing fee (so if you took 3050 you could buy the 18 hours under that for a total of $90). To receive this credit, College policy requires that students be currently enrolled for at least three semester hours of credit and complete the semester in which the challenge credit is awarded with at least three earned semester hours of credit excluding the challenge credit. Non continuing students will be granted a one semester grace period after completing their last semester at UVSC to apply for this experiential credit.

Graded Credit: The second way you can get credit for experiential credit will get you a letter grade and only applies to the 1010 and 1020 courses. To do this you must make arrangements through the ASL Program Coordinator who will direct you to register for a particular section of the class to register for each course and take the corresponding final comprehensive examination at the end of the semester. the grade you receive on that examination is the grade you will receive for the entire course. The disadvantages of this are that there is some risk involved in the grading and that you must pay full tuition for the course.

How do I know which class to take if I already know some ASL?

We do not have a standardized placement test at this time. However, if you are unsure of which class to take you may contact the ASL program coordinator to make and appointment for a placement interview from which the coordinator will make a recommedation to you. Students who have gained high levels of fluency should begin with ASL 3050. As a general rule we find that students who took ASL in high school can equate a year of study there with one semester here. This means that if you took two years of high school ASL, you will most likely be placed in an ASL 2010 class, the third level.

What Department is the ASL Program in?

The ASL program is part of the Foreign Languages Department. The department office is located in the Liberal Arts Building in LA 003A. The department's phone number is 863-8518. The ASL & Deaf Studies Program Coordinator, Dr. Bryan Eldredge, can be reached by phone at (801) 863-8529 or by e-mail at eldredbr@uvsc.edu. His office is LA 003J.

Can I get a degree in ASL, Deaf Studies, or Interpreting?

The answers to this question are located on the degree page of this website.

Are there any non-ASL classes that count toward the ASL emphasis in Integrated Studies?

Yes. LANG 3000 Language & Culture (Cross-listed as ANTH 3000) is open to students of all languages who have completed a 2010 language course as well as to students who have completed ANTH 1010. This course will count towards Integrated Studies emphases in any approved language as well as for Behavioral Science degrees and emphasis (see your advisor for more specific information).

If I am enrolled into Integrated Studies or into the Deaf Studies minor and then B.A. program in ASL is approved, can I apply my ASL classes to it?

Yes. Those same classes would count towards a B.A. degree program once established.

Can I use ASL to satisfy foreign language requirements?

While some degrees in math and science don�t have a foreign language requirement, most others do. ASL can be used to satisfy those requirements. See your academic advisor for requirements related to your specific degree. For questions about purchasing credit for experiential language learning, contact the foreign language department office, LA 003a, 863-8518.

If you plan to get an associate's degree you will need 10 credits of ASL (1010 & 1020). However, to get a bachelor's degree you will need another year's worth of ASL (2010 & 2020). It is much easier to take these classes in succession than to take a year or two off before taking the second year.

Is there an ASL club on campus?

Yes. The ASL Club is a student club whose purpose is to provide meaningful activities for ASL students at UVSC. The club provides opportunities for students to meet others who are studying the same language and culture and with whom they can practice their new skill The ASL Club also engages in service projects that benefit Deaf people.

Does UVSC have an interpreter training program?

The answer to this question is not as straightforward as one might expect. UVSC does not have an "interpreter training program" in the usual sense of the phrase, however we are actively engaged in preparing interpreters for professional certification and for work in the profession.

Beginning in the Fall of 2006, UVSC will launch the Advanced Certification Interpreter Preparation Program (ACIPP). The ACIPP is an intensive program of study designed to allow interpreters to advance their level of certification in a much shorter time than is now possible. (The ACIPP is possible thanks to a joint effort between UVSC and the Utah Public Service Commission.) This new program will result in new opportunities for those seeking their initial entrance into the interpreting profession as well. We will be adding new coursework and new opportunities which will allow students to acquire ASL and then combine it with the knowledge and skills they need to be true professionals.

All of the upper division courses in the ASL program (as well as LANG 3000 Language & Culture) provide excellent preparation for interpreters. Currently we have four classes being offered that deal specifically with interpreting (ASL 3310, 3330, 3350, and 3360). We anticipate that more classes will be added in the very near future, and as mentioned above, we foresee the creation of a specific sequence of courses for would-be interpreters within the major (B.A.) in Deaf Studies.

Students who have little or no experience with ASL should know that it takes years of training and practice to become a skilled interpreter. The first step in that process is to begin learning ASL and to become familiar with the Deaf-World. To become an interpreter one does not necessarily need to have a degree in interpreting. Rather, one must obtain the skills that will allow him or her to obtain an interpreting certificate. (In the state of Utah, interpreters are required by law to obtain certificates before they begin working; employers are also obligated to hire certified interpreters.) While interpreter training programs can provide students with the basic skills they need to become interpreters, the training they provide is still just a first step on a long road to a professional career. While the main thrust of our program is more overreaching than just interpreting, our program will include offerings that will provide top-quality training for those who wish to pursue this career.