Deaf Studies Transfer
Degree offered
Associate in Arts in Deaf Studies (Transfer)
Credits required 60/63
Dean
Ulli K. Ryder, ulli.ryder@bristolcc.edu
Program contact
Sandra Lygren, Coordinator and Professor of Deaf Studies, sandra.lygren@bristolcc.edu
Program Code: DS
Program Goals Statement
Deaf Studies explores the language, culture, history and contemporary issues of Deaf people. Fundamental to our program are both competency in American Sign Language and a desire to work with the Deaf community as allies (or advocate members). As such, all Deaf Studies concentrations share the same ASL and Deaf Studies core courses. This program prepares students, both Deaf and hearing, who are interested in a professional career working with Deaf, hard-of-hearing or late-deafened persons to transfer to a four-year college or university in the field of their choice.
Program Information
General
- Students unsure of transfer or career paths in Deaf Studies should choose this concentration.
- Deaf Studies provides a foundation for interpreters, but, is not an interpreter training/education program (ITP/IEP). Students wanting to become professional interpreters should enroll in our Interpreter transfer concentration which will prepare students to transfer on to four year institution.
- Students who have taken non-credit “sign language classes” in the past, or, are heritage signers (Deaf/signing family) should meet with the program director to discuss Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) opportunities.
- Students who have taken 2 or more ASL classes in high school, with a B or better, should meet with the program director for placement.
- Although individual courses may be offered on different campuses in both day/evening formats, Deaf Studies courses are primarily offered on the Fall River campus as day enrollments. Some Deaf Studies courses may be offered completely on-line.
Standards & Expectations
- Students not earning a C or better in any ASL class, DST 101 or DST 110 Deaf Culture will not be able to complete an AA Deaf Studies program and should speak to the program director about options including retaking courses in the Prep Certificate.
- Students spend an additional hour per week engaged in language lab activities with every ASL class taken. Students are expected to attend various Deaf events and get involved with their program throughout their studies to apply their language skills and develop them further in real world, practical situations.
- A CORI may be required for service learning or ASL 285 placements.
Additional Costs
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As stated above, Deaf Studies majors are required to attend Deaf events each semester. Most are off campus and will require transportation. Some options will have a registration fee or ticket price and costs vary.
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Deaf Studies majors may incur copying costs (after the BCC free allotment given per semester) associated with their Intro. to Deaf Studies course when creating their resource portfolio.
Career Pathways and Essential Functions
The Deaf Studies program welcomes all interested students to our courses and program but strives to be completely transparent with incoming students about the career pathways and essential functions required (or expected) at transfer institutions or in the workforce. The Deaf Studies Transfer (MassTransfer program) prepares students to transfer as juniors into a baccalaureate programs of their choice - in any field related or not to Deaf people. Our strong liberal arts foundation prepares students well for the next phase of their education. They become better reader, writers, speakers, learners through our curriculum.
Those graduates who want to continue on and become professional members in the ASL workforce will need to meet language proficiency standards for ASL. Essential functions include certain cognitive, physical and sensory abilities which are necessary to acquire a second, visual language. These are:
cognitive abilities - ability to process visual language.
physical abilities - ability to accurately express and articulate American Sign Language (which includes fine and gross motor movement of: facial muscles, head, neck, and, both shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and ten fingers)
sensory abilities - ability to access and comprehend visual language
If you are unsure about meeting these essential functions of employment, with or without accommodations, please contact the program director for a consult.
Recommendations
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Students requiring developmental coursework should complete this in their first semester.
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Students should take
ASL 101 and
DST 101 in their first fall.
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Students who did not follow, or were not offered, a college prep track in high school, may find a 12 credit load or part time credit load is a successful way to adjust to the rigors of this program of study.
After BCC
- This concentration is part of the MassTransfer program. BCC participates in the statewide MassTransfer program and has developed many program-to-program transfer articulation agreements which guarantee admission and credit transfer. For a complete listing of eligible MassTransfer programs and current BCC articulation agreements, visit the Transfer Affairs website at www.BristolCC.edu/transfer
Infused Competencies
First Year Experience
Student Learning Outcomes
See Learning Outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
- Engage in ASL conversations with native and non-native users.
- Demonstrate cultural competency in the Deaf-World.
- Promote Deaf ways of being, thinking and knowing.
- Apply knowledge of American Sign Language, Deaf culture, Deaf people, Deaf history and contemporary issues to new learning situations, social or workplace settings and/or activism.
Degree Requirements
General Courses
ENG 101 | Composition I: College Writing | 3 credits |
ENG 102 | Composition II: Writing about Literature | 3 credits |
PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 credits |
SOC 101 | Principles of Sociology | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Program Courses
ASL 101 | Elementary American Sign Language I | 3 credits |
ASL 102 | Elementary American Sign Language II | 3 credits |
ASL 181 | Visual/Gestural Communication | 1 credit |
ASL 201 | Intermediate American Sign Language I | 3 credits |
ASL 202 | Intermediate American Sign Language II | 3 credits |
ASL 284 | ASL/Deaf Studies Capstone Seminar | 1 credit |
ASL 285 | Community-based Learning in Deaf Studies | 1 credit |
DST 101 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 4 credits |
DST 110 | Deaf Culture | 3 credits |
DST 151 | Deaf History | 3 credits |
DST 251 | Deaf Literature and ASL Folklore | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 28 |
Elective Courses
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective | 3 credits |
| Communications Elective | 3 credits |
| Lab Science Elective | 4 credits |
| Elective - Science | 3-4 credits |
| Mathematics Elective | 3 credits |
| Electives as needed to complete 60 credits | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 0-17 |
Choose from MassTransfer list, unless otherwise specified
Choose one of the following
HST 111 | The West and the World I | 3 credits |
HST 112 | The West and the World II | 3 credits |
HST 113 | United States History to 1877 | 3 credits |
HST 114 | United States History from 1877 | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Recommended Course Sequence - Fall Semester 1
ASL 101 | Elementary American Sign Language I | 3 credits |
DST 101 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 4 credits |
DST 110 | Deaf Culture | 3 credits |
ENG 101 | Composition I: College Writing | 3 credits |
SOC 101 | Principles of Sociology | 3 credits |
Recommended Course Sequence - Spring Semester 2
ASL 102 | Elementary American Sign Language II | 3 credits |
ASL 181 | Visual/Gestural Communication | 1 credit |
DST 151 | Deaf History | 3 credits |
DST 251 | Deaf Literature and ASL Folklore | 3 credits |
PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 credits |
| Mathematics Elective | 3 credits |
| Communications Elective | 3 credits |
Recommended Course Sequence - Summer
Students may opt to take General Education courses (History Elective, Math Elective, Science Elective, ENG 102) during the summer between semesters 2 and 3 to lighten course load.
Recommended Course Sequence - Fall Semester 3
ASL 201 | Intermediate American Sign Language I | 3 credits |
| Science Elective | 3-4 credits |
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective | 3 credits |
ENG 102 | Composition II: Writing about Literature | 3 credits |
Recommended Course Sequence - Spring Semester 4
ASL 202 | Intermediate American Sign Language II | 3 credits |
ASL 284 | ASL/Deaf Studies Capstone Seminar | 1 credit |
ASL 285 | Community-based Learning in Deaf Studies | 1 credit |
DST 151 | Deaf History | 3 credits |
DST 251 | Deaf Literature and ASL Folklore | 3 credits |
| Lab Science Elective | 4 credits |
| History Elective | 3 credits |