YES! In 1987, the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) recognized ASL as a complete and natural language. ASL may apply as either credit or proficiency toward the second language requirement. A student may test for proficiency in ASL to meet the second language requirement (consult your CLA advisor for more information).
Your academic program determines the number of credits needed. Most students require 4 semesters (5 credits per semester) to meet the proficiency requirements. Many students elect to take ASL 3705 - Cultural Perspectives of Deafness (3 cr.).
ASL course are offered through the Department of Educational Psychology at the College of Education and Human Development at the University. Credit for ASL coursework may also be transferred to the College of Liberal Arts if it is earned at other higher education institutions following the U of M credit transfer guidelines. Contact the ASL Program Office for a listing of additional classes in the community. Classes are located at LES 140A, B, C; there may be times that the classes will be offered elsewhere on campus.
The ASL classes are offered each semester, including the summer semester. You can check the schedule online at Schedule Builder. Search "ASL".
Our program is extremely popular, so we recommend that you enroll as soon as possible to find a class that fits your schedule. If you need to drop a course to switch to another class, your spot in the new class will not be guaranteed. If a class fis at its maximum enrollment number, please enroll yourself onto the waiting list. Prior to the semester starting, the waitlist will automatically enroll students to fit the course enrollment limit.
Note: We set the enrollment limit for all of our ASL courses, regardless of the classroom's capacity per ASL language learning standard guidelines for optimal instruction for our ASL instructors. This ensures the configuration of seating is optimal for visual and spatial language learning of a visual signed language in ASL and for students to be able to see other students and the instructor at ease. If you are on the waiting list, you are not guaranteed a spot in the class. Additionally, teachers may not be able to override and exceed enrollment limits for the same reasons established above.
American Sign Language credits are transferable from other accredited colleges and universities. For more information regarding the transfer of credits and credits by special examination, please contact the ASL Program.
University of Minnesota
Learning and Environmental Sciences (LES) 240
1954 Buford Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55108
Tel: 612-624-1274
Fax: 612-624-1275
612-626-9392 V/TTY or 612-624-8870 FAX
sarab@umn.edu