The American Sign Language Studies Program offers an array of courses to prepare students to work with the Deaf community. Students completing this program will have a deeper understanding of American Sign Language (ASL), Linguistics, Deaf History, Deaf Literature, and Deaf Culture with an emphasis on the rich language and cultural diversity of the Deaf community as well as the social justice issues impacting their lives.
Several objectives will be covered during the program, such as Deaf culture, Deaf folklore, and Deaf literature, and the relationship between the signing community and the non-signing community. This program also covers linguistic components with several course offerings in ASL as well as specialized skill areas of ASL, such as a focus on grammatical structure and an overview of linguistic components.
Professions that find this program an enhancement to their work include (but are not limited to): interpreting, health care, criminal justice, education, exceptional education, psychology, social work, and more. Many of the courses offered through this program also satisfy certain GER requirements for the general student population such as foreign language (ASL I-IV) and cultural diversity (Deaf Culture or Deaf History). All students start with ASL I, however, if a student has previous experience with the language, they may be placed into higher classes by taking an American Sign Language Proficiency Interview and may be eligible for retroactive credits if they meet all requirements.
Requirements
General Education Requirements (GERs)
UW-Milwaukee has General Education Requirements that must be met in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. Some of the requirements of your program may fulfill the campus GERs. Please review the requirements and consult with your academic advisor.
ASL Studies Coursework
For all programs that require American Sign Language, students with previous experience in American Sign Language can take a proficiency interview to determine appropriate placement level. Information about the proficiency interview can be found here.
Information on advancement to program can be found on the Advance to Major tab.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all ASL Studies coursework.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one (prior to advancement to program): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (GER-SS) | ||
| Public Speaking (GER-HU) | ||
| ASL 301 | American Sign Language I | 3 |
| ASL 302 | American Sign Language II | 3 |
| ASL 303 | American Sign Language III | 3 |
| ASL 304 | American Sign Language IV | 3 |
| ASL 305 | American Sign Language V | 3 |
| ASL 306 | American Sign Language VI | 3 |
| ASL 325 | Skills Development: ASL V | 1 |
| ASL 326 | Skills Development: ASL VI | 1 |
| ASL 327 | Skills Development: Classifiers | 1 |
| ASL 328 | Skills Development: ASL Depiction | 1 |
| ASL 330 | Deaf History (GER-SS) | 3 |
| ASL 352 | American Deaf Culture (GER-SS) | 3 |
| ASL 358 | ASL/English Linguistics I | 3 |
| ASL 363 | ASL/English Linguistics II | 3 |
| ASL 500 | Fingerspelling & Numbers | 3 |
| ASL 510 | Classifiers | 3 |
| ASL 520 | ASL Literature | 3 |
| ASL 348 | Introduction to the Profession of Interpreting | 3 |
| or CURRINS 300 | Introduction to Teaching: Colloquium and Fieldwork | |
| Students from other majors should consult an advisor for alternate course options. | ||
| Total Credits | 49 | |
Requirements for Graduation
For information on credit, GPA, and other requirements for graduation, see UWM Degree Requirements.
Second Degree Pathway
Second degree students follow the same ASL Studies requirements as first degree students.
Advance to Major
Advance to ASL Studies Program
- GER: OWC-A: Completion of Oral-Written Communication part A competency.
- GER: QL-A: Completion of Quantitative Literacy part A competency.
- Completion of COMMUN 101 or COMMUN 103 , with a grade of C or better.
- Maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA.
- For second degree candidates, a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
Student Advising and Support Services
At the College of Community Engagement and Professions (CCEP), your success is our priority. Our dedicated student advising and support services team is here to help you navigate your academic journey, from your first semester through graduation.
Whether you’re exploring majors, planning your course schedule, or preparing for your career, our advisors offer personalized guidance tailored to your goals. You’ll also find a range of support services designed to help you thrive—academically, personally, and professionally. We’re committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive environment where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.
For more information, visit the CCEP Student Advising & Support Services website.
Email: ccep-advising@uwm.edu | Phone: 414-229-4707
Graduate Advising
If you are a School of Education graduate student, you may schedule an appointment with your faculty advisor by contacting your faculty advisor directly. Faculty contact information can be found in the Directory. Your faculty advisor will be listed in your PAWS account.
College of Community Engagement and Professions Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.