Frequently Asked Questions  |  ASL Courses

American Sign Language (ASL) is offered as a 2-year language sequence and meets the second language requirement for the university bachelor of arts requirement.

Every/One Art Installation

ASL instructor Chad Catron collaborates with artists Carla Bengtson and Jessie Rose Vala on Public Art Project in Unthank Hall.

The installation, titled Every/One, offers a shared social experience across sensory modalities and bodymind variations. Five plaques sign EVERY WORD WAS ONCE AN ANIMAL in ASL, interwoven with jasmine flowers, coco pods, lizards and bees, while camo patterned wallpaper containing local landscape references is transformed into low relief tiles that can be experienced through touch. Thirty species of camouflaged native bees fly in and out of the window. Bees are one of many animals that, like humans, use a highly symbolic gestural language. With this public art project we celebrate all beings' rich creativity and love for communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Due to the overwhelming interest in our ASL sequence, we have answers to many frequently asked questions below.

The ASL 101 class keeps filling up and I cannot get in:

Classes fill up quickly, BUT you should always check Duck Web, as student schedules change during the summer months and the first weeks of class.  

Do you have a waiting list for ASL 101?

At this time, we are utilizing the DuckWeb computerized wait list. You may register through the UO computer system only. Contacting the department and/or the instructor of record will not place you on any waiting lists, nor can the department or instructor override the computerized wait list system. Sitting in class during the first week will not give you a spot in class.   

I took ASL in high school/other college and think I can test into a higher level  of ASL

Assessments tests are conducted through the University of Oregon Testing Center. Please see their website for additional details and contact information.

I know enough ASL or I took enough ASL to be able to test out of the 2-year sequence, do you have proficiency exams?

As with all second language offerings at a University level, ASL proficiency examination is structured to test at a native-like proficiency level. Traditionally, students with Deaf families, or those who have been through an interpreting program will be able to test out of the ASL sequence. Proficiency exams are offered through the University Testing Center at the University of Oregon.

I want to major/minor in American Sign Language, can I do that?

The University of Oregon does not currently have a major/minor in American Sign Language. We offer a 2-year second language sequence. The University of Oregon does not have an ASL/English interpreter training program or ASL/Deaf Studies program. 

What is the sequence we offer at UO?

The ASL sequence is as follows: 100 level = 1st year and 200 level = 2nd year

Please Note:  Special circumstances do not help in overriding the computerized wait list system. No one will be admitted to a class above entry level ASL unless they have completed a placement or proficiency assessment through the University of Oregon Testing Center. 

What is the graduation requirement for 2nd language at the UO?

Two years of a second language: equal to successfully completing ASL 203 with a grade of C- or better.  

What is the pre-requisite for this course?

Successful passing of Writing 122 or Writing 123 is necessary to register for ASL sequence coursework, in order to aid students in their success in a second language course. There are Honor’s College courses that meet these basic prerequisites at the UO. The writing prerequisite may not be taken concurrently.

Where can I go for more information about ASL classes in other areas or about becoming a Sign Language interpreter?

There are many websites that can direct you into programs. The most common referral is the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

If you do not see the answer for your question above, you should contact the program at cds@uoregon.edu.

Courses

Successful passage of WR 122 or WR 123 is necessary to register for ASL 101, in order to aid students in their success in a second language course.

Taking writing classes in the same term as ASL will not override the prerequisite for the course.

ASL 101 First-Year American Sign Language
5 Credits — Prerequisite: WR 122 or WR 123 or HC 221H or HC 231H
Study of basic grammatical structure and vocabulary of American Sign Language, expressive and receptive finger-spelling, and introduction to American deaf culture.

ASL 102 First-Year American Sign Language
5 Credits — Prerequisite: C- or better or P in ASL 101 or equivalent
Increased receptive and expressive communication skills in ASL, and study of cultural values and behavioral rules of the deaf community.

ASL 103 First-Year American Sign Language
5 Credits — Prerequisite: C- or better or P in ASL 102 or equivalent
Concentration on understanding and acquiring advanced conversational proficiency. Emphasis on ASL classifiers. Continued study of deaf culture as a linguistic minority.

ASL 201 Second-Year American Sign Language
4 Credits — Prerequisite: C- or better or P in ASL 103 or equivalent
Applied conversational use of ASL through literature, narratives, poetry, and plays. Explores various underlying metaphors found in ASL literature.

ASL 202 Second-Year American Sign Language
4 Credits — Prerequisite: C- or better or P in ASL 201 or equivalent
Emphasis on more abstract and challenging conversational and narrative ranges. Lab and readings cover historical aspects of deaf community and culture.

ASL 203 Second-Year American Sign Language
4 Credits — Prerequisite: C- or better or P in ASL 202 or equivalent
Further emphasis on more abstract and challenging conversational and narrative ranges. Explores broader political and social activities of international deaf community.

ASL 301 American Deaf Culture*
4 Credits
Study of the relationship between small groups and dominant culture in the United States. Explore issues of language, culture, self-representation, identity, and social structure.

*ASL 301 American Deaf Culture fulfills a multicultural course requirement in Identity, Pluralism, and Tolerance (IP). This course is not taught every year, please check the schedule in DuckWeb for course offering.