In this course, students will develop ASL receptive and expressive skills needed to converse about familiar topics using series of discrete sentences. At the end of the semester, students will achieve effective communication by using vocabulary, grammar, and cultural protocols at a Novice-High level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Activities include delivering monologues and lab exercises that provide extensive hands-on practice using a variety of media. Students are expected to engage with members of the Deaf community in order to learn about Deaf co-culture in the United States.

In this course, students will develop ASL receptive and expressive skills needed to communicate series of connected paragraphs using complex connected sentences. At the end of the semester, students will achieve effective communication by using vocabulary, grammar, and cultural protocols for conveying details about less familiar topics at an Intermediate-High level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Activities include delivering presentations and lab exercises that provide extensive hands-on practice using a variety of media. Students are expected to engage with members of the Deaf community in order to learn about Deaf co-culture in the United States.

The description for the special topics course will be specified in each course proposal.

ASL I includes linguistic features, cultural protocols and core vocabulary for students to function in basic ASL conversations that include ASL grammar for asking and answering questions while introducing oneself, exchanging personal information, talking about family, friends and surroundings, and discussing activities. This course is designed for students who have no knowledge of American Sign Language. Students must take placement exam if this is their first RIT class in Sign Language and they have some prior study of Sign Language.

This course expands the basic principles presented in ASL I. ASL II teaches students to use linguistics features, cultural protocols and core vocabulary to function in basic ASL conversations that include ASL grammar for giving directions, describing, making request, talking about family, occupations and routines, and attributing qualities to others.

This course builds upon information taught in Beginning ASL I – Intermediate ASL II. Students continue learning and using ASL vocabulary, grammatical principles and various advanced-level discourse features in narratives and presentations in ASL. Students continue to analyze multiple meaning English words and English idioms to express concepts in ASL. Issues related to Deaf culture continue to be introduced based on unit topics.

Global Education Seminar provides graduate students with the opportunity to conduct research on the unique historical, geographical, economic, social, and/or political circumstances of a country other than the United States, and consider those factors that shaped the relationship between the country being studied and its Deaf community. The students will research perspectives on and issues related to people who are deaf in the field of their interest (e.g., medicine, accessibility, technology, STEM, sign language, education, history, business, arts, among others). The students will exit the course with basic practitioner knowledge, especially in the area of research. The students will learn and use some basic language skills in the written and signed languages of the selected country as well as to interact with members of the Deaf community in the country. The country to be studied and the specific course topics for that country will vary by instructor. Specific knowledge and skills required for this experience and/or research project abroad will also be taught. This course is required for graduate students who travel in the NTID faculty-led experience and/or research project abroad. Students who do not participate in the study abroad experience may be allowed to enroll with the permission of the instructor.

The New Signers Program is an intensive, fast-paced, summer pre-college experience designed for newly admitted deaf and hard-of-hearing students who have little or no prior skill in American Sign Language. Through a variety of learning experiences such as lectures, small group activities, and evening activities where students interact with other deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, students will learn how to use ASL to communicate in real-world conversations and situations that are likely to occur on the college campus. Students will reach at a Novice-Low to Novice-Mid ASL level as recognized by American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Interactive evening activities provide opportunities for students to be immersed in deaf culture. Students will also prepare self-reflection journals in which they document their development as signers and members of the Deaf community.