Students are introduced to approximately 300 basic conversational signs and linguistic features needed to engage in survival-level conversations with Deaf people. Fingerspelling and background information on Deaf culture and community are included. Each class period will have small group, large group and pair interactions.

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.

In this course, students will develop ASL skills needed to create narratives composed of an introduction, main points, supporting points, transitions, and a closing. At the end of the semester, students will achieve effective communication by using vocabulary, grammar, translation skills, and cultural protocols for conveying details about unfamiliar topics at an Advanced-Low level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Activities include delivering presentations, storytelling, 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 skills needed to create complex narratives composed of an introduction, main points, supporting points, transitions, and a closing. At the end of the semester, students will achieve effective communication by using grammar, translation skills, and cultural protocols for conveying details about abstract concepts at an Advanced-Mid level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Activities include delivering presentations, storytelling, 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 builds upon information taught in Beginning ASL I - Advanced ASL I. Students continue learning and using ASL vocabulary, grammatical principles and various advanced-level discourse features in narratives and presentations in ASL. Students analyze different components in storytelling. ASL Literature will be introduced in this level. Students identify controversial issues in various works of ASL Literature.

Students will develop receptive and expressive skills needed to converse about familiar topics using a series of discrete sentences. Students will learn vocabulary, grammar, and cultural protocols for communicating at a Novice-Mid to Novice-High ASL level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Students will develop ASL receptive and expressive skills needed to communicate discrete paragraphs composed of connected sentences. At the end of semester, students will achieve effective communication by using vocabulary, grammar, and cultural protocols for conveying details about familiar topics at a Novice-High to Intermediate-Low level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.