ASL 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.

Special topics courses will be developed based on student interest and demand as well as faculty interest and availability. These courses are usually taken on an elective basis.

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 the 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.

This course is designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing students who have little or no prior skill in American Sign Language. Students will begin to develop receptive and expressive skills needed to converse about familiar topics using a variety of phrases, simple sentences, and questions. Students will learn vocabulary, grammar, and cultural protocols for communicating at a Novice-Low to Novice-Mid ASL level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.