Advanced American Sign Language Micro-Credential

 

College of Arts, Languages and Letters

 

Earn a stand-alone micro-credential or earn a micro-credential as a current student:

 

  • To pursue a micro-credential as a professional or lifelong learner (outside of a degree program), please apply to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Outreach College under the Non-Degree Seeking, Unclassified Programs option. There is no cost to apply and applications are generally processed within 5-10 business days.
  • If you are currently a UH Mānoa student, you can add a micro-credential to your existing studies without any application.

 

Register for your courses:

 

  • Once your application has been processed, or if you are currently enrolled, you can register for your courses via STAR GPS.
  • Be sure to check the micro-credential program page for pre-requisites or specific course sequences.

 

Complete the Statement of Intent form

 

  • Complete the Statement of Intent form and indicate the micro-credential you are interested in.
  • You will receive an email notification confirming receipt of your form

 

Complete your courses and claim your digital badge:

 

  • Complete and pass all of the required courses required for the micro-credential.
  • After successfully finishing your coursework, you will receive information on how to claim your shareable digital badge to showcase your new skills.

 

About This Micro-Credential

This micro-credential allows students with a foundation in American Sign Language (ASL) to achieve advanced-level receptive and expressive conversational skills in ASL along with a general introduction to the linguistics of signed and spoken languages. Learning about linguistics provides you an additional window into how to advance your skills in ASL. Advanced knowledge of ASL is valuable for teachers, social workers, health professionals, law enforcement, and all others seeking professional-level communication with the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community.

 

How to Get Started

The foundational micro-credential in American Sign Language (ASL) should be the first step for those just starting out in ASL.  For those with higher ASL proficiency, either complete ASL 301 with a minimum grade of C, or test into ASL 302 directly (contact Department of Linguistics, 808-956-3226, or <linguist@hawaii.edu> regarding testing). Courses are currently offered in-person, and LING 320 is offered online during the summer. Additional fully online options may be available with sufficient student interest. 

 

Coursework

Complete (6 credits total): ASL 302 (Advanced American Sign Language II) and LING 320 (General Linguistics). ASL 302 develops advanced conversational skills through video demonstrations, unit tests, and final exams. LING 320 combines in-class discussions, group activities, quizzes, short writing responses, and a term project to develop your understanding of language structure.

 

Who This Is For

This micro-credential is for individuals with intermediate ASL skills who are pursuing careers in education, social services, healthcare, law, or business. It’s ideal for aspiring ASL interpreters, those preparing for advanced linguistics study, and professionals seeking expert-level communication skills with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities.

 

Competencies You will Gain

Micro-credential completers will be able to

• Produce cohesive, extended narratives and engage in complex discussions in ASL
•Analyze language patterns using linguistic theories and explain the structural similarities and differences between signed and spoken modalities
•Compare and contrast different languages, including English, Hawaiian, and ASL, by analyzing their unique structural patterns
•Develop research questions in linguistics and situate findings within the broader context of scholarly, peer-reviewed literature
• Tailor linguistic insights and findings to match the comprehension levels of diverse audiences

 

Stackability

Both ASL 302 and LING 320 can be applied directly to a BA in Linguistics (Concentration in ASL). Students must take courses for letter grades to ensure stackability. This program builds directly on foundational ASL skills and serves as preparation for graduate-level linguistics study.

 

Contact us

 

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