Introduces students to the basic expressive and receptive skills in ASL, including conversation strategies, spatial referencing and facial expressions. Questions, commands, and simple sentences will be covered, leading to basic conversational skills in ASL. Awareness of Deaf culture is included. Attendance in ASL lab practicum is required in addition to the class time. (Satisfies the Language Common Area Requirement and the requirement for the Certificate in Deaf Studies.)

This course is a general introduction to Deaf Studies and is looked at from a multidisciplinary perspective. There is discussion about the auditory mechanism, various manual sign systems, education of deaf children; approaches and controversies, minority group dynamics, Deaf community as a linguistic and cultural minority group, the importance of Deaf Culture (language, values, traditions, and diversity of membership), various professions relating to d/Deaf people, activities and current events relating to the Deaf community. Texts: What's That Pig Outdoors?, A Loss For Words, Never The Twain Shall Meet, Choices in Deafness, and The Silent Garden (books subject to change). (Satisfies the Cross Cultural Requirement and the requirement for the Certificate in Deaf Studies.)

DFST 201
Intermediate Sign 
Language I

A continuation of the Elementary ASL level. Focus is on increasing the students' vocabulary in ASL and use of the correct grammatical structure of the language. Further exposure to more sophisticated dialogue is presented. Improving competency in both visual and receptive ASL skills in social situations and increased understanding of Deaf culture is better understood through interaction with members of the Deaf community. In addition to the class time, students are required to participate in a Community Based Learning partnership program where ASL is used. CBL sites include options such as tutoring Deaf adults in computers, teaching Deaf children and adults swimming, teaching deaf children to play hockey, working with deaf senior citizens and ASL story telling. Assignments are videotaped and used for student evaluations. (Satisfies the requirement for the Certificate in Deaf Studies.)

DFST 301
American Sign
Language: Comp and Con

With the goal of increased fluency and comfort, topics revolve around sharing information about our environment and us. Students continue to learn conversational strategies. All lab work, social events, videotapes, learning stimulating activities (in and outside of class) and assignments are intended to develop advanced competency in receptive and expressive use of ASL. In addition to the class time, students are required to participate in a Community Based Learning partnership program where ASL is used. Students will be involved with a unique signed history project that is done in collaborationg with the Worcester Women's Oral History Project and Deaf Community. Students are evaluated using the target language (ASL) in videotape format, in-class presentations and at public forum presentation. (Satisfies the requirement for the Certificate in Deaf Studies.)

Continues to develop the basics of the ASL language and the building of both expressive and receptive vocabulary. It further develops the communicative competencies in the language focusing on skills including use of classifiers, temporal sequencing, spatial agreement and object identification through description. Study of Deaf culture is continued. Attendance in ASL lab practicum is required in addition to the class time. (Satisfies the Language Common Area Requirement and the requirement for the Certificate in Deaf Studies.)

A continuation of the Intermediate ASL 1, but with more depth in the discussion of the principles of ASL. Emphasizes receptive and expressive skills in the areas of grammatical structure, vocabulary, finger spelling, numbers, and non-manual markers. All lab work, social events, videotapes, learning stimulating activities (in and outside of class) and assignments are intended to develop intermediate competency in receptive and expressive use of ASL. In addition to the class time, students are required to participate in a Community Based Learning partnership program where ASL is used. CBL sites include options such as tutoring Deaf adults in computers, teaching Deaf children and adults swimming, teaching deaf children to play hockey, working with deaf senior citizens and ASL story telling. Assignments are videotaped and used for student evaluations. (Satisfies the requirement for the Certificate in Deaf Studies.)

DFST 350 Experience in the Deaf Community: Internship Seminar

Offers students a unique learning experience: a concurrent full immersion internship opportunity for the semester with a concurrent weekly seminar. Students integrate the hands-on experience of their internship sites with related readings, information from guest speakers, classroom discussions and student presentations of specific topics. Students sign a formal presentation about their reflections of internship experience at an open forum to the Holy Cross and Worcester community. Internship sites include working with Deaf and Hard of hearing people at independent livings centers, religious settings, school settings, agencies serving deaf-blind individuals, elder deaf adults, and medical settings. (Satisfies the requirement for the Certificate in Deaf Studies.)

DFST 203
Deaf Literature

Examines how culture and language intersect in 20th-century ASL literature. Explores the origins of deaf literature, its relationship with written literature, especially its effect on the development of aesthetic expression for ASL literature. Considers works about deafness and works written by deaf authors and the various attitudes toward deafness revealed in these works. Emphasis will be placed on historical background, meaning of the content, discussion of grammatical features and styles revealed in the study of selected videotapes. This course is taught primarily in ASL. (Satisfies the requirement for the Certificate in Deaf Studies.)

DFST 299
proposed

Bilingual-
Bicultual
Education for
Deaf Children

DFST 300 The Deaf Community: Language & Culture

Provides students with a positive perspective on Deaf people who use American Sign Language and their cultural identity. The course is based on a cultural perspective as an alternative to the pathological model and explores the historical evolution of the Deaf Community in terms of language, self-image, culture and arts. This course is taught in ASL. (Satisfies the requirement for the Certificate in Deaf Studies.)

DFST 299 Special Topics

A special topics course will be offered on alternate semesters and will include related areas in literature, linguistics, culture, education or visual communication. Topics vary with each offering and can be used for completion of the Deaf Studies Certificate.