Courses

American Sign Language and Deaf Studies Courses

Course descriptions listed on this page for the Department are from the 2021-2022 College Catalog. For more information on the courses offered during the fall and spring semesters, please log in to the course schedule through STAR.

 

DFST 100-TR — Transfer - 100 Level

GPA units: 1
Common Area: Language Studies

DFST 101 — Elementary American Sign Language 1

Introduces students to the basic expressive and receptive skills in ASL, including conversation strategies, spatial referencing and facial expressions. Questions, commands, and simple sentences are 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. One and one-quarter units.
GPA units: 1.25
Common Area: Language Studies
Typically Offered: Fall

DFST 102 — Elementary American Sign Language 2

Continues to develop the basics of the ASL language and the building of both expressive and receptive vocabulary. 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. One and one-quarter units.
Prerequisite: DFST 101 or equivalent.
GPA units: 1.25
Common Area: Language Studies
Typically Offered: Spring

DFST 109 — Introduction To Deaf Studies

This course covers issues relating to deafness, deaf people and the Deaf community, focusing on the cultural and linguistic aspects of deafness rather than the medical condition. It explores such questions as whether deafness is something to be fixed or celebrated, and it considers alternative ways of looking at members of society who are different in some way. It considers policy making, and explores the way that the hearing community influences opinions, decisions, and policies that affect the Deaf community. This course is a requirement for students proposing a CIS Student-Designed major or minor which includes Deaf Studies as one of its disciplines. Taught in English. One unit.
GPA units: 1
Common Area: Cross-Cultural Studies
Typically Offered: Annually

DFST 200 — Tutorial

GPA units: 1
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

DFST 201 — Intermediate American Sign Language 1

This course reviews and expands on the fundamentals of ASL, continues the acquisition of speaking and listening skills through a visual-gestural modality, and develops conversational skills.
Prerequisite: DFST 102. Students without prerequisite should consult the Department.
GPA units: 1
Common Area: Language Studies
Typically Offered: Fall

DFST 201C — Int Amer Sign Language 1 CBL

GPA units: 0

DFST 202 — Intermediate American Sign Language 2

This course reviews and expands on the fundamentals of ASL, continues the acquisition of speaking and listening skills through a visual-gestural modality, and develops conversational skills.
Prerequisite: DFST 201. Students without prerequisite should consult the Department.
GPA units: 1
Common Area: Language Studies
Typically Offered: Spring

DFST 202C — Interm Am Sign Language 1 CBL

GPA units: 0

DFST 300 — The Deaf Community: Language and Culture

Prerequisite: DFST 202. Course taught in sign.
GPA units: 1
Common Area: Cross-Cultural Studies

DFST 301 — American Sign Language Comp & Conv

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 are evaluated using the target language in videotape format, in-class presentations and at public forum presentations using ASL. One unit.
Prerequisite: DFST 202. Students without prerequisite should consult the Department.
GPA units: 1
Typically Offered: Fall

DFST 303 — Deaf Literature

This course examines how culture and language intersect in 20th-century ASL literature. It explores the origins of deaf literature, its relationship with written literature, especially its effect on the development of aesthetic expression of ASL literature. It considers works about deafness and works written by deaf authors and the various attitudes toward deafness revealed in these works. Emphasis is placed on historical background, meaning of the content discussion of grammatical features and styles revealed in the study of selected video materials.
Prerequisite: DFST 202
GPA units: 1
Common Area: Language Studies, Literature
Typically Offered: Spring

DFST 350 — Experience in the Deaf Community

Offers students a unique learning experience, a full immersion internship opportunity for the semester with concurrent weekly seminar. Students integrate the hands-on experience of their internship sites with related readings, classroom discussions and student presentations of specific topics. Students make a formal presentation. Students are involved with a unique collaborate signed History project. Using ASL as a means of communication, students conduct interviews with deaf individuals in the community. One unit.
Prerequisite: DFST 202
GPA units: 1

DFST 392 — Tutorial

GPA units: 1
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring