American Sign Language
8 courses · Chaffey College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Summer 2026 · Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
ASL 1 Elementary American Sign Language I
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 64-72 Lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Study of American Sign Language (ASL), including an introduction to current and historical aspects of deaf culture. Skills focus on the basic principles of phrasing, vocabulary, sentence patterns, manual counting and spelling, semantics, and the development of expressive and receptive abilities. This course corresponds to the first year of high school ASL.
ASL 2 Elementary American Sign Language II
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 64-72 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: ASL 1 or
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continued systematic study of the structure, vocabulary, and conversational strategies of American Sign Language (ASL). Skills focus on the basic principles of phrasing, sentence patterns, manual counting and spelling, semantics, and the development of expressive and receptive abilities. Continued study of the American Deaf Culture history, community and language.
ASL 3 Intermediate American Sign Language III
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 64-72 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: ASL 2
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continued study and review of the structure, vocabulary, and conversational strategies of American Sign Language (ASL). Review of ASL grammar, with special emphasis on idiomatic constructions. Continued study of the American Deaf culture, history, community, and language, thereby promoting an understanding of the wide variety of cultural issues concerning the Deaf community.
ASL 4 Intermediate American Sign Language IV
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 64-72 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: ASL 3
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continued study and review of the structure, vocabulary, grammar, and conversational strategies of American Sign Language (ASL). Further development and refinement of ASL fluency in both productive and receptive skills, including mastery of ASL sentence structures. Appreciation and application of Deaf cultural norms, values, and behaviors.
ASL 18 Introduction to Deaf Studies
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 48-54 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: ASL 1
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Overview of Deaf history and the origins of American Sign Language. Introduction to the basic issues of Deaf culture and communication. Students will gain an overview of historical and contemporary issues and people in the Deaf community. This course introduces students to the wide variety of issues involved in Deaf Studies, including linguistics, education, sociology, psychology, and interpreting.
ASL 20 Fingerspelling/Numbers
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 16-18 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: ASL 1
- Transfers to
- CSU
Develops fundamental expressive and receptive fingerspelling skills for the intermediate signer. Presents rules for ASL fingerspelling and number production in context. Continued emphasis on fingerspelling comprehension ability. Introduces techniques for comprehension and continues the development of letter and number production skills.
ASL 21 Classifiers/Depicting Verbs
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 32-36 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: ASL 1
- Transfers to
- CSU
Study the role of classifiers, specifically when, why, and how they are to be signed within various types of narratives. Practice identifying classifiers and any accompanying non-manual markers and communicating/voicing what they represent upon seeing a signed narrative. Detecting when and deciding which classifiers and non-manual markers should be expressed when signing various types of narratives.
ASL 22 Fingerspelling/Numbers
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 32-36 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a C or better in: ASL 1
- Transfers to
- CSU
Develops fundamental expressive and receptive fingerspelling skills for the intermediate signer. Presents rules for ASL fingerspelling and number production in context. Continued emphasis on fingerspelling comprehension ability. Introduces techniques for comprehension and continues the development of letter and number production skills.