# American Sign Language (ASL) courses Rio Hondo College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 13 courses Source: https://riohondo.curriqunet.com/catalog/iq/22181/25453/24438 "Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027. ### ASL 101 — American Sign Language I - **Units:** 4.5 - **Hours:** 72 Lecture, 27 Lab - **Advisory:** It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and read college-level texts. - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Summer 2026, 5 sections (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/summer-2026/asl.md); Fall 2026, 11 sections (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/fall-2026/asl.md); Spring 2027, 11 sections (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/spring-2027/asl.md) This course will provide an introduction to American Sign Language, emphasizing receptive and expressive skills. The use of facial expressions during signing will also be addressed. Students will be exposed to deaf culture experiences in the classroom and other environments. In addition to classroom discussion, students will receive intensive individualized practice in American Sign Language via interactive websites, video programs, and CD-ROMs. This course is designed for students who want to learn how to communicate with people who are deaf and hard of hearing. ### ASL 102 — American Sign Language II - **Units:** 4.5 - **Hours:** 72 Lecture, 27 Lab - **Prerequisite:** ASL 101 or two years of high school ASL with a "C" or better, or successfully pass an interview and comprehensive exam developed by the department demonstrating competency of the skills required in an ASL I course. - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Summer 2026, 1 section (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/summer-2026/asl.md); Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/fall-2026/asl.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/spring-2027/asl.md) This course will provide a continuation to American Sign Language I (ASL 101), emphasizing receptive and expressive skills. The use of facial expressions during signing will also be addressed. Students will be exposed to deaf culture experiences in the classroom and other environments. In addition to classroom discussion, students will receive intensive individualized practice in the language laboratory via interactive websites, video programs, and CD-ROMs. This course is designed for students who want to learn how to communicate with people who are deaf and hard of hearing. ### ASL 120 — Introduction to Deaf Studies - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 54 Lecture - **Prerequisite:** ASL 101 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/fall-2026/asl.md) This course introduces students to the basic information of the American Deaf experience in the United States: Deaf community/culture and American Sign Language. This course exposes students to the history, contributions and contemporary lives of Deaf people in America. This course is interdisciplinary in that it introduces a range of issues that are developed in the purview of Deaf Studies — linguistics, education, sociology, psychology and other fields. This course will be taught using a combination of ASL and spoken English and may or may not have interpreters facilitating the lectures depending on the instructor. ### ASL 124 — Deaf Culture - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 54 Lecture - **Advisory:** It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and read college-level texts. - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/spring-2027/asl.md) - Prerequisite/Corequisite: ASL 102 This course will cover basic information and research on deaf culture, deaf children and their upbringing, deaf education, the importance of American Sign Language to the deaf community, deaf societies around the world, and advances in and usage of technology for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The course will focus on research and progress within deaf culture. This course will be taught using a combination of American Sign Language and spoken English and, depending on the instructor, may or may not have interpreters facilitating the lectures. ### ASL 201 — American Sign Language III - **Units:** 4.5 - **Hours:** 72 Lecture, 27 Lab - **Prerequisite:** ASL 102 (formerly ASL 150) - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/fall-2026/asl.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/spring-2027/asl.md) This course will focus on refining students’ knowledge of the grammatical structure and lexicon of American Sign Language as these things relate to its historical, artistic, and cultural influence in mainstream society, with an emphasis on receptive/expressive conversational and cultural skills for communication. In addition to classroom discussion, students will receive intensive individualized practice in the language laboratory via interactive websites, video programs, and CD-ROMs. ### ASL 202 — American Sign Language IV - **Units:** 4.5 - **Hours:** 72 Lecture, 27 Lab - **Prerequisite:** ASL 201 - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/rio-hondo-college/schedule/spring-2027/asl.md) This course will provide a continuation to American Sign Language III (ASL 201). The course will focus on the use of American Sign Language in practical applications through discussing relevant topics like math, current events, arts, and various other topics, with an emphasis on applying the language in real world interactions. In addition to classroom discussion, students will receive intensive individualized practice in the language laboratory via interactive websites, video programs, and CD-ROMs. ### ASL 211 — Beginning Interpreting + Ethics 1 - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 54 Lecture - **Prerequisite:** ASL 102 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules In this course, students survey basic theories, principles, and practices of interpreting/transliterating, including basic ethical considerations, a historical overview of the interpreting profession, and discuss the professional role of the interpreter. Students begin the development of interpreting/transliterating processing skills. This course will be taught using a combination of ASL and spoken English, and may or may not have interpreters facilitating the lectures depending on the instructor. ### ASL 212 — Beginning Interpreting + Ethics 2 - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 54 Lecture - **Prerequisite:** ASL 201, ASL 211 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules In this course, students will continue to learn theories, principles, and practices of interpreting/transliterating including more complex ethical considerations, a current overview of the interpreting profession, and discuss the professional role of the interpreter in today's workforce. This course is designed to allow students to pursue a degree in ASL interpreting. This course will be taught using a combination of ASL and spoken English and may or may not have interpreters facilitating the lectures depending on the instructor. ### ASL 220 — Pathways to Interpreting Careers - **Units:** 2 - **Hours:** 36 Lecture - **Prerequisite:** ASL 201, ASL 211 - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules In this course students will learn business practices in the profession of interpreting. They will explore various career paths available to ASL interpreters from staff positions to independent contractors. Students will learn legal considerations within the state of California and beyond as they apply to interpreting. This course will be taught using a combination of ASL and spoken English and may or may not have interpreters facilitating the lectures depending on the instructor. ### ASL 250 — ASL Linguistics - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 54 Lecture - **Prerequisite:** ASL 102 - **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules This course will serves as an introductory course in linguistics, with a special emphasis on American Sign Language (ASL). Students will learn basic linguistic concepts such as phonology, morphology, and syntax as they apply to all languages. Students will further their knowledge of linguistics as it relates specifically to ASL. No prior knowledge of linguistics is needed to take this course. Upon completion of this course students will be able to pursue careers related to Deaf education or ASL pedagogy. This course will be taught using a combination of ASL and spoken English and may or may not have interpreters facilitating the lectures depending on the instructor. ### ASL 270 — ASL Literature - **Units:** 3 - **Hours:** 54 Lecture - **Prerequisite:** ASL 201 - **Advisory:** ASL 250 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules This course will take students on a journey through the history and current status of the literary body of American Sign Language (ASL). This is a rare opportunity to explore a body of literature in its infancy stages. Students will analyze videos and books created or written by ASL poetic performers or authors. Word choices, deeper meanings, and metaphors used will be discussed. This course will be taught using a combination of ASL and spoken English and may or may not have interpreters facilitating the lectures depending on the instructor. ### ASL 280 — ASL Storytelling - **Units:** 2 - **Hours:** 36 Lecture - **Prerequisite:** ASL 124, ASL 201 - **Transfers to:** CSU, UC - **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules This course is designed to further refine the student's knowledge and mastery of American Sign Language (ASL) through the practical application of storytelling. Students will study master storytellers and analyze their techniques. Upon completion of this course, students will have created multiple original stories in ASL. These are necessary skills to achieve fluency in ASL. ### ASL 299 — Directed Study: American Sign Language - **Units:** 1-3 - **Hours:** 54-162 Lab - **Advisory:** It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and read college-level texts. - **Transfers to:** CSU - **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules Independent Study/Directed Study is intended for students who have the ability to assume responsibility for independent work and to prepare written or oral reports and/or appropriate projects. To enroll in an Independent Study/Directed Study course, students must possess a 2.5 overall grade point average or a 3.0 grade point average in the discipline of study being requested, or receive an exception from the instructor. Independent Studies/Directed Studies may be developed from any topic arising from or related to a course of study that will result in developing depth and breadth in that subject area. Students are expected to meet on a regular basis with their faculty sponsor and submit a final report or project, and student progress is evaluated at regular intervals. Academic standards for Independent Studies/Directed Studies are the same as those for other courses. Units are awarded in accordance to Title 5 regulations, with one unit of credit awarded for 54 hours of Directed Studies, 6 hours of which must be with an instructor. The instructor is responsible for monitoring student progress throughout the semester. Students may take directed study courses for a maximum of 3 units within a discipline, and may not accumulate more than a total of 9 units college wide.