American Sign Language
6 courses · Shasta College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026
ASL-1 American Sign Language 1
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 72 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 216)
- Corequisite
- ASL 1L, or previous completion of ASL 1L with a grade of C or higher
- Formerly
- SL 90, SPED 93A
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is designed to introduce students to basic skills in American Sign Language vocabulary, fingerspelling, and grammatical structure. The student will gain the manual skills to engage in basic dialogue and visual cues, and the receptive skills to understand general American Sign Language conversation. Topics include American Sign Language as an independent language, the history of American Sign Language, the Deaf community, and Deaf culture. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ASL-1L American Sign Language 1 Skill–building Lab
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 54 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 54)
- Corequisite
- ASL 1, or previous completion of ASL 1 with a grade of C or higher
- Formerly
- SL 91, SPED 95A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed to give students a lab environment to practice basic American Sign Language skills. The course will review vocabulary, sentence structure, nonmanual markers and gesturing. In addition, students will gain a solid foundation in basic signing skills, preparing them to advance to American Sign Language 2. The lab environment will provide visual structured activities. The majority of class time will consist of non-verbal interactions. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ASL-2 American Sign Language 2
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 72 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 216)
- Prerequisite
- ASL 1 with a grade of C or higher
- Corequisite
- ASL 2L, or previous completion of ASL 2L with a grade of C or higher
- Formerly
- SL 92, SPED 93B
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is a continuation of ASL 1 and is designed to increase vocabulary and fluency in receptive and expressive skills of American Sign Language students. Emphasis is on the structure of American Sign Language, including lexical, morphemic, and syntactic elements. The student will gain the manual skills to engage in descriptive, complex dialog and stories at a moderate skill level. Topics include American Sign Language in contrast and comparison to other languages, language development and acquisition, and societal topics. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ASL-2L American Sign Language 2 Skill–building Lab
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 54 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 54)
- Prerequisite
- ASL 1L with a grade of C or higher
- Corequisite
- ASL 2, or previous completion of ASL 2 with a grade of C or higher
- Formerly
- SL 93, SPED 95D
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is designed to give students a lab environment in which to practice new vocabulary and structures learned in ASL 2, and will review vocabulary, sentence structure and visual, non-manual behaviors learned from ASL 2. Students will be involved in structured class assignments in order to utilize signing skills and increase fluency to a moderate rate in preparation for success in ASL 3. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ASL-3 American Sign Language 3
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 lecture/54 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 216)
- Prerequisite
- ASL 2 and ASL 2L with a grade of C or higher
- Formerly
- SL 94, SPED 93C
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is intended for students who plan to use American Sign Language in their daily lives. Success in this course will enable students to communicate with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals through sign language at an average rate of speed and build confidence in their use of the language. Students will study basic qualities and skills needed to interpret, including topics such as the interpreting process, an overview of the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct, expectations, and simultaneous interpreting practice. Exposure to Deaf culture through class discussions and guest lecturers will be incorporated. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
ASL-4 American Sign Language 4
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 54 lecture/54 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 216)
- Prerequisite
- ASL 3 with a grade of C or higher
- Formerly
- SL 96
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is intended for students who plan to use American Sign Language (ASL) in their daily lives. Success in this course will enable students to communicate with Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals through ASL at an average rate of speed and build confidence in their use of the language, storytelling ability, and presentation. Students will study the qualities and skills needed to become interpreters. Students will be exposed to a variety of members and activities in the Deaf community. This course may be offered in a distance education format.