Cosumnes River College
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Home Catalog Programs of Study List of Programs Deaf Culture and American Sign Language Studies

Deaf Culture and American Sign Language Studies

Overview

CRC offers courses in Deaf Studies designed to introduce students to Deaf Culture and American Sign Language (ASL) Studies. Students develop foundational communication skills that enable meaningful interaction with members of the Deaf community, while also learning about Deaf cultural practices, values, and lived experiences. Current Deaf Studies offerings are grounded in the Deafhood framework and include American Sign Language, Deaf Education, Deaf Literature, Deaf Arts, and Baby Signs. The program reflects current trends in Deaf Culture and ASL Studies and seeks to expand into critically needed areas within Deaf Studies, such as culture, sociology, anthropology, history, the arts, business, politics, and media, approached through a Deaf centered lens.

Degrees Offered

  • A.A. in Deaf Studies

Associate Degree

A.A. in Deaf Studies

This degree provides an introductory overview of the Deaf community and American Sign Language in cultural context. Students completing the Deaf Studies A.A. degree will develops an understanding and respect for the Deaf culture which will enable them to collaborate effectively with Deaf people for the empowerment of the Deaf community. The Deaf Studies A.A. provides students with the psychosocial dynamics necessary to work in educational or social service setting or to pursue an advanced degree at a 4-year institution.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Degree Requirements
Course Code Course Title Units
DEAF 310 American Sign Language I 4
DEAF 312 American Sign Language II 4
DEAF 314 American Sign Language III 4
DEAF 316 American Sign Language IV 4
DEAF 351 Introduction to American Deaf Culture 3
DEAF 352 Introduction to American Deaf Education 3
DEAF 360 Deaf Art 3
A minimum of 3 units from the following: 3
DEAF 311 Fingerspelling, Classifiers and Numbers (3)
DEAF 354 Creative Signs (3)
DEAF 380 American Sign Language Literature (3)
Total Units: 28

The Deaf Studies Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, and either (a) the Local General Education Pattern or (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), plus sufficient electives for a total of at least 60 units. See CRC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • Compare and contrast characteristics that impact a Deaf person's life in the following areas: the world of work, education, family, language and social development.
  • Demonstrate the ability to carry on an American Sign Language conversation consistent with the ability of a 4th semester second language students with a Deaf individual or groups of Deaf people.
  • Demonstrate characteristics related to personal growth and adjustment in various populations within and outside of the Deaf community.
  • Apply skills in working with various Deaf participants within and outside of the Deaf community.
  • Demonstrate skills in working with school-age Deaf children in an educational setting.
  • Compare and differentiate the Deaf individual to individuals of diverse populations when comparing human development.
  • Demonstrate appropriate cultural interactions within the Deaf community.
  • Demonstrate ability to communicate respectfully in a Deaf-culture setting.

Career Information

This degree prepares students for entry-level positions such as paraprofessional services in an individual or group setting, in an educational or social services agency which serves Deaf consumers.

Deaf Culture and American Sign Language Studies (DEAF) Courses

DEAF 300 Introduction to Deaf Culture and ASL Studies Orientation

  • Units:0.5
  • Hours:9 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides an overview of Deaf Culture and American Sign Language (ASL) Studies at Cosumnes River College. Topics include an introduction to the field of Deaf culture and ASL, job opportunities, and the skills needed to be successful in the field. Pass/No Pass only.

DEAF 310 American Sign Language I

  • Units:4
  • Hours:72 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC (Corresponds to two years of high school study)
  • General Education:Local GE L3
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the first course in a series of four courses in American Sign Language (ASL). The instructional activities are based on an immersion approach, in which the learners develop language competency in source and target language. The emphasis is on non-speech communication. Topics include grammatical features such as adjective descriptors, differentiation between cardinal/ordinal numbers, contrastive structure, temporal aspect markers and temporal sequencing, conversational skills, narrative skills, and discussions with peers. This course was formerly known as SILA 305.

DEAF 311 Fingerspelling, Classifiers and Numbers

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:DEAF 310 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course covers the manual alphabet, numbers and classifiers and is designed to augment expressive and receptive fingerspelling, number and classifiers skills introduced in American Sign Language (ASL) courses. The focus is on skills and perceptual strategies used by students. Emphasis is on recognition of fingerspelling in context. Basic knowledge of American Sign Language is required. It enables the ASL students to develop, expand, and reinforce hands-on experiences with ASL using basic or complex fingerspelling, numbers, and classifiers skills.

DEAF 312 American Sign Language II

  • Units:4
  • Hours:72 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:DEAF 310 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the second in a series of four courses in American Sign Language (ASL). The emphasis is on nonverbal communication. Course topics will be presented in a culturally rich context, providing students with the opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation for Deaf culture. Topics include grammatical features such as adjective descriptors, differentiation between cardinal/ordinal numbers, contrastive structure, temporal aspect markers and temporal sequencing, conversational skills, narrative skills, and discussions with peers. This course was formerly known as SILA 306.

DEAF 314 American Sign Language III

  • Units:4
  • Hours:72 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:DEAF 312 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is the third in a series of four courses in American Sign Language. It emphasizes expressive and receptive nonverbal communication skills between signers who have preliminary American Sign Language syntactical and lexical skills. It provides an understanding of deaf cultural processes by identifying behaviors and norms from activities assigned in the class. It also includes dialogs that involve asking, empathizing, negotiating and agreeing or disagreeing. The emphasis is on non-speech communication. This course was formerly known as SILA 315.

DEAF 316 American Sign Language IV

  • Units:4
  • Hours:72 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:DEAF 314 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is the fourth in a series of four courses in American Sign Language (ASL). It emphasizes expressive communication skills that involve locating and signing interesting facts, making major life decisions, discussing health conditions, and using money. It incorporates information and activities previously learned about Deaf culture into these narratives. The emphasis is on non-speech communication. This course was formerly known as SILA 316.

DEAF 351 Introduction to American Deaf Culture

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L4; Cal-GETC Area 4
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is a survey of four institutions which have critical impact on the psycho-social development of Deaf people: family, education, work, and society. It provides awareness and sensitivity to the unique challenges of deafhood and how they influence personal,social and communication competencies of the Deaf person. Selected visits to community events may be required. This course is formerly known as SILA 330.

DEAF 352 Introduction to American Deaf Education

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L4
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course surveys topics related to educating Deaf children, adults, and individuals with additional disabilities. It also covers teaching methods and philosophies, school placement issues, child development, and methods of addressing developmental and linguistic stages. Selected visits to a residential Deaf school in Fremont and/or a local mainstreaming/Deaf program school may be required. This course was formerly known as SILA 332.

DEAF 353 Baby Sign Language

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course focuses on Baby Sign Language vocabulary, alphabet, handshape, movement, palm orientation, structure,and grammar. Students will learn core vocabulary, comprehension, and grammar in ASL to understand its structure. Students will also be introduced to the history of the Deaf community and its culture, as well as be exposed to community resources for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing populations. This course was formerly known as SILA 338.

DEAF 354 Creative Signs

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:DEAF 314 or communicating at a level of preliminary American Sign Language syntactical and lexical skills that are equivalent to the completion of DEAF 314.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

Introduction to the techniques of facial expression, characterization, body movement, and specialization as it relates to American Sign Language. Development of expressive sign language skills through the use of poetry, songs, skits, storytelling, jokes and slang signs.

DEAF 360 Deaf Art

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course introduces Deaf Arts such as drawings, sculptures, artifacts, painting, printmaking and films. We will examine the materials, methods, and design principles of creating Deaf Arts . Local field trips may be required. This course addresses the need and demand of this instruction for global recognition and its social and cultural affects toward Deaf Arts. It promotes global and cultural understanding to the relationship of Deaf Art and the expression of national, regional, socio-economic class, and gender identity.

DEAF 380 American Sign Language Literature

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:DEAF 314 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course introduces American Sign Language (ASL) literature genres such as folklore and folktales, storytelling, visual vernacular, personification, classifier story, poetry, ABC and number stories and non-fiction narrative. Topics include analyzing and applying ASL usage in ASL literature genres.

DEAF 400 Deaf Culture and ASL Studies Capstone

  • Units:1
  • Hours:18 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:DEAF 316 or SILA 316 with grades of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course applies classroom learning to real-world practice in the Deaf community. It includes development of portfolios and digital portfolios from previous work in DEAF courses. Topics also include resume writing and interview skills.

DEAF 495 Independent Study

  • Units:1 - 3
  • Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

An independent studies project involves an individual student or small group of students in study, research, or activities beyond the scope of regularly offered courses. See the current catalog section of "Special Studies" for full details of Independent Studies.

DEAF 499 Experimental Offering in Deaf Culture & ASL Studies

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.

Sign Language Studies (SILA) Courses

SILA 499 Experimental Offering in Sign Language Studies

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.

Catalog