Deaf Studies

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Deaf Studies is designed to provide students with intermediate sign language skills and an overview of cultures and communities within the Deaf, the Hard of Hearing, and the Deafblind populations. This program will not prepare students as interpreters; it will enhance their ability to provide services to these populations.

Details

Offered At
Phoenix
Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Deaf Studies (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5333
Total credits required
36-47
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2020
Admissions criteria

High school diploma, or GED, or equivalent.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of B or better in CRE101, ENG101 or ENG107, IPP205, IPP207, ASL202, ASL203, ASL204, and ASL212, and must earn a grade of C or better in all remaining courses within the program.

Students must complete one-hundred (100) clock hours of community involvement defined by the Program Director.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Demonstrate effective communication in both English and American Sign Language.
  2. Differentiate between American Sign Language and English discourse.
  3. Compare the diverse populations among the deaf community.
  4. Describe the varied communication systems and language use that exist within the deaf community.
  5. Identify services, technology, and educational programs available to the deaf community.
  6. Discuss the rich cultural and historical aspects of the deaf community.
  7. Recognize the various components of the Interpreting profession.
  8. Apply ethical decision-making skills in a variety of professional settings.
  9. Explain federal and state laws affecting the deaf and interpreting communities.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Interpreters and Translators

$37,840

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Option 1 Sequence

This option may include variable full-time (12 to 18 credits per semester) and/or part-time (11 credit hours or less per semester) status by term due to course prerequisites and scheduling.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASL101 American Sign Language I Gateway course OR Permission of Program Director;
First 8 weeks 		0–4
ASL102 American Sign Language II OR Permission of Program Director;
Second 8 weeks 		0–4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC or FYC 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASL110 Fingerspelling 3
ASL200 Issues and Resources 3
ASL201 American Sign Language III Critical course First 8 weeks 4
ASL202 American Sign Language IV Second 8 weeks 4

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASL203 American Sign Language V 4
ASL204 Comparative Linguistics: ASL/English Critical course 3
IPP205 Introduction to Interpreting Critical course 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASL212 Deaf Culture C 3
IPP198 Careers in Deaf Studies: Observation 1
IPP207 Ethics and Decision Making for ASL/English Interpreters 2

Option 2 Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASL101 American Sign Language I Gateway course OR Permission of Program Director;
First 8 weeks 		0–4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC or FYC 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASL102 American Sign Language II OR Permission of Program Director;
Second 8 weeks 		0–4
ASL110 Fingerspelling 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASL200 Issues and Resources 3
ASL201 American Sign Language III Critical course First 8 weeks 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASL202 American Sign Language IV Second 8 weeks 4
IPP205 Introduction to Interpreting Critical course 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASL203 American Sign Language V 4
IPP198 Careers in Deaf Studies: Observation 1
IPP207 Ethics and Decision Making for ASL/English Interpreters 2

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASL204 Comparative Linguistics: ASL/English Critical course 3
ASL212 Deaf Culture C 3
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=154108).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.