Discovery Scholars Carleigh Mayo, Dongli Deng, and Rachel Backert, and Resident Assistant Manpreet Suri spelling “UMBC” using the American Sign Language alphabet. American Sign Language (ASL) will fulfill UMBC’s GEP language requirement. Courses are offered every semester: fall, winter, spring, and summer.
Courses offered:
ASL 101
ASL 102
ASL 201
ASL is a visual language that uses hand, facial and body movements to communicate. Sign language promotes communication with the Deaf community and can help babies communicate sooner and better. It can boost more effective brain function and links the mind and body in ways that other languages do not. It’s also the sixth most common language in the United States.
Do you know how to sign?
If you have any knowledge in American Sign Language, email department head Dr. Laila Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu) to inquire about a proficiency test.
Spring 2025
First Day of Class: January 27th, 2025
Last Day of Class: May 13th, 2025
Finals Week: May 15th-21st, 2025
ASL 101
Description: American Sign Language 101 is designed for students who have little or no previous knowledge of ASL. The course emphasizes simple receptive and expressive conversational skills and the unique features of American Sign Language grammar. Readiness for learning will be approached via visual-gestural communication techniques, visual discrimination, and visual memory exercises, emphasizing the acquisition of comprehension, production, and interactional skills using basic grammatical features. ASL will be taught within contexts and related to general surroundings and everyday life experiences. The course also provides a historical overview of American Sign Language and an introduction to deaf culture and folklore. Videos, films, readings and non-verbal feedback exercises will be a part of the instruction using tools.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with components of Synchronous online meetings and Asynchronous work. In order to move into ASL 102 to meet the language requirement, this course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with components of Synchronous online meetings and Asynchronous work. In order to move into ASL 102 to meet the language requirement, this course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with synchronous meetings. In order to move into ASL 102 to meet the language requirement, this course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with synchronous meetings. In order to move into ASL 102 to meet the language requirement, this course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
American Sign Language I | Th 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.
Section: 05-LEC (6689) Location: Physics 107 Instruction Mode: Hybrid – In Person/Asynchronous Instructor: Daniel Frame
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This course is taught in the Hybrid format, with In-Person meetings on Thursdays and Asynchronous work for the remaining credit hours. In order to move into ASL 102 to meet the language requirement, this course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with synchronous meetings. In order to move into ASL 102 to meet the language requirement, this course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with synchronous meetings. In order to move into ASL 102 to meet the language requirement, this course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
ASL 102
Description: American Sign Language 102 is designed to build on ASL 101 providing for a higher level of receptive and conversational practice and will introduce several “uninterpreted” activities. Learning goals will focus on the development of American Sign Language (ASL) skills with a primary focus on refining the use of basic ASL sentence types. Pronominalization, classifiers, spatial referencing, pluralization, and temporal and distributional aspects are introduced. Students will learn routine communicative functions of the language: asking, requesting, providing clarification, giving and asking for directions. Information about the Deaf Community and Deaf Culture will be included.
ASL 102 Classes
American Sign Language II | Th 2:30 – 3:45 pm
Section: 01-LEC (5868) Location: Physics 107 Instruction Mode: Hybrid – In Person/Asynchronous Instructor: Daniel Frame
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M. Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This course is taught in the Hybrid format, with In-Person meetings on Thursdays and Asynchronous work for the remaining credit hours. New students enrolling in ASL102 must provide documentation that they have completed a course equivalent to ASL 101 from another college or university or that they studied ASL for two years in high school. This can be verified by providing UMBC with a transcript from the relevant college or high school. Please email this documentation to Dr. Laila M. Shishineh at the email listed above.
Prerequisite: ASL 101 with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
American Sign Language II | Th 4:00 – 5:15 pm
Section: 02-LEC (5869) Location: Physics 107 Instruction Mode: Hybrid – In Person/Asynchronous Instructor: Daniel Frame
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M. Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This course is taught in the Hybrid format, with In-Person meetings on Thursdays and Asynchronous work for the remaining credit hours. New students enrolling in ASL102 must provide documentation that they have completed a course equivalent to ASL 101 from another college or university or that they studied ASL for two years in high school. This can be verified by providing UMBC with a transcript from the relevant college or high school. Please email this documentation to Dr. Laila M. Shishineh at the email listed above.
Prerequisite: ASL 101 with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M. Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with synchronous meetings. New students enrolling in ASL102 must provide documentation that they have completed a course equivalent to ASL 101 from another college or university or that they studied ASL for two years in high school. This can be verified by providing UMBC with a transcript from the relevant college or high school. Please email this documentation to Dr. Laila M. Shishineh at the email listed above.
Prerequisite: ASL 101 with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M. Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with synchronous meetings. New students enrolling in ASL102 must provide documentation that they have completed a course equivalent to ASL 101 from another college or university or that they studied ASL for two years in high school. This can be verified by providing UMBC with a transcript from the relevant college or high school. Please email this documentation to Dr. Laila M. Shishineh at the email listed above.
Prerequisite: ASL 101 with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M. Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with synchronous meetings. New students enrolling in ASL102 must provide documentation that they have completed a course equivalent to ASL 101 from another college or university or that they studied ASL for two years in high school. This can be verified by providing UMBC with a transcript from the relevant college or high school. Please email this documentation to Dr. Laila M. Shishineh at the email listed above.
Prerequisite: ASL 101 with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
ASL 201
Meets GEP Language Requirement.
Description: American Sign Language 201 is designed to build on ASL 102 in order to further develop the receptive and expressive visual communication skills in ASL. This will include adding more complex ASL grammatical features and vocabulary, short stories, narratives, and dialogues. The course will include a description of general surroundings, appropriate sequencing, temporal aspects, and conditionals. The course will also focus on cultural aspects of the deaf community and will include discussions and formal signing presentations.
ASL 201 Classes
American Sign Language III | Th 1:00 – 2:15 pm
Section: 01-LEC (5870) Location: Physics107 Instruction Mode: Hybrid – In Person/Asynchronous Instructor: Daniel Frame
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M. Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This course is taught in the Hybrid format, with In-Person meetings on Thursdays and Asynchronous work for the remaining credit hours. New students enrolling in ASL201 must provide documentation that they have completed a course equivalent to ASL101 and ASL102 from another college or university or that they studied ASL for three years in high school. This can be verified by providing UMBC with a transcript from the relevant college or high school. Please email this documentation to Dr. Laila M. Shishineh at the email listed above.
Prerequisite: ASL 102 with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M. Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with synchronous meetings. New students enrolling in ASL201 must provide documentation that they have completed a course equivalent to ASL101 and ASL102 from another college or university or that they studied ASL for three years in high school. This can be verified by providing UMBC with a transcript from the relevant college or high school. Please email this documentation to Dr. Laila M. Shishineh at the email listed above.
Prerequisite: Prerequisite: ASL 102 with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Note: If course permission is needed, email Dr. Laila M. Shishineh (lailams@umbc.edu). This is an online course with components of Synchronous online meetings and Asynchronous work. New students enrolling in ASL201 must provide documentation that they have completed a course equivalent to ASL101 and ASL102 from another college or university or that they studied ASL for three years in high school. This can be verified by providing UMBC with a transcript from the relevant college or high school. Please email this documentation to Dr. Laila M. Shishineh at the email listed above.
Prerequisite: Prerequisite: ASL 102 with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
