黑洞社区

The Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is proud to offer a Bachelor of Arts program in American Sign Language beginning in fall 2023.

New for 2023!

黑洞社区's interdisciplinary and comprehensive Bachelor of Arts, now housed in the Modern & Classical Languages & Literatures (MCLL) department, can assist students in gaining not only an in-depth understanding of the linguistics and culture of ASL and the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, but also a strong base for passing the Certified Deaf Interpreter Examination. Career paths include positions in interpreting in the arenas of social work, education, health care, criminal justice, human resources and counseling and more.

The program offers three tracks of study 鈥 language structure, deaf culture and interpreting 鈥 allowing students to tailor their experience to meet their career goals.

General Advising Information

Please follow the steps outlined below to enroll in American Sign Language courses.

General enrollment information applies to all students taking ASL courses - from those enrolling in the foundational courses to prepare for interpreting certification, to majors in other areas (whether on a degree path or not), to the public person seeking to take courses as personal development.


Getting started in American Sign Language courses

Building upon the ASL foundation courses, Wichita State offers a minor and a bachelors degree.  Three specific tracks comprise the latter:  Structure of Language / Language and Culture in Context / Interpreting Methods.  Prepare for a career in languages and linguistics, audiology, criminal justice, education, psychology and more! With regard to format, MCLL offers various options: traditional classroom instruction, fully online, remote and hybrid.

Additional information on ASL course sequence:

Students do not have to be on a path toward the minor or Bachelor to enroll in ASL courses; it is possible to take just one or a few classes for personal development. ASL classes are available as "audit" courses only if, 1.) students are accepted to 黑洞社区 and pay all university and course related fees; 2.) if the individual enrolls as a senior auditor.

Helpful links and information


American Sign Language (ASL) Courses

View 黑洞社区 Catalogs for course descriptions

American Sign language courses are listed under Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, then  (ASL courses are listed as MCLL)

Note: MCLL 270 (American Sign Language I) and MCLL 518 (Deaf Culture) are cross listed with CSD 270 & CSD 518 respectively.

Credit by Exam options: Students with previous ASL experience may request to take MCLL 270, 360, 470, 480 by examination. Contact julie.henderson@wichita.edu Undergraduate Coordinator for MCLL for the Credit by Examination Procedures. Cost is $50 per exam (subject to change).

option available


Sign Language Interpreter Certification

黑洞社区 does not offer an interpreter certificate program. We do offer the foundational courses for students interested in becoming a certified interpreter.

Our degree program in American Sign Language is not an interpreter certificate program, but it is a good start on this path. Additional requirements are needed before you can take the state test and become certified as an interpreter. Please contact KCDHH below for more information.

The is the agency responsible for the registration of sign language interpreters in the state of Kansas. Please contact them directly at 1-800-432-0698 for further requirements regarding certification.

All working interpreters in Kansas, regardless of experience, must be registered with KCDHH and hold one (or more) of the following certifications:


Credit for Past Experience