Course Listings
Deaf Studies
See also the major in Sign Language Interpreting.
Major in Deaf Studies
42-46 credit hours
(core + one concentration area)
Core program:
(30-33 credits including Gallaudet semester)
Gallaudet semester (12-15 credits)
Students will spend one immersive semester as a guest student at Gallaudet University. During this semester, they will take courses that transfer to Goshen College and enhance the chosen concentration. A minimum of 12 credits must be taken; these courses may not count towards other Deaf Studies requirements. Course schedules must be determined in consultation with advisors.
Choose one concentration:
Social Work concentration
(12 credits)
For Social Work licensure: add Social Work major (41 additional credits)
Education Concentration (Non-certification)
(13 credits)
Education Concentration (with 5-12 certification)
(13 credits)
For teacher education: add Secondary Education major (36 additional credits)
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates in Deaf Studies will:
- Effectively communicate with Deaf individuals using American Sign Language, with a variety of signing styles.
- Analyze the impact of power, privilege and oppression within the Deaf community that results in Deaf people’s experience of prejudice, discrimination, inequity, and/or exclusion.
- Apply skills in working with various Deaf participants within and outside of the Deaf community.
- Demonstrate appropriate cultural interactions within the Deaf community, including the ability to communicate respectfully in a Deaf-culture setting.
- Demonstrate a desire to serve and to nurture Deaf individuals from a social justice perspective.
- Establish working and collegial relationships with community agencies, schools, and families to strengthen the advocacy relationship with Deaf individuals.
Planning Guide
| First & Second Years | Goshen Core ASL 4 & 5 Deaf Culture Deaf History |
| Third Year | Goshen Core Gallaudet Semester SW or Ed concentration courses |
| Fourth Year | Balance of Goshen Core Balance of SW or Ed concentration courses Internship Senior Seminar |
Planning and Advising Notes
A Deaf Studies major does not on its own lead to licensure in education or social work. To become a licensed social worker or a licensed teacher in American Sign Language, students must also complete the major in social work or secondary education respectively.
Students majoring and minoring in Deaf Studies are required to earn a grade of C or above in each course. Courses may be repeated only once to attempt a higher grade.
Course selection for the Gallaudet semester will be made in consultation with your academic advisor.
Recommended elective courses for Deaf Studies majors include: Comm 202 Oral Communication; Comm 206 Communication Across Cultures; Phil 203 Living Ethically; Psyc 100 General Psychology; Soc 260 Human Sexuality.
Minor in Deaf Studies
(19 credits)
ASL 104 Deaf Culture
This course introduces cultural identity, core values, group norms, communication, and language. Designed for students who may or may not have had any previous experience or exposure, this course will answer some of the most commonly asked questions about the...
ASL 201 American Sign Language 3
This course continues development of comprehension and production skills using intermediate vocabulary, conversational competence and grammatical knowledge. Culture and literature aspects are covered. Interaction with the Deaf community is required to enhance linguistic and cultural knowledge. Prerequisite: ASL 102 or...
ASL 202 American Sign Lang 4
This course continues development of comprehension and production skills using intermediate to advanced vocabulary, conversational competence and grammatical knowledge. Culture and literature aspects are covered. Interaction with the Deaf community is required to enhance linguistic and culture knowledge. Prerequisite: ASL...
ASL 307 American Sign Language 5
This course emphasizes further development of comprehension and production skills using advanced vocabulary, discourse competence and grammatical knowledge. ASL 5 focuses on conversation: turn taking, joining and leaving a conversation, interrupting, and following a signed conversation among multiple people. Culture...
ASL 320 Deaf History
The history and culture of the Signed Language communities and Deaf people are very rich and diverse. This course provides an overview of the education of the Deaf from prehistoric times to the present. Significant contributions made by Deaf people...
ASL 409 ASL Internship
Deaf Studies majors in the non-licensure Education concentration will participate in a 3 credit internship. The internship integrates the knowledge, values and skills students have acquired over their years of study. Through the internship students are given the opportunity to...
ASL 410 Senior Seminar
Students reflect on their work within the Deaf community. Discussion will focus on the implications of language and cultural differences when the Deaf and hearing worlds overlap and the quality of services available for members of the Deaf community. A...
EDUC 201 Foundations of Education
Includes both campus and field study of learning environments, classroom management and instructional methods that meet the needs of diverse student populations. The course emphasizes race, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, family structures, language and exceptionalities from a social justice, critical...
ENGL 310 Introduction to Linguistics
Explores different ways of looking at how languages function as systems of sounds, word structures, grammatical patterns, and systems of meaning. Useful for language learning, teaching, and appreciation of English and language in general. Also counts as a language pre-requisite...
INT 380 The Deaf Community: Subcultures
This course will introduce students to subcultures and cultural groups within the broader Deaf community such as Black Deaf culture, Latino Deaf culture, LGBTQ Deaf, DeafBlind. The course will also discuss working with people within the Deaf community who are...
SOWK 200 Introduction to Social Work
This course provides an analysis of the knowledge base, value structure, purpose, nature, history and function of social work practice in various social welfare activities and social workers through observation and guided participation in programs for meeting human need. Students...
SOWK 209 Social Service Field Experience
This course focuses on an integrated understanding of the organizational and community context for social work practice while offering students an opportunity to observe and interact with social work practitioners and offer specific services to clients in a 40-hour agency...
SOWK 221 Human Behavior
This course is a study of the individual through the life cycle within the social environment. Foci include physical, psychological, social, cultural and religious factors in the development of the self. Dimensions of diversity (including but not limited to gender,...
SOWK 322 Social Welfare Policy & Program I
Social, environmental, and economic justice all serve as organizing principles in this course for the study of social problems and the critique of existing and proposed social welfare policy. Students will develop an understanding of policy-making processes and the connection...