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Course Listings
Deaf Studies
A major and a minor are available in Deaf Studies. See also the major in Sign Language Interpreting.
Major in Deaf Studies
39-43 credit hours (Core + one concentration area)
Core program: (27-30 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, and at least one course must be 300-level or higher. These courses may not count towards other Deaf Studies requirements. Course schedules must be determined in consultation with advisors.
Social Work concentration (12 credits)
NOTE: For Social Work licensure, students must complete the full Social Work major (41 additional credits)
Education Concentration, Non-certification (13 credits)
Education Concentration with 5-12 certification (13 credits)
NOTE: For secondary education licensure, students must complete the secondary education co-major (36 additional credits)
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates with a major 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 and 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. In order to earn enough upper-level credits for the major, at least one course at Gallaudet must be taken at the 300-level or higher.
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)
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates with a minor in Deaf Studies will:
- Effectively communicate with Deaf individuals using American Sign Language, with a variety of signing styles.
- 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.
- Establish working and collegial relationships with community agencies, schools, and families to strengthen the advocacy relationship with Deaf individuals.
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 215 Deaf Culture and History
(Cross-listed with GLST 251) This course presents the rich history and unique experiences of the American Deaf community. Students will examine topics such as cultural identity, group norms, the history of Deaf education from 1800-present, effective communication, and the achievements...
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 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...
COMM 206 Communication Across Cultures
A study of cultures, comparative message systems and principles of cross-cultural communication. A focus on current issues having to do with cultural interactions. Students analyze cultural dynamics through ethnographic projects, films and simulations. This course is designed as preparation for...
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...
EDUC 300 Exceptional Learners
A study of students with exceptionalities within an academic setting offers practical information on meeting students’ exceptional needs within mainstream classrooms. The course provides basic information on identification procedures, characteristics of different categories of special education, instructional methods, materials, adaptations,...
EDUC 341 Mild Disabilities I
The study of assessment, identification, characteristics and instruction of elementary students with learning disabilities and mild cognitive disabilities provides a foundation for accommodating all students with learning challenges through thorough development of Individual Educational Plans (IEP). Traditional and contemporary measures...
EDUC 348 Teaching Adolescents/Except Needs
The study of assessment, identification, characteristics, and instruction of adolescents with disabilities. Focuses on methods that accommodate the academic, social, cognitive, and physical needs of the adolescent with disabilities. Explores components of Individual Educational Plans specific to adolescents with disabilities....
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...
ENGL 315 Global English
The study of the sound system, history, and varieties of the English language, followed by exploration of current developments in sociolinguistics, dictionaries, and word formation. The course cultivates an informed attitude toward English usage. Prerequisite: Core 110 or equivalent.
PSYC 210 Developmental Psychology
A study of developmental processes across the life span. Physical, social and cognitive changes provide the basic organization for this course. A variety of developmental theories will be examined including Piaget, Vygotsky, Erickson, social learning and psychodynamic. Current research and...
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...