American Sign Language (ASL) classes are housed in the Department of Linguistics, and can satisfy the Hawaiian or Second Language general education requirement.

Policies

A grade of C (not C-) or better in the prerequisite courses is required for continuation, unless otherwise specified. Students with ASL experience, including students with approved ASL transfer credits, are required to take a placement test (email: linguist@hawaii.edu).

The placement exam is strongly recommended if you are interested in taking advanced courses (300 level) and there has been a gap since your last language class, or if you would like a firmer sense of your proper placement.

The 101 course is intended for students with no prior experience in the language. If your language proficiency is judged to be beyond the 101-level on the first day of class, you will be asked to take a placement exam and possibly advised to enroll in a higher-level course. Students who are placed 102 or a higher level may complete the language requirement faster and also earn back-credits (up to 12 credits, which can be counted toward graduation. Restrictions apply: see the Manoa Back Credit Policy ). Students starting from 101 will receive no back-credits. A placement adjustment made in the first week of class does not guarantee a seat in the course appropriate for the student.