American Sign Language (ASL) classes are housed in the Department of Linguistics, and can satisfy the Hawaiian or Second Language general education requirement.
UH Mānoa Micro-Credentials in American Sign Language
Current degree-seeking students and lifelong learners (unclassified students) can earn shareable digital badges in ASL. UH Mānoa currently offers two ASL Micro-Credentials. These badges can be earned on their own or stacked as part of a BA in Linguistics with a Concentration in ASL.
As UHM adds more courses in ASL, we plan to expand our set of Micro-Credentials. See the UHM Outreach College Micro-Credentials webpage for general information about Micro-Credentials. For ASL-related updates on our expanding offerings, please contact <linguist@hawaii.edu> to join our ASL mailing list.
Current ASL Micro-Credentials at UH Mānoa
Foundational American Sign Language Micro-Credential
Advanced American Sign Language Micro-Credential
BA in Linguistics with a Concentration in ASL
The major in Linguistics with a Concentration in ASL includes an indication of the Concentration on transcripts. This BA degree requires 30 credits of coursework, 9 of which are fulfilled by ASL 202, ASL 301, and ASL 302. Majors receive general advising through the College of Arts, Languages & Letters (CALL) Advising Center for completion of General Education requirements and graduation requirements, and through the Undergraduate Chair of the Department of Linguistics for courses in the major. Please see the UH Mānoa Catalog for detailed requirements. We are in the process of expanding this concentration to include additional ASL courses, and hope to soon add an additional concentration at the BA level to create a sign language interpreter training program. To receive updates on these developments, please contact <linguist@hawaii.edu> to join our ASL mailing list.
Policies for ASL courses
Minimum grade
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).
Placement exam
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.
Enrolling in ASL courses during both Summer Sessions
If you are planning to enroll in ASL courses during both Summer Sessions (e.g. ASL 201 in Summer Session I and ASL 202 in Summer Session II), please contact the Linguistics Department regarding your registration.
Global Seal of Biliteracy credential
Graduating students can sign up for ASL proficiency testing through the Hawai'i Language Roadmap Initiative to earn a Global Seal of Biliteracy credential at no cost to the student.
