ASL 201: Introduction to Deaf Culture

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2025
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 162
District General Education: C2. Humanities
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

Explores the cultural history, values, norms, and perspectives of the (American) Deaf community. Invites learners to re-frame the human experience through an investigation of cultural differences. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Explore the history of Deaf culture as it has developed in the United States of America and across the world.
  • Analyze diversity within the Deaf community.
  • Understand culturally appropriate medical and environmental types of hearing loss.
  • Apply content knowledge of technological resources and services available to the Deaf population.
  • Identify historical trends of interaction between Deaf and hearing cultures.
  • Analyze current and historical trends in Deaf education.
  • Examine Deaf literature and the arts as they relate to the Deaf community.

Major Course Content

  1. Group dynamics 
    1. Introductions 
    2. Attention-getting methods
    3. Social interaction norms 
  2. History of Deaf culture 
    1. People in society
    2. Diversity in the Deaf community
    3. Family values
    4. Work ethics/Deaf in the workplace
    5. Organizations 
  3. History of ASL
    1. History of sign language in other countries
      1. Spain
      2. Germany
      3. England
      4. France 
    2. Alice Cogswell
    3. Thomas Gallaudet
    4. Laurent Clerc
    5. Dos Lagos
    6. Helen Keller
  4. Causes of deafness
    1. Heredity (genetics)
    2. Birth defects
    3. Diseases 
  5. Deaf education
    1. History
    2. Teaching techniques
    3. Types of programs
    4. Placement issues
    5. Laws and regulations
    6. Support services
    7. Professional organizations 
  6. Devices utilized by Deaf people for everyday life
    1. Household devices
      1. Signaling systems
    2. Personal devices
      1. TTY/TDD
      2. Mobile Devices
      3. video relay services (VRS)
    3. Hearing aids
    4. Cochlear implants 
  7. ADA laws
    1. Deaf people’s rights
      1. Interpreting services
      2. closed captioning
  8. Well-Known Deaf people  who have influenced the Deaf culture 
  9. Applied ASL Linguistics
    1. Slang expressions
    2. Facial expressions
    3. Spatial aspects 
  10. Deaf culture in Art
    1. Past and present Deaf artists and their influences on Deaf culture and ASL
    2. De'VIA art: The Deaf Art Movement
    3. Changing image of Deaf people and their influence in art
  11. Deaf Literature
    1. Deaf Literature in English
    2. ASL Literature in the form of signs
  12. Deaf Humor
    1. Jokes
    2. Puns
    3. Play on signs

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Compose a research paper on American Deaf culture.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture