As an ASL student, you will develop facility in using a language that is comparable in complexity and expressiveness to oral languages but that operates in a different sensory channel.



The American Sign Language (ASL) Program will help you learn about the history, culture, and language of the American deaf community. As you broaden your understanding of how languages may be constructed, you’ll develop a better understanding of your own language.

As an ASL student, you will develop facility in using a language that is comparable in complexity and expressiveness to oral languages but that operates in a different sensory channel.

The ASL program offers a minor. Both programs will prepare you for careers in areas such as counseling, education, human services, interpreting, and psychology and will enable you to communicate effectively with deaf individuals in all sorts of settings.

If you want to teach deaf children or be a speech pathologist or audiologist, a sign language instructor, or an ASL/English interpreter, you will need additional specialized training.

The minor in American Sign Language may be earned by any undergraduate student. For more information, see American Sign Language & Deaf Studies in the General Catalog.

Careers and Outcomes

Iowa graduates have a 95 percent job/grad school placement rate within six months of graduation. Our  Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs. 

As social, community, legal, and educational services have expanded nationwide, many career possibilities have opened in deaf-related professions. The ASL minor can contribute to preparation for careers requiring competence in American Sign Language or for graduate study in various fields.

Student Opportunities

In addition to more than 500  student organizations, Iowa students choose from more than 100  study abroad  programs and multiple  undergraduate research opportunities.

The American Sign Language Club is a University of Iowa student organization that is dedicated to increasing fluency in ASL and learning more about deaf culture. The Cedar Rapids Association of the Deaf, a very active organization for deaf persons in the area, meets monthly and sponsors special events.

Scholarships

The University of Iowa provides a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students through the Iowa Scholarship Portal. Scholarships are available to first-year, transfer, and currently enrolled students. For additional details on scholarships for your program of study, check directly with the department or college. 

The Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid are great resources for students seeking scholarships.

Coursework

The minor in American Sign Language requires 16 semester hours of coursework, including 12 semester hours in advanced courses. Students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in all courses for the minor.

The minor must include American Sign Language IV or demonstrated equivalent proficiency. Students may choose to apply one American Sign Language in English course to the minor. Applicable courses to the minor include American Sign Language Conversation, Deafness in the Media, and Introduction to Interpreting.