May 01, 2024  
2024-2025 NOVA Catalog 
    
2024-2025 NOVA Catalog

Social Sciences: Deaf Studies Specialization, A.S.

Location(s): AN


CIP Code: 45.0101

NOVA Code: 8823 

Purpose: This program is designed for individuals who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor of science in a program that requires a background in American Sign Language and the Deaf community. Graduates may use their skills to work in human service fields such as daycare settings and as teacher assistants. Graduates from the program can also transfer to 4-year institutions and major in a wide variety of fields, including ASL instruction, Deaf education, linguistics, Deaf studies (e.g. history, literature, research, etc.), speech-language pathology and audiology, human services, communication sciences and disorders, and social work.

Transfer Information: This program provides transfer paths that include the general education courses and introductory major courses that students typically take during the first two years at a four-year college or university when they are majoring in a social science that deals with the Deaf community. Because senior institutions differ in their requirements, students are strongly urged to work with their assigned advisor or a counselor and to acquaint themselves with the requirements of the major department in the college or university to which they plan to transfer. The responsibility for proper course selection rests with the student.

Special Admission Requirements: Admission to this program requires that a student demonstrate an intermediate level of ASL fluency. A grade of “C” or better in ASL 202  will satisfy this requirement.

Students may be able to waive the ASL requirement if they have prior experience in ASL. To demonstrate ASL competency, students must receive a score on the Sign Communication Proficiency Interview (SCPI) or the Gallaudet University American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (GU-ASLPI) of “Intermediate” or higher.

Two Years


Total credits for the A.S. Degree in Social Sciences with a Specialization in Deaf Studies: 62 credits


Electives should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet requirements of the transfer institution.

1 Select from the following: CST 100 , CST 110 , CST 126 , or CST 229 .

Students who plan to take MTH 245  should take MTH 154  or MTH 161  first. Credit will not be awarded for both MTH 155  and MTH 245 , or for both MTH 261  and MTH 263 , or for both MTH 262  and MTH 264 . Students should consult with an advisor to ensure mathematics courses meet their intended transfer institutuion requriement.

3 See social/behavioral science courses listed under General Education Electives .

4 Select any HIS course listed under social/behavioral sciences in General Education Electives .

5 See humanities/fine arts courses listed under General Education Electives . Students must choose courses from two of the three areas listed. Credit will not be applied if student takes two courses from the same area.

6 See physical and life science courses listed under General Education Electives .

Select any SOC course listed under social/behavioral sciences in General Education Electives .

8 Select any course from General Education Electives . This elective is not needed if selections for all other requirements total 60 credits or more.