American Sign Language

Home to the largest population of Deaf people (per capita) in the United States, nearby Rochester offers the perfect environment for students majoring in American Sign Language (ASL) at Keuka College.

When paired with the hands-on experience the College provides, Keuka students will graduate rich in the knowledge of the language and deaf culture that will allow them to communicate where others cannot.

Keuka’s small classes and ASL learning laboratory contribute to the intense experience students will have on campus. Field Period, a cornerstone of the College’s emphasis on experiential education, places students in real-world environments such as police departments, public schools, schools for the deaf, mental health organizations, and colleges. Students in the ASL program are required to complete two, 140-hour Field Periods; a junior practicum; and a semester-long interpreting internship senior year.

A solid foundation in the English language and the means to communication give students an edge when entering the job market. Students are also prepared to pass Level I of the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or the National Association of the Deaf interpreting certification exam. In addition, students are schooled in the culture of the deaf, including literature, psychology, and sociology.

Students will find that education, theater and drama, Spanish, English, creative writing, communication studies, and art are solid minors to supplement the program. In addition, Keuka College also offers a minor in ASL, which is often paired with a major in education.