American Sign Language Certificate

Return to: Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

The Department of Linguistics offers an undergraduate Certificate in American Sign Language (ASL). This certificate program should lead students to: a high degree of proficiency in ASL; an understanding of the structure of ASL as a visual/gestural language; and an understanding of important issues in deaf culture and education.

This certificate program could conveniently accompany various undergraduate majors including, but not limited to, linguistics, communication science, and various undergraduate disciplines that serve as the basis for graduate-level degrees and certificates in the University of Pittsburgh School of Education. The program draws on the academic strengths and resources of the Department of Linguistics in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Instruction and Learning in the School of Education.

Currently, there is a limit of 20 students per academic year who can enroll in the ASL certificate program. For this reason, each applicant will be required to go through an evaluation process. Applications are accepted early during the spring term of each academic year, and students will be notified of their acceptance or non-acceptance into the program before registering for fall classes. Please contact the Less-Commonly-Taught Languages Center, CL G-47, for application packets or more information (lctl@pitt.edu, 412-624-5512).