PurposeThe goal of the Deaf Studies Major is to introduce students to the multidisciplinary study of human culture, language, experience, society, and history, with a focus on analyzing and understanding the contributions of Deaf people in America and around the globe. This curriculum is designed to provide students with conversational-level fluency in ASL to allow them to engage with members of the Deaf community in a variety of settings. Graduates may use their skills to work in human service fields. Graduates from the program can also transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a program that requires a background in American Sign Language and the Deaf community. Possible majors include a wide variety of fields, such as ASL instruction, Deaf education (parent-infant programs, elementary education, secondary), linguistics, Deaf studies (e.g. history, literature, research, etc.), speech-language pathology and audiology, sociology, communication sciences and disorders, media, government, and social work. 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 ÒIntermediateÓ or higher.