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American Sign Language (ASL)

Contact:  Jami Fisher, ASL Program Coordinator  jami@sas.upenn.edu

Introduction:

American Sign Language (ASL) is used by deaf communities throughout the United States and parts of Canada.  It is a naturally formed, complex language that relies on manual and facial expressions.  ASL, like other signed languages from around the world, uses expressive properties to produce language in three dimensions. The unique nature of signed language and of its development within deaf communities gives remarkable potential for insight into how human beings are equipped to access, form, and develop languages naturally.

ASL Program Mission and Courses:

The mission of the American Sign Language (ASL) Program is to provide ASL and deaf cultural learning opportunities to members of the Penn community and beyond. 

Students may take a host of courses in ASL.  The first four courses in the sequence (LING 071-074) satisfy world language requirement.  Students may take advanced ASL courses to work toward an ASL Certificate and/or the American Sign Language/Deaf Studies minor.  Course descriptions and requirements are listed below.  ASL Minor requirements are listed in the Department of Linguistics Undergraduate Minor in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies webpage.

Course Offerings in American Sign Language at Penn (offered through Penn Language Center):

  • LING 071—Introduction to ASL, Part I
  • LING 072—Introduction to ASL, Part II
  • LING073—Intermediate ASL, Part I
  • LING074—Intermediate ASL, part II

Advanced Courses:

  • LING075—Advanced ASL (every other Fall)
  • LING 076—Deaf Literature, Performance, Art, and Film (every other Fall)
  • LING 077—Academically Based Community Service in ASL/Deaf Studies
  • LING 078—Deaf Culture (satisfies the Cultural Diversity in the U.S. requirement)
  • LING 092—American Sign Language for Medical Professionals (cannot be used to satisfy the world language requirement)

Penn ASL Student Group

The ASL Program also works in collaboration with the SAC-approved, student-run group, Penn-In-Hand.  This group hosts many ASL activities including “silent” dinners/meetings, discussion groups, and other gatherings.  To find out more information, see their webpage: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/penninhandasl 

For more information, please contact Jami Fisher, ASL Program Coordinator in the Department of Linguistics: jami@sas.upenn.edu

Current Course Offerings:

Term A = Spring

Term B = Summer

Term C = Fall


Course Title Term Time
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2020A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2020A MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2020A MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2020A MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2020A TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2020A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 072-683 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2020A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2020A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2020A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV: ASL IV - MEDICAL 2020A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-682 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2020A MW 0500PM-0600PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2019A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2019A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2019A MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2019A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2019A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2019A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2019A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2019A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV: ASL IV - MEDICAL 2019A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 074-682 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2019A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 074-683 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2019A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2018C TR 1200PM-0130PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2018C MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2018C TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2018C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 071-684 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2018C TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2018C TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2018C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2018C TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2018C MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 073-682 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2018C TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 073-683 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2018C TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2018C CANCELED
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2018A CANCELED
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2018A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2018A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2018A TR 1200PM-0130PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2018A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2018A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2018A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 072-683 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2018A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2018A MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2018A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV: ASL IV - MEDICAL 2018A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 074-682 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2018A MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2017C TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2017C MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2017C MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2017C TR 1200PM-0130PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2017C CANCELED
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2017C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2017C CANCELED
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2017C MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2017C TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 073-682 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2017C TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2017C CANCELED
LING 075-680 LING075 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE V 2017C TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2017A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2017A MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2017A CANCELED
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2017A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2017A MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2017A MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2017A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2017A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2017A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV: ASL IV - MEDICAL 2017A TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 074-682 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2017A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2016C TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2016C MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2016C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2016C TR 1200PM-0130PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2016C CANCELED
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2016C MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2016C CANCELED
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2016C MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2016C TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 073-682 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2016C TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 073-683 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2016C TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2016C TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2016C MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2016A MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2016A MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2016A TR 1200PM-0130PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2016A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2016A MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2016A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2016A TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2016A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2016A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2016A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV: ASL IV - MEDICAL 2016A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-682 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2016A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2015C TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2015C TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2015C TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2015C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 071-684 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2015C TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2015C TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2015C MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2015C TR 1200PM-0130PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2015C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 073-682 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2015C MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2015C CANCELED
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2015C TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 075-680 LING075 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE V 2015C TR 0500PM-0630PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2015A TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2015A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2015A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2015A CANCELED
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2015A TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2015A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2015A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 072-683 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2015A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2015A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2015A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2015A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV: ASL IV - MEDICAL 2015A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 074-682 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2015A CANCELED
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2014C TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2014C TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2014C TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2014C MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2014C TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2014C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2014C TR 1200PM-0130PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2014C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2014C CANCELED
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2014C TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2014A TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2014A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2014A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2014A CANCELED
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2014A TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2014A TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2014A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2014A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2014A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2014A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV: ASL IV - MEDICAL 2014A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 074-682 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2014A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2013C TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2013C TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2013C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2013C TR 0330PM-0500PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2013C TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2013C CANCELED
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2013C TR 0200PM-0330PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2013C TR 1200PM-0130PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2013C TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 073-682 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2013C MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2013C TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 075-680 LING075 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE V 2013C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2013A TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2013A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2013A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2013A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2013A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2013A TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2013A TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2013A MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2013A TR 0430PM-0600PM
R 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV: ASL IV - MEDICAL 2013A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 074-682 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2013A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2012C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2012C TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2012C TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2012C MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2012C MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2012C TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2012C MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2012C TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2012C MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 073-682 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2012C MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2012C MW 0330PM-0500PM
LING 071-680 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2012A TR 0130PM-0300PM
LING 071-681 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2012A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 071-682 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2012A MW 0630PM-0800PM
LING 071-683 LING071 - AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE I 2012A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 072-680 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2012A TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 072-681 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2012A MW 0200PM-0330PM
LING 072-682 LING072 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE II 2012A TR 0500PM-0630PM
LING 073-680 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2012A MW 0500PM-0630PM
LING 073-681 LING073 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE III 2012A TR 0300PM-0430PM
LING 074-680 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2012A TR 0600PM-0730PM
LING 074-681 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV: ASL IV - MEDICAL 2012A TR 0430PM-0600PM
TR 0430PM-0600PM
LING 074-682 LING074 - AMER SIGN LANGUAGE IV 2012A MW 0330PM-0500PM