Advanced American Sign Language Undergraduate Badge
A digital badge, or badge, is a record of achievement that recognizes a student's completion of a coherent and meaningful academic experience. GVSU offers both credit and non-credit bearing badges as digital credentials. Credit-bearing badges include anywhere from 0.5 to 15 academic credits and may include additional noncredit criteria. Credit-bearing badges are also posted to the academic transcript.
Program Overview
This badge signifies advanced skills in communicating in American Sign Language (ASL) along with knowledge of the important events, struggles, and experiences that have shaped, and continue to shape, the American Deaf Community. This badge is not a credential for interpreting between English and American Sign Language. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs administers credentials for interpreting in Michigan.
Anyone admitted to Grand Valley as a degree-seeking or nondegree seeking learner may complete this badge.
Why Earn an Advanced ASL Badge at Grand Valley?
- Learn a unique visual, spatial language.
- Learn about the rich culture of the American Deaf community.
- Develop the language skills to communicate with future Deaf clients/patients/customers.
- Boost personal cognitive function, creative- and abstract thinking, and hand-eye coordination.
- Completing a badge is an opportunity to highlight marketable and desirable skills to potential employers while enhancing your education.
- Badges are an efficient way to obtain a specialization, and can be completed in a year.
Admissions
Admissions to complete a digital badge is open to both degree and nondegree seeking students. If you are not currently a Grand Valley student, start your application here.
For current GVSU students:
- Declare your badge via myBanner. Login to Banner Self-Service, click on Student, Student Records, Add a Certificate or Badge to your Program, Select the appropriate badge from the drop down list, and click Submit.
- Speak with the appropriate badge coordinator to ensure criteria are being met. You will be able to track your progress toward the badge in myPath as well!
- Once you are done with the requirements, apply to receive the badge via myBanner.
- Once the completion of your badge has been verified, the badge will be posted to your student record and will be viewable on your transcript. In addition, your digital badge will be posted on Credly.com.
Location & Format
Students in this program of study meet on the GVSU Health Campus, near the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.
Format:- Face To Face
Coursework
Coursework for advanced ASL introduces learners to intermediate sign vocabulary and grammar, nonverbal grammatical elements, fingerspelling, and immersion into the world of ASL. Students are given opportunities to understand basic concepts of American deaf history, to appreciate the culture of deaf people and to understand social and cultural factors causing diversity in the deaf community and in identity choice.
The digital badge is comprised of two (three credit) courses, a total of six credits:
- ASL 203 - American Sign Language 3
- ASL 421 - Deaf History and Culture
It is expected students will have mastery of conversational ASL at the completion of this badge.
Classes meet downtown on the GVSU Health Campus.
Helpful Links
For More Information
College of Health ProfessionsMisti Ryefield, American Sign Language Coordinator
420-M
Finkelstein Hall (RFH)
(616) 331-5554
[email protected]