Online American Sign Language Courses & Certificates
Online American Sign Language Courses & Certificates
Develop ASL Skills Online and Advocate for Accessible Communication
Purdue University’s online American Sign Language (ASL) courses and certificates offer a flexible and enriching way to build foundational language skills while gaining a deeper appreciation for Deaf culture and community. Designed for students with no prior ASL experience, these online, self-paced courses equip you with the tools to engage in everyday conversations, develop storytelling abilities and apply key grammatical and nonmanual features such as facial expressions and body positioning. Whether you’re seeking personal enrichment, professional development or greater cultural understanding, these courses empower you to communicate more effectively and advocate for inclusivity in any setting.
Tailor your learning journey by taking ASL 1 and ASL 2 to earn the Foundations of ASL Certificate or complete all three courses—including American Deaf Community—to earn the Foundations of ASL and Deaf Culture Certificate.
The American Sign Language (ASL) professional development certificate programs offered through Purdue University are designed for educational purposes only. Completion of these programs does not result in sign language interpreter certification, nor do they serve as a certification pathway for becoming a licensed ASL interpreter. Individuals seeking interpreter certification should refer to the requirements set by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) or other relevant credentialing organizations.
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Course Overview
This comprehensive course is meticulously designed to equip students with the essential tools needed to grasp the basics of ASL grammar at both expressive and receptive levels. Through engaging lessons and hands-on activities, students will navigate the intricacies of ASL structure, gaining proficiency in conveying and understanding messages.
Students will continue to learn the units of the Signing Naturally curriculum, which uses the “functional-notional” approach where ASL grammatical principles are also emphasized. This method focuses on the communicative purposes or “functions” of social interaction.
Designed to introduce students to American Deaf culture and components of the American Deaf community including history, norms, rules of social interactions, values, traditions and dynamics during the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Educational, social and political factors unique to the Deaf community will be explored, as well as community organizations, impact of technology and emerging issues/trends.
