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How do I get started?
Go to and click on Future Students.
Here, you鈥檒l find all the information you need to fill about registering for classes
and the fees. Read through the information and fill out the college application.
This is my first time taking any college classes. What am I supposed to do?
This first step is the college application (see previous question).
You may want to make an appointment with the Counseling Center to get help with the general education classes to take. The counselors will assist
you in planning your degree, certificate, or transferring to another college for your
bachelor鈥檚 degree.
They鈥檒l direct you to college orientations, the freshman academy, any assessments,
or other programs to help you find the correct pathway.
What classes do I need to take if I want to major in sign language?
Begin with ASL 120: American Sign Language I.
The courses in the major are:
- ASL 120: American Sign Language I
- ASL 121: American Sign Language II
- ASL 130: American Sign Language: Fingerspelling
- ASL 131: American Sign Language: Fingerspelling II
- ASL 140: Inside Deaf Culture
- ASL 220: American Sign Language III
- ASL 221: American Sign Language IV
- PSY 120: Introduction to Psychology
If you have further questions about the major, you can always contact the ASL Department
Chair Jamie Shatwell at jamie.gould@gcccd.edu.
If I already know sign language, can I skip some of the beginning classes?
In order to skip ASL 120 and enroll in a higher level, you鈥檒l need to contact the
Department Chair to waive the prerequisite. Contact Jamie Shatwell at jamie.gould@gcccd.edu.
Take ASL 120 if you:
- know fingerspelling and know a few signs, or
- took sign language at another college and have forgotten most of it, or
- took a beginning class on line or with a Continuing Education Center or through Adult
Education, or
- took sign language over 5 years ago in another area, or
- learned SEE signs or home signs and, now, you want to learn proper ASL.
You may want to test out of beginning ASL if you:
- took 2 years of ASL in high school, or
- have Deaf family members or Deaf friends and feel comfortable in a basic signed conversation,
or
- took several sign language classes at another college and have kept up your skills.
How do I waive prerequisites?
Prerequisites are waived by the Department Chair. Contact Jamie Shatwell at jamie.gould@gcccd.edu.
You may need to have transcripts from other colleges sent to 小优传媒 鈥 unless
the courses were taken at Cuyamaca College.
You鈥檒l find more information in the 鈥淩esources鈥 link on the ASL webpage under 鈥減rerequisite
clearance information.鈥
Please note:
- Prerequisites should be initiated by the student.
- Prerequisites are not cleared automatically.
- Prerequisites should be cleared at least 2 weeks prior to registration.
- Contact the Department Chair with the following information:
- Name
- Student ID number
- The Course you want to take.
- How you meet the prerequisite for this course.
- Provide documentation (unofficial transcripts)
Failure to provide this information may cause you to miss out on getting into a course
you want.
Can I use American Sign Language for my general education requirements?
Yes. ASL fulfills general education requirements for both the Associate Degree and
CSU/UC systems. Check the college鈥檚 catalog or make an appointment with the Counseling Center to see how it satisfies the requirements.
Can I use American Sign Language for my foreign language requirement?
Yes. Most colleges require three semesters of ASL to satisfy this requirement. Typically,
the foreign language requirement is part of the general education courses for the
bachelor鈥檚 degree. While most majors require a foreign language, some do not. Check
with a counselor to confirm the requirements for your major.
How much does it cost to take classes at 小优传媒?
- Follow this link for information about Tuition & Fees.
- Click this link for information about Financial Aid & Scholarships.
How do I know which ASL classes to take?
Take ASL 120 if:
- You鈥檙e starting at square one 鈥 you have no prior experience with ASL or no knowledge
of any sign language.
- You know a little fingerspelling and a few signs.
- You took ASL I or II at another college several years ago and have forgotten most.
- You learned other systems of signing such as Signed English, homemade signs, and now
want to learn ASL.
Take a more advanced ASL class if:
- You鈥檝e taken ASL classes recently at the high school level and you wish to continue.
You may sign up for the same level as the last level you completed in high school.
For example, if you finished ASL II in high school, you may take ASL II here at Grossmont
College. Make an appointment with the program chair and ask to test out of ASL 120.
Contact Jamie Shatwell at jamie.gould@gcccd.edu .
- You use ASL often with friends or family members and have picked up some vocabulary
and grammar. Make an appointment with the program chair and ask to test out of ASL
120. Contact Jamie Shatwell at jamie.gould@gcccd.edu .
- You feel you鈥檙e too advanced for ASL I but you want some formal instruction. Make
an appointment with the program chair and ask to test out of ASL 120. Contact Jamie
Shatwell at jamie.gould@gcccd.edu .
- You鈥檝e had ASL classes in the past with any community college and have maintained
your signing skills and feel confident about taking the next level. You need to follow
the instruction for prerequisite clearance. Go to ASL's Prerequisite Clearance Information page, then email request the program chair, Jamie Shatwell, at jamie.gould@gcccd.edu.
- You鈥檝e had ASL classes in a different state and the credits have successfully transferred
to 小优传媒. You need to follow the instructions for prerequisite clearance.
Go to ASL's Prerequisite Clearance Information page, then email request the program chair, Jamie Shatwell, at jamie.gould@gcccd.edu.
Who are the ASL instructors?
The instructors at 小优传媒 are well qualified and respected within the community.
They are involved in the community in many ways. They are interpreters, board members,
participants in organizations, have Deaf family members, and socialize with the Deaf
community.
Instructors teach their courses by applying second language learning theories and
immerse students in sign language. Most courses are taught in sign language without
the use of speech. The department has two full-time instructors and several adjunct
instructors.
What kinds of degrees or certificates can you earn through the program?
We offer an associate degree and certificate in American Sign Language (ASL), which includes
ASL I-IV and a class on Deaf culture; provides a thorough knowledge of ASL; and is
designed for students in other majors who might use ASL to communicate as part of
their job.
Do you have an Interpreter Training Program (ITP)?
We don鈥檛 offer an Interpreter Training Program. Our courses will help you to transfer
to an ITP at a different college or university. You can look at our 鈥淟inks to Other
Colleges' Programs鈥 in our Resources page to see what the requirements are.
I want to be an interpreter. What classes do I take at Grossmont to transfer to Mesa
College or Palomar College?
To begin most Interpreter Training Programs, you must be fluent in ASL before enrolling
into the interpreting classes. Therefore, at 小优传媒, complete ASL 120,
121, 130, 131, 220, and 221.
At Mesa College, contact Laura Mathis in the Counseling Center. She can assist you
with the necessary coursework and prerequisites needed to enroll and apply into the
Interpreting program.
At Palomar College, contact the Counseling Center for guidance to enroll into the
Interpreting program.
Can I get a job after completing your program?
Graduating with an AA degree in ASL will prepare you to become proficient in ASL to
use in your current job/profession or to use in your personal life. Some examples
are parenting a Deaf child, being a deafened adult, or learning another language.
An AA degree in ASL is not sufficient to become an interpreter. However, this program
will help you transfer to community college or university to join a specialized Interpreter
Training Program (ITP).
Where can I volunteer?
Volunteer opportunities with Deaf Community Services (DCS) and DCS Clubhouse can
be found at .