English 
This minor is intended for those students majoring in Social Work or Psychology who wish to work with Deaf clients.
The Minor in Deaf Human Services at William Woods University consists of 27 course credits.
Curriculum
Minor Requirements
Core Credits: 27.00
| Introduces students to basic expressive and receptive skills in ASL, including conversation strategies, spatial referencing and facial expressions. Awareness of deaf culture also is included. Attendance in lab is required. Students must earn a ‘C’ or better for the course to meet the requirements as a prerequisite for subsequent language courses. credits: | American Sign Language I -U | 3 |
| Compares, contrasts and analyzes deaf culture and American culture from a variety of perspectives. Examines cultural interactions between deaf and hearing people and provides opportunity for exploring potential cultural conflicts between deaf and hearing people. credits: | Deaf Culture -U | 3 |
| Continues to develop basic expressive and receptive skills including classifiers, temporal sequencing, spatial agreement and object indentification through description. Study of deaf culture is continued. Attendance in lab is required. Students must earn a ‘C’ or better for the course to meet the requirements as a prerequisite for subsequent language courses. Prerequisite – ASL105 credits: | American Sign Language II -U | 3 |
| Focuses on expressive and receptive communication skills and culture. Functional language ability in survival and social situations is further developed. Attendance in Lab is required. Students must earn a ‘C’ or better for the course to meet the requirements as a prerequisite for subsequent language courses. Prerequisite – ASL145 credits: | American Sign Language III | 3 |
| Expressive and receptive communication skills and culture. Functional language ability in survival and social situations is further developed. Attendance in lab is required. Students must earn a ‘C’ or better for the course to meet the requirements as a prerequisite for subsequent language courses. Prerequisite – ASL205 credits: | American Sign Language IV | 3 |
| Continuation of ASL: Expanded study of ASL with emphasis on conversation skills and storytelling; introduced to study of storytelling features; continued expansion of knowledge of Deaf culture and Deaf community. Vocabulary is expanded through introduction of various content areas dealing with current events, world affairs, literature, the arts and abstract ideas. Students lean how to participate in-group discussions, speculate, make analagies, and give instructions and express feelings and intentions. Students must earn a ‘C’ or better for the course to meet the requirements as a prerequisite for subsequent language courses. Prerequisite – ASL245 credits: | American Sign Language V | 3 |
| Deaf Education is a complex and controversial issue in the Deaf community; Is deafness looked upon as a way of life or a disability? Is sign language seen as a resource or a last resort? How do deaf people best learn and thrive? One’s education experiences have a profound impact on self actualization and success as an deaf adult. This population faces unique circumstances regarding their own language and cultural competency, access to equivalent services, and relationships with other people. Students taking this course will learn about these circumstances in a specific context and examine the various options and perspectives facing deaf students in today’s educational environments. Examining laws and policies pertaining to this field and being able to discuss such things will better prepare them to assist and advocate for clients in various settings. Prerequisites: ASL 205 credits: | Sociological Perspectives of Deaf Education | 3 |
| Upper level ASL course with a focus on diglossia, variation in sign language use, and viewing the Deaf community as part of a linguistic and cultural minority. Topics that will be covered include perspectives on Deafhood and Deaf/deaf communities, attitudes toward Deaf people and signed languages, technology and communication, history of the Deaf community, contributions of Deaf people to society, communication issues and the politics of language use, choices, and power. Students will expand on vocabulary through working on areas of advanced subject matters, application of non-manual markers, use of classifiers, and proper pronominalization. Prerequisites: ASL 305 credits: | American Sign Language VI | 3 |
| This course is designed to teach students about the dynamics of mental health history, services, policies and special considerations for populations at risk. An interdisciplinary approach to understanding, assessment, treatment, case management and legal process will be covered. The history of mental health services as it applies to contemporary issues and policies will be explored. The varying causes, signs and symptoms, risk factors, cost and treatment of mental illness will be examined extensively. This course is designed for students preparing for professions working with individuals, families, organizations and policies. The class is particularly targeted at students majoring in social work, deaf human services, juvenile justice, psychology or legal studies. credits: | Mental Health Services and Policies | 3 |