BA American Sign Language (ASL): Applied Communication and Community Studies at The Ohio State University

Programme overview

Students in the major engage in the formal study of ASL and the diverse experiences of Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, CODA (children of deaf adults) and ASL language-learner communities to prepare for work as professionals within Deaf communities. Additionally, the major focuses on the development of the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors of intercultural competence, which are essential for succeeding in today's interconnected and diverse world. Offered at: Columbus.

Faculty: Arts and Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbus, OH, United States

What you will study

ASL 1101-1103 are prerequisites to the upper-level courses. Students take ASL 2104, Conversational Discourse I, and nine additional core courses to complete the major. Courses within the major are taught completely in ASL, providing students the opportunity to experience deep engagement through language immersion.

Career pathways

Students with a Bachelor of Arts in ASL: Applied Communication and Community Studies will be viable candidates for a variety of public, private, and non-profit sector positions within areas such as: - Business - Civil service - Community organizing - Cultural services administration - Digital interface design - Finance - Health services - Hospitality - Human resources - Journalism - Law.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to the university (and the Arts and Sciences college where applicable) applies; no separate programme-specific requirement published. Upon admission to the university, students can declare a major in ASL: Applied Communication and Community Studies within the College of Arts and Sciences. Students in the major work with an academic advisor to create a program of study to complete General Education requirements and major course work that best suits their interests and career plans.

Domestic applicants: USD 12,921 a year (2026-27). Columbus campus on-campus Instructional Fee (tuition) for students beginning Autumn 2026: $6,460.50 per semester at 12-18 credit hours, shown as two semesters (Autumn and Spring). The Ohio State Tuition Guarantee fixes this rate for four years for Ohio re Source

Entry terms for first-year applicants to the Columbus campus: Autumn 2027 and Spring 2027 (Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026). Summer first-year applications are not accepted.

Transfer applicants can start in Spring, Summer or Autumn 2027.

First-year, Columbus campus, Autumn 2027: early action (non-binding) deadline November 1, 2026; regular decision deadline January 15, 2027; financial aid priority date February 1; acceptance fee deadline May 1, 2027. Early action decisions: December 11 (Ohio residents and Stamps Eminence applicants) and January 22 (non-Ohio residents and international applicants); regular decision decisions March 5.

First-year applicants apply with the Common Application. ACT or SAT scores are required for first-year Columbus applicants (superscored; sent directly by the testing agency); applicants out of high school two or more years are not required to submit scores. The essay is not required.

Transfer applicants (Columbus campus): Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027; Summer 2027 deadline May 15, 2027. Regional campuses: December 1, 2026, April 15, 2027 and July 15, 2027 respectively.

International transfer applicants: Spring 2027 deadline October 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027.

Apply through the official page: https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply

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