Courses
Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.
- Offered: Fall Winter
DFST 101 is a foundational course of introductory American Sign Language within social settings. Students build expressive and receptive skills in ASL linguistics, conversational techniques, and vocabulary; encompassing introductory research of historical and contemporary themes of the Deaf community and its culture.
Notes: Formerly DFST 252.- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: DFST 101 with a grade of “C” or better or instructor permission.
Additional emphasis on the development of receptive and expressive signing skills in American Sign Language involving structured discourse in social settings; expanded focus on conceptually accurate use of contemporary ASL vocabulary; continued exposure of the Deaf community’s culture and social issues through research of literature readings, video-media and in-class Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing guest speakers; incorporated use of synchronous and asynchronous LMS technology to demonstrate ASL skills, engage in activities and create projects; use of various media formats throughout duration of course.
Notes: Formerly DFST 253.- Offered: Offered once a year in either fall, winter, or summer sessions.
- Prerequisites: DFST 102 with a grade of “C” or better, or instructor permission.
Fingerspell & Numbers: Receptive & Expressive Skill Development is a complementary course of instruction in proper practices and techniques to establish the use of manual fingerspell and numbers within American Sign Language. In addition, techniques to improve proficiency, fluency and retention of expressive and receptive skills are covered. Appropriate for beginners and advanced ASL skills.
Notes:Formerly DFST 256.
- Offered: Fall Winter First eight weeks of the semester
- Prerequisites: DFST 102 with a grade of “C+” or higher.
This course will be focusing on more development of receptive and expressive social signing skills involving advanced structured communication settings from our Signing Naturally curriculum that require the use of ASL with focus and conceptual accuracy of the language. This course will expand our continuing lessons with advanced student discourse, advanced ASL structure and vocabulary, role-shift variations and formal storytelling.
Notes:This is an eight week course.
- Offered: Contact Department
- Prerequisites: DFST 201 with a grade of “C+” or higher.
This course will focus on interpersonal communication. In ASL, interpersonal communication means visual/gestural communication between individuals who are in direct contact with each other. This advanced course will be focusing on engaging in group conversations, exchanging information, and growing their ability to communicate with others in ASL in a culturally appropriate manner with greater fluency involving the deaf community and cover in conversations with a wider range of topics.
Notes:This is an eight week course.
- Offered: Contact Department
The study of a significant topic or problem in deaf studies that is not regularly offered.
Notes: May be taken more than once if topic varies.- Offered: Contact Department
Study of content not available in the regular course offerings.
- Offered: Offered once a year in either fall, winter, or summer sessions.
- Prerequisites: DFST 101 with a grade of "C" or better and EN 111 with a grade of “C” or better or instructor permission.
An exploration of how various types of media influence the D/deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.
Notes:Formerly DFST 350.
- Prerequisites: DFST 102: American Sign Language 2 with a grade of C+ or higher.
Advancement of ASL skill level, incorporated with a continuum of an expansion of vocabulary development and linguistic techniques. Advancing focus and emphasis placed on mastering conceptual accuracy through peer presentation assignments and projects using ASL in short stories, personal narratives, ASL poetry, etc.
Notes:Formerly DFST 454.
- Offered: Contact Department
- Prerequisites: DFST 101 with a grade of “C+” or better.
Storytelling ASL is a complementary course of instruction which guides the learner through the dynamics of American Sign Language storytelling from iconic historical and contemporary personalities of the Deaf community to further advance receptive proficiency and retention. Students will use course objectives of study application of expressive fluency skills within course activities and projects.
Notes:Formerly DFST 354.
- Offered: Contact Department
- Prerequisites: DFST 102 and EN 111 with a grade of “C” or higher or instructor permission.
This course will provide students with the opportunity to develop more advanced interpersonal communication skills using American Sign Language in “voice-off” modality, as well as developing greater understanding of, and appreciation for, cultural aspects of the Deaf Community.
- Offered: Web: winter
- Prerequisites: DFST 102 with a grade of “C” or better and EN 111 with a grade of “C” or higher or instructor permission.
This course will allow students to explore regional variations in American Sign Language, contrast ASL with other World sign languages, and encourage students to learn strategies for overcoming linguistic, national and cultural barriers when signing.
- Offered: Web: summer
- Prerequisites: EN 211 with a grade of “C” or better or instructor permission.
This course explores the deaf community and culture of the United States and Canada, through diverse and interrelated local, regional and national deaf communities, during the sixteenth century to present. Significant topics of interest are covered (but not limited to), deaf cultural issues; deaf community perspectives; deaf civil rights movement influences; influences of residential schools for the deaf; deaf community social clubs; influences of Oralism and Audism; employment of the deaf and deaf empowerment.
- Offered: Summer - Web
- Prerequisites: EN 211 with a grade of “C” or better or instructor permission.
Exploring deaf history from the United States, Great Britain, France, and Germany during the eighteenth century to the present. Significant historical events, discoveries, and the history of civil movements all related to deafness are covered in this course. Topics covered are (but not limited to) education of the deaf; Martha’s Vineyard deaf history; the Congress of Milan; eugenics and deafness; the Golden Age; deaf people and WWII; technology and media deaf history.
- Offered: Fall: Web
- Prerequisites: EN 211 with a grade of “C” or better or instructor permission.
Students taking this course explore Deaf multicultural minorities found within the Greater Deaf community. Students choose to explore literature and media to discover a variety of issues, influences, perspectives and personal experiences of the micro-diversity amongst the following: Deaf women, Black-Deaf people, Deaf American-Indian, the Deaf-Blind community, Deaf-Oral people and Deaf people of the LGBTQ communities.
- Offered: Web: fall
- Prerequisites: EN 211 with a grade of “C” or better or instructor permission.
This course explores the origins and development of the Deaf Community Civil Rights Movement of the United States throughout the 19th to 20th century with special emphasis on civil rights litigation of the community’s rights, advocacy issues, and how more visibility was gained through state and federal laws. In addition, this course continues to research and follow-up on current bills, laws, and programs that focus on contemporary issues of the Deaf Community.
- Offered: Contact Department
- Prerequisites: EN 211 with a grade of “C” or better or instructor permission.
This course explores deaf and hard-of-hearing people’s experiences on a social-cultural level. It examines the deaf community’s unique experiences of being raised “mainstream” within public schools. Explore the world of deaf and hard-of-hearing adults, who share their experiences growing up prior to and after IDEA, coping through daily life during K-12 years and into adulthood. Additional research explores ethical issues faced by all within “the community” over decisions for “the only”.
- Offered: Contact Department
The study of a significant topic or problem in deaf studies that is not regularly offered.
Notes: May be taken more than once if topic varies.- Offered: Contact Department
Study of content not available in the regular course offerings.