The University of Pittsburgh Department of Linguistics offers an undergraduate certificate in American Sign Language (ASL) Studies. The certificate program could conveniently accompany several undergraduate majors including, but not limited to, Linguistics, Communication Science and Disorders, Healthcare, and Education. Students who are interested in the ASL Studies Certificate must apply for entrance into that certificate program. The application opens on the first day of spring semester classes and closes the Friday of the second full week in February. Please submit your application as soon as you are able to within this timeframe. The earlier you submit your application, the better your chances of admittance into the certificate program.

Currently, there is a limit of 40 students per academic year who can enroll in the ASL Certificate Program. For this reason, each applicant will be required to go through an evaluation process. Please contact our ASL Coordinator, Debra Hast, with questions (CL 2809C, dlhast@pitt.edu).

Applicants: 

Follow the steps below. 

1. Verify that you have satisfied the prerequisites for the ASL Studies certificate and that you have attained a final grade of "B" or higher. Note that students may be currently enrolled in ASL 0200 (formerly ASL 0102), 0103, or 0104 when applying for the ASL Studies certificate. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
2. Complete the Online Application. The application opens on the first day of spring semester classes and closes the Friday of the second full week in February.
3. Submit a digital copy of your undergraduate transcript (unofficial is acceptable) to Deb Hast (dlhast@pitt.edu), ASL Studies Certificate Director.
4. Email your ASL professor and ask them to submit a recommendation letter to Deb Hast (dlhast@pitt.edu). 
5. You will be contacted by Deb Hast with instructions for how and where to upload your video. The video will be a 2-minute digital movie displaying your signing skills. In the video, you must describe the place where you grew up and a memorable experience from your childhood. The segment must include fingerspelling and numbers. 
6. Schedule a meeting with ASL Coordinator, Deb Hast (dlhast@pitt.edu). This meeting must occur between the first day of the spring semester and the Friday of the third full week in February. 

Accepted Students:

Once you are accepted into the ASL Studies certificate program:

• You will receive a letter of acceptance once you formally accept the opportunity to pursue the certificate.
• The ASL Coordinator will submit your name to Arts & Sciences at Thackeray Hall to show that you were accepted and this will allow you to register for upper-level ASL classes. Students who have not been accepted to the ASL Certificate program are not able to register for upper level classes.