American Sign Language

SLHS offers 4 semesters of American Sign Language (ASL) and a NEW (as of Fall 2026-27) ASL minor. 

ASL classes can be used to fulfill the foreign language requirement in colleges outside of CCOM. Even better, students often have the opportunity to complete their Indianapolis Community Requirement in ASL 3 and 4.

Our students use their skills to volunteer in local organizations such as the Indiana School for the Deaf. Some have received graduate school scholarships to work as ASL teaching assistants.

If you want to learn some basic ASL or put your expertise into practice, but cannot fit in your course schedule, you can also join the ASL Club! Everyone is welcome!

Visit the Butler University ASL Club Instagram

ASL Minor

The main goal of an ASL minor is to achieve communicative competence/conversational fluency in ASL by mastering vocabulary, grammar, and non-manual signals, while also developing knowledge of Deaf history, culture, and community.

This minor helps students enhance their careers in fields such as healthcare, business, and education, through improved communication and cultural competence.

MINOR REQUIREMENTS

Total for Minor: 21 credit hours

  • SLHS 101 ASL 1
  • SLHS 102 ASL 2
  • SLHS 203 ASL 3
  • SLHS 204 ASL 4
  • SLHS 300 ASL 5
  • SLHS 325 ASL Linguistics
  • SLHS 400 Deaf History, Culture, and Community

The information found on this website with respect to major/minor/program requirements is primarily directed at providing prospective students a general roadmap of the curriculum. Current Butler students are expected to review their degree audit report at my.butler.edu and speak with their advisor regularly for detailed information regarding their specific degree requirements and their progress toward degree completion.

Placement Credit

Students with prior ASL experience may request a placement exam to determine the appropriate course in which to begin. Butler University’s ASL instructors will assess each student’s skills and recommend a starting level from Level 0 through Level 4.  After successfully completing their first ASL course at Butler, students may receive back credit for prior ASL experience. The amount of credit awarded depends on the student’s placement level, as outlined below:

  • Level 0: The student is advised to start with SLHS 101 and will not receive back credit.
  • Level 1: The student is advised to start with SLHS 102, and upon successful completion of that course, they may receive back credit for SLHS 101.
  • Level 2: The student is advised to start with SLHS 203, and upon successful completion of that course, they may receive back credit for SLHS101 and SLHS 102.
  • Level 3: The student is advised to start with SLHS 204, and upon successful completion of that course, they may receive back credit for SLHS 101, SLHS 102, and SLHS 203.
  • Level 4: The student is advised to start with a SLHS 300, and upon successful completion of that course, they may receive back credit for SLHS 101, SLHS 102, SLHS 203, and SLHS 204.

To request an ASL placement exam, please contact Associate Professor and SLHS department chair Andrew Kostakis.

For information on Modern Languages placement credit, consult the Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures website.