American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Studies certificate

American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Studies

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SarahJayne Biglieni
Human Services Enrolment Specialist
780 853 0902
780 853 0902
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The Fall 2025 offering for this program has been cancelled. Applications for Fall 2026 will open in October 2025. Want to get a head start? Build your career path with our ASL microcredential or continuing education courses.

LocationEdmonton

CredentialCertificate

Program Length1 year

Delivery MethodFace-to-face

Create community connections as you develop your American Sign Language (ASL) skills.

Take your strong visual processing and fine motor skills and immerse yourself in Deaf culture and community.

In this intensive program, you’ll:

Study more than sign language. You’ll study history, current trends and issues in the Deaf community.
Participate in community events as part of course work.
Prepare to work in educational and other community settings.

The program is offered full-time at the Alberta School for the Deaf in Edmonton.

Program-specific courses are immersive and taught by instructors who are Deaf. Each course is offered in a condensed timeframe and builds sequentially in order for you to complete the program.

Requirements

1. High school diploma with a minimum of:

50% in English 30-1 or 65% in English 30-2

2. Proof of English language proficiency

Notes:

If you completed high school outside of Alberta, check provincial subject equivalents.
If you don’t have the academic requirements, you may qualify through special admissions.
If you are an International student, check eligible programs.

There are no additional program requirements.

As you prepare for your start date, review this important information.

Along with specific academic admission requirements, our instructors have learned that certain aptitudes and gifts help you learn ASL.

Just as some people more easily learn spoken languages, some people are better suited to successfully learning American Sign Language (ASL).

For the best chances of success, you should have these qualities and skills:

prior experience with and sensitivity to the Deaf community
strong visual processing skills
coordinated and fluid hand movements
can and does follow oral, written and signed instruction
demonstrates empathy and interest in other people
maturity
positive self-image
high standards of personal integrity
dedication to practice - required to achieve American Sign Language fluency

Enrolment is the final step after you've been accepted, paid your tuition deposit, and the timetable has been set.

You will be automatically enrolled in your courses.
You can expect to be enrolled approximately 1 month before the program start date.
Once you've been enrolled, your schedule will be available in My Lakeland.

If you completed relevant courses at another post-secondary institution, you may be eligible for transfer credit. Apply for transfer credit at least 2 months before classes start by completing the transfer credit form.

Review all of the other ways Lakeland does prior learning assessments.

When you complete the program requirements with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 you will be awarded an American Sign Language and Deaf Culture Studies certificate.

More program details

2025-26 tuition and fees

Year	Tuition and program fees	Estimated books, supplies and field trips	Mandatory fees
1	$6,550	$1,400	$623

Remember that studying includes other expenses than tuition and fees - you should also be budgeting for your accommodation and living expenses. Alberta student loan guidelines recommends $1,153/month.

Our tuition and fees page has details about academic, application and mandatory fees and their cost breakdown per term.

Below is the list of the required courses. During this accelerated full-time program you can expect to spend 15 - 20 hours per week practicing, reviewing content and preparing for class.

Program-specific courses are immersive and taught by instructors who are Deaf. Each course is offered in a condensed timeframe and builds sequentially in order for you to complete the program.

Withdrawal and Refund Policy:

You can find this information below under important dates.

Please note: Lakeland College reserves the right to cancel programs and courses due to insufficient enrolment.

If you need information on course planning or further support, please email Jody Morrison at jody.morrison@lakelandcollege.ca.

Your class schedule, or when your courses are held during the week, can be found on the My Lakeland student portal. Most of your classes are Mon/Wed/Fri from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. There are few exceptions, please see below.

Winter 2025

ASL 302 American Sign Language Level III Part B

March 31 - May 7, 2025
13 classes
Mon/Wed/Fri 4:30-7:30 pm

Spring 2025

ASL 303 American Sign Language Level III Part C

May 13 - June 13, 2025
14 classes
Mon/Wed/Fri 4:30-7:30 pm

LS 102 Deaf Culture and Community 1I

April 1 - June 13, 2025
10 classes
Tues/Thurs 4-6 pm

Fall/Winter/Spring 2025-26

To be determined.

Important dates found below include your tuition due date, your program registration/start date, events and holidays.

Dates are subject to change. We recommend you check here regularly for any updates.

Note: These dates are subject to change.

2025
Aug 11	Fees due, fall term semester 1
Sept 2	Registration Day
Sept 3	First day of classes, fall term semester 1
Sept 10	Last day to add semester 1 courses
Sept 23	Last day to drop semester 1 courses. Last day to withdraw with full refund of fees less tuition deposit.
Sept 30	National Truth & Reconciliation Day, college closed
Oct 13	Thanksgiving, college closed
Nov 3	Last day to withdraw from semester 1 with W grade or change from credit to audit.
Nov 10-11	Fall break for students
Nov 11	Remembrance Day, college closed
Dec 1	Fees due, winter term semester 2
Dec 12	Last day of semester 1
Dec 13 - Jan 5	Christmas break for students

2026
Jan 6	First day of classes, winter term semester 2
Jan 13	Last day to add semester 2 courses
Jan 27	Last day to drop semester 2 courses. Last day to withdraw with 100% refund of semester 2 fees.
Mar 13	Last day to withdraw from semester 2 courses with W grade or change from credit to audit.
Apr 3-6	Easter Break, college closed
May 18	Victoria Day, college closed
Jun 5	Vermilion campus Convocation
Jun 12	Last day semester 2

Note: These dates are subject to change.

2026
Aug 12	Fees due, fall term semester 1
Sept 1	Registration Day
Sept 2	First day of classes, fall term semester 1
Sept 7	Labor Day, college closed
Sept 9	Last day to add semester 1 courses
Sept 22	Last day to drop semester 1 courses. Last day to withdraw with full refund of fees less tuition deposit.
Sept 30	National Truth & Reconciliation Day, college closed
Oct 12	Thanksgiving, college closed
Nov 2	Last day to withdraw from semester 1 with W grade or change from credit to audit.
Nov 9-13	Fall break for students
Nov 11	Remembrance Day, college closed
Dec 1	Fees due, winter term semester 2
Dec 18	Last day of semester 1
Dec 21 - Jan 4	Christmas break for students

2027
Jan 5	First day of classes, winter term semester 2
Jan 12	Last day to add semester 2 courses
Jan 25	Last day to drop semester 2 courses. Last day to withdraw with 100% refund of semester 2 fees.
Mar 12	Last day to withdraw from semester 2 courses with W grade or change from credit to audit.
Mar 26-29	Easter Break, college closed
May 24	Victoria Day, college closed
May 28	Lloydminster campus Convocation
Jun 11	Last day semester 2

If you need information on course planning or further support, please email Jody Morrison at jody.morrison@lakelandcollege.ca.

Continue your learning

There are also opportunities to combine this certificate with other Human Services programs :

People communicating with ASL in the Mead building

Your textbooks will be just one avenue of your learning as you also step into and learn from the Deaf community. Combine community engaged learning, professional work experiences and classroom expertise and you'll see why Lakeland is so special.

Learning in action

Studying at Lakeland is a pathway to become an ASL interpreter. Graduates have been accepted into Interpreter programs across Canada. You'll also gain the skills to excel as a teacher, nurse, community support worker or child and youth care worker.

Jobs and careers