Sign Language Studies
Fifty years of training the interpreters, educators, and advocates Michigan's Deaf community relies on.
Fifty years of training the interpreters, educators, and advocates Michigan's Deaf community relies on.
Sign Language is a human right.
This principle, which was established by Mike Meldrum, Sharon Meldrum, and Ken Rust, co-founders of Madonna University’s Sign Language Studies department, remains the foundation of the department today. Students in the program learn American Sign Language alongside the history and culture of the community it belongs to.
In 1975, Madonna “College” (at the time) was one of just 12 institutions in the country selected to receive funding for the first interpreter education programs in the United States, and one of only two to build a four-year Sign language Studies program. Today, Madonna is the only university in Michigan offering a bachelor’s degree in ASL education and the only one offering a bachelor’s degree a bachelor’s degree in Deaf Community Studies, alongside a Sign language Interpreting Studies major and minor in American Sign Language.
For students who want to become a professional sign language interpreter. This major helps in building fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) over four years of hands-on training which prepares graduates for interpreting careers in settings like education, healthcare, and legal services.
For students building a career in cousneling, social work, or other human services. This major provides a strong foundation in American Sign Language and Deaf culture and is designed to pair with a second major or minor so students graduate with both ASL fluency and a specialized professional skill set.
For future teachers. This major prepares students to teach American Sign Language as a world language in Michigan's K-12 schools, meeting the state's certification requirements for ASL educators. This program is also designed for current teachers who want to add an ASL teaching endorsement to their certification.
For any student who wants to add ASL to their degree. This minor gives students a working foundation in American Sign Language and an understanding of Deaf culuture, useful in fields like healthcare, criminal justice, business, and social work.
