A Master's Degree For Teaching ASL in K-12 and Post-Secondary Settings

There are two degree options for this program. Choose the one that best fits your teaching/career goals:

  • If you would like to teach ASL in the post-secondary setting, you will choose the Teaching American Sign Language Master of Arts.
  • If you would like to teach ASL in the K-12 setting, you will take the Teaching American Sign Language Master of Arts: Licensure: World Languages (Grades K-12) Program. If you already have a Colorado teaching license and would like to add the World Languages (Grades K-12) endorsement, you must choose this program.

The focus of this program is on pedagogical coursework for teaching ASL as a foreign/world language or as a modern language. The focus is not on learning or mastering ASL. Therefore, you must demonstrate ASL proficiency prior to acceptance into the program.

Graduate Assistantships Available: Learn more in the Costs & Aid section below.

Please disregard any year-specific dates and deadlines mentioned in the video. You will find this year’s application deadline on the TASL MA Application Info page.

Career Options for Graduates

Depending on your interests, prior experiences and existing certifications, this degree can prepare you to excel in the following positions:

  • K-12 foreign/world languages teacher for American Sign Language
  • Community college foreign/world languages teacher for American Sign Language
  • A variety of tutor and ASL specialist roles in deaf studies programs, interpreter education programs, and standalone foreign/modern language offerings

Image of ASL signs of T, A, S and L above ASL Teacher wording

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There are two master's degree programs available.

Teaching American Sign Language Master of Arts

This program is for students interested in teaching ASL in the post-secondary setting. It is 30 credit hours.

For full program requirement details, see the official program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.

Teaching American Sign Language M.A. – Licensure: World Languages (Grades K-12)

This program is for those also interested in obtaining a K-12 teaching license or adding a World Languages (Grades K-12) endorsement to their current licenses. This degree is ASL-specific, but the endorsement category for language teaching in many states (e.g. Colorado) is World Languages. This program is 42 credit hours, plus one zero-credit hour teacher prep application course.

For full program requirement details, see the official program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.


Features of Both Programs

  • These programs are delivered mostly online, and can be completed in five consecutive terms.
  • There are two summer terms in the course sequence. Each summer, courses are offered on campus (in Greeley, CO) for three weeks in late June-July, and online for an additional four weeks.
  • Students are required to complete a mandatory online orientation course during May-early June of the first Summer that must be completed before your first online course. This course will prepare you to succeed in this mostly online program.
  • As part of graduation requirements, students are expected to complete two student teaching practicum experiences, a portfolio, and a master’s project.

To see a typical list of courses per term, visit an example Current Program Students page.

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