Online ASL Courses

Take American Sign Language Courses Online

American Sign Language (ASL) courses develop your conversational fluency in ASL and your knowledge of Deaf Culture. To support you in your development of ASL competency, we offer ASL I-IV courses online that feature authentic ASL interactions with experienced Deaf faculty and language specialists. These courses will be beneficial whether you want to...

Course Features

Delivered Online: the online delivery allows you to complete this course from anywhere in the world.

Highly Qualified Deaf Faculty: our ASL courses are taught by qualified Deaf faculty who use ASL as their primary language.

Synchronous Sessions with Your Instructor: you will have weekly scheduled online sessions with your instructor (typically Monday or Tuesday 6-7:30 p.m. Mountain time depending on the course) to allow for interactive learning and questions.

ASL Bear Lab (Language Lab) Sessions: Based on research and a pilot project, we have determined that students learn ASL best through authentic communication with native users of ASL. You will have weekly sessions with Deaf ASL language specialists who interact in real-time using authentic, conversational ASL that supports the weekly course lessons. Multiple time slots are available each week. The ASL Bear Lab is supported by the ASL course fee.


The online American Sign Language courses are delivered by the UNC Department of American Sign Language and Interpreting Studies (ASLIS) in cooperation with UNC Extended Campus. These courses are also available on-campus. The curriculum for the online courses is the same as for our on-campus courses. Only the delivery method is different.

  • Eligibility & Screening

    General Eligibility

    High School Students

    High school students are eligible to take UNC’s online ASL courses, and you can use the standard registration process that is noted below. However, if you attend a school that is near UNC’s Greeley Campus, please check with your high school counselor (or email dual.enrollment@unco.edu) to see if your school has an active concurrent enrollment partnership, which would mean you would need to take an campus-based course section of the ASL I-IV courses.

    Undergraduate Students

    UNC Degree-Seeking Students
    Current UNC students can register for this course. Students who are taking only online courses should register for the "-900" section noted below. Students who are taking courses on the main campus in Greeley during the same term should use the UNC Schedule of Courses to register for sections numbered in the 970s (970, 971, etc.). Please reach out to kaitlin.mack@unco.edu or your Academic Advisor if you have questions.

    Non-Degree-Seeking Students
    If you are not seeking a degree at UNC, but have earned a GED or high school diploma, you may take this course (whether it is for personal interest; professional development; as a pre-requisite to a UNC program; or to transfer to another college or university). Please note, as a non-degree seeking student, you are not eligible for federal financial aid.

    Note: UNC student immunization policies will apply to your enrollment. See the current UNC vaccination policy and directions. If you enroll for a fully online course, please contact debra.miller@unco.edu after your enrollment to request that the immunization requirement be removed.

    Eligibility by State

    At this time, UNC can provide distance education to students from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. UNC cannot provide distance education in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

    If this course involves any practica, internships, student teaching, healthcare clinicals or similar activities, please check the State Authorization (SARA) page for additional information on UNC’s ability to offer distance education tied to in-person activities completed across state lines.

    ASL Course Eligibility/Placement

    Exclamation point iconASL I-IV are sequential courses. You will complete these ASL courses one at a time and in order.

    Your placement in the ASL sequence depends on your background.

    If you are new to ASL...
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    Take ASL I (ASL 101).

    If you have recently taken ASL at the college Level...
    Downward pointing arrow icon
    Take the next ASL course.

    If you have taken ASL at the high school level...
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    Schedule an ASL screening.

    If you have ASL life experience...
    Downward pointing arrow icon
    Schedule an ASL screening.

    ASL Screening

    Email iconIf you will need ASL screening to determine your course placement, please email Kate Beilmann to schedule your screening: kate.beilmann@unco.edu

    Fee icon The UNC ASL screening is conducted online. Cost is $25. Retro-credit may be available.

    Clock icon The ASL screening is also recommended if your college-level ASL course(s) were taken more than one (1) year ago.

    Checklist progress icon Prior Learning Credit: you can receive UNC credit for your prior learning if you screen into a course higher than ASL 101 and you earn a "B" or higher grade in your first UNC ASL course. Example: you screen into ASL 201 (ASL III) and earn a "B" grade. You can then petition to receive the additional six transcript-eligible credit hours for ASL 101 and 102.

  • Costs

    Tuition & Fees

    • ASL I-IV: $1,527 per course ($484/credit hour + $75 language lab fee which supports your ASL Bear Lab sessions).
    • ASL 310 (when offered): $1,452 ($484/credit hour).

    There are no fees for application/registration.

    Course Materials

    • ASL I-III: $45 if published directly in the online course; $60 if using the UNC bookstore.
    • ASL IV: $60 if published directly in the online course; $80 if using the UNC bookstore.
  • Registering

    Activate Student Records Through Ursa

    Ursa is UNC's online access to secure information and tools. You can use Ursa to manage registration, view grades, order transcripts, view and pay student bills, complete forms and more.

    If you have taken a course previously through UNC, you will need your Bear Number.

    1. If needed, use the Look up Bear Number service.
    2. Go to the Ursa site and use your Bear Number to login. Click on "forgot password" to reset if needed.
    3. You will also need to know your "Bearmail" email address. If you have questions about your Bearmail account. Please contact Tech Support.

    If you have NOT previously taken a UNC course or been admitted to UNC...

    1. Please create your UNC account via the UNC non-degree-seeking application. On the UNC Application...
      • Follow the directions to register your account.
      • Once your account is created, "Start New Application" and choose "...Nondegree seeking."
    2. Once you submit the non-degree-seeking application, it may take 48-72 hours to process your information. You will receive a confirmation email with your Bear Number and Bearmail (email) address. All UNC correspondence goes to your secure Bearmail account. It is important you know how to access it.
    3. Activate your Ursa account (click “Account Activation Instructions”).
    4. Once your account is activated (this may take up to 30 minutes), log onto Ursa. To login, enter your user name/PDID (provided during your account activation) and the password you chose.

    Contact ASLIS (Needed for Most Courses/Students)

    All courses except for ASL 101 have prerequisite courses that will require an override if you did not take the prerequisite course at UNC.

    If you are enrolling for a course that is not ASL 101 and you attained eligibility for your course via ASL screening, or via coursework taken at another institution, you will need to complete this step to get the override prior to registering. After you have activated your account via one of the paths noted above, you will need to email sherry.schriver@unco.edu in the Department of American Sign Language & Interpreting Studies and provide her with the following:

    • Your name.
    • UNC Bear number.
    • What class you are registering for.
    • Attach to your email (or fax to 970-351-1317) your unofficial transcript showing ASL prerequisite courses (this item is not needed if you were placed into the course via ASL screening).

    Register for Your Specific Course

    1. Once you have logged onto URSA, click on the blue student tab and you are ready to register for this class. While registering in URSA, be sure to reference the course information and correct CRN number listed on this page.
    2. Follow this Tutorial if you need help registering.

    Technical Support

    Technical Support staff and services are available 7 days a week. For support, call (970) 351-HELP or 1-800-545-2331, email help@unco.edu or submit a support ticket online.

  • Once You Register

    Dropping and Withdrawing

    If you wish to drop or withdraw from the course, you must do so on or before the deadline dates listed in the Course Basics box.

    • If you are registered for any other courses in the same academic term, you can drop or withdraw within your Ursa account.
    • If this is your only course this term, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@unco.edu or 970-351-4862.

    It is your responsibility to know the drop and withdrawal deadlines and procedures.

    Billing and Payment for Your Course

    Tuition for this course is listed in the Course Basics box on this page. Any course materials costs (textbooks, digital access, etc.) would be a separate or additional expense.

    Billing notification will be sent to your Bearmail (student email) account when your bill is ready. If you have not activated your Bearmail, directions are in the directions for course registration and activation.

    • Please pay your bill by the due date listed on your eBill to avoid service charges.
    • To view or pay your bill, log into Ursa and go to the Financial tab. You will not receive a bill in the mail; UNC has an eBill system.
    • Further instructions for finding and paying your bill are available on the UNC Bursar's website.

Current & Upcoming Online Course Sections

Please note: you will register for the course section noted below, and then prior to the start of each term students are split into course sections that generally include 20 students or less.

ASL I Online Course Sections

ASL 101 American Sign Language I (3) course description – this course is transfer-eligible to satisfy modern language credit at most U.S. colleges and universities, as UNC is fully accredited. It is also a Colorado Guaranteed Transfer Pathway course.

Spring 2024: ASL 101-900 American Sign Language I

CRN: 24019
Location: Online

Dates: Jan. 8 – May 5, 2024
Including weekly live evening sessions

Summer 2024: ASL 101-900 American Sign Language I

CRN: 40375
Location: Online

Dates: May 13 – Aug. 5, 2024
Including weekly live evening sessions

Fall 2024: ASL 101-900 American Sign Language I

CRN: 14413
Location: Online

Dates: Aug. 26 – Dec. 15, 2024
Including weekly live evening sessions

ASL II Online Course Sections

ASL 102 American Sign Language II (3) course description – this course is transfer-eligible to satisfy modern language credit at most U.S. colleges and universities, as UNC is fully accredited. It is also a Colorado Guaranteed Transfer Pathway course.

Prerequisite: completion of ASL 101, or UNC ASL screening placement (see Eligibility tab above).

Spring 2024: ASL 102-900 American Sign Language II

CRN: 24024
Location: Online

Dates: Jan. 8 – May 5, 2024
Including weekly live evening sessions

Summer 2024: ASL 102-900 American Sign Language II

CRN: 40376
Location: Online

Dates: May 5 – Aug. 2, 2024
Including weekly live evening sessions

Fall 2024: ASL 102-900 American Sign Language II

CRN: 14414
Location: Online

Dates: Aug. 26 – Dec. 15, 2024
Including weekly live evening sessions

ASL III Online Course Sections

ASL 201 American Sign Language III (3) course description – this course is transfer-eligible to satisfy modern language credit at most U.S. colleges and universities, as UNC is fully accredited. It also counts toward UNC Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements and is a Colorado Guaranteed Transfer Pathway course.

Prerequisite: completion of ASL 102, or UNC ASL screening placement (see Eligibility tab above).

Spring 2024: ASL 201-900 American Sign Language III

CRN: 24025
Location: Online

Dates: Jan. 8 – May 5, 2024
Including weekly live evening sessions

Fall 2024: ASL 201-900 American Sign Language III

CRN: 14415
Location: Online

Dates: Aug. 26 – Dec. 15, 2024
Including weekly live evening sessions

ASL IV Online Course Sections

ASL 202 American Sign Language IV (3) course description – this course is transfer-eligible to satisfy modern language credit at most U.S. colleges and universities, as UNC is fully accredited. It also counts toward UNC Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements and is a Colorado Guaranteed Transfer Pathway course.

Prerequisite: completion of ASL 201, or UNC ASL screening placement (see Eligibility tab above).

Spring 2024: ASL 202-900 American Sign Language IV

CRN: 24027
Location: Online

Dates: Jan. 8 – May 5, 2024
Including weekly live evening sessions

Summer 2024: ASL 202-900 American Sign Language IV

CRN: 40378
Location: Online

Dates: May 5 – Aug. 2, 2024
Including weekly live evening sessions

Deaf Culture and Community Online Course Sections

ASL 310 Deaf Culture and Community (3) course description – this course is transfer-eligible to most U.S. colleges and universities, as UNC is fully accredited.

Prerequisites:

  • Completion of ASL 202
  • Major/Minor Restriction: Include American Sign Language (and) American Sign Lang-Eng Interpr (and) American Sign Lang Eng Interpr Major(s)/Minor(s)

Spring 2024: ASL 310-900 Deaf Culture and Community

CRN: 24028
Location: Online

Dates: Jan. 8 – May 5, 2024