BSc in American Sign Language and Psychology in Boston United States | Northeastern University

American Sign Language (ASL) ranks as the third most commonly used language in the U.S., with growing societal recognition in recent times. Approximately 500,000 to 2 million Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard of hearing individuals in America rely on ASL as their main language, while many hearing individuals also learn or use ASL as a secondary language. Deaf individuals often face socioeconomic challenges stemming from their dual identity as both a linguistic-cultural minority and a disability community. This leads to widespread misconceptions about Deaf culture and sign language users' experiences, creating obstacles to education and employment. Although legislation has enhanced civic participation for Deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind individuals, ongoing efforts are needed to promote equity, quality of life, and recognition of the valuable contributions from diverse Deaf communities.
The program provides extensive coursework along with volunteer, co-op, and research experiences that allow students to engage with Deaf perspectives through community and professional networks.
This interdisciplinary major combines cognitive psychology, psycholinguistics, and linguistic studies with a focus on ASL. The program helps students achieve ASL proficiency, explore Deaf culture and community diversity, analyze cognitive aspects of interpretation, examine spoken language features, and experience the spatial discourse principles unique to signed languages. These skills, combined with psychological training, prepare students for advanced ASL and interpreting studies or psychology careers involving Deaf populations.