Home Catalog Programs of Study List of Programs Sign Language Studies

Sign Language Studies

Folsom Lake College's sign language studies curriculum offers courses designed to introduce students to American sign language. Students learn basic conversational skills to communicate with members of the deaf community. Moreover, students learn about deaf culture, such as cultural behaviors and values.

Sign language courses are transferable to UC and CSU. Students who are interested in pursuing the interpreting field would be able to transfer to American River College’s Interpreter Preparation Program.

Division Dean Francis Fletcher
Department Chair Michelle Lennert
Phone (916) 608-6752
Email fletchf@flc.losrios.edu

Sign Language Studies (SILA) Courses

SILA 305 American Sign Language 1

Units:4
Hours:72 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L3
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is a beginning course in a series of four courses in American Sign Language, ASL. ASL employs the visual language, which Deaf Americans and Deaf Canadians use. The instructional activities are based on immersion approach, which the learners develop the language competency to communicate with ASL users. This course is designed for students who have limited or no exposure to ASL. Moreover, the engagement of audism-free environment will be fostered in the classroom. Students may be required to attend to local deaf event(s).

SILA 306 American Sign Language 2

Units:4
Hours:72 hours LEC
Prerequisite:SILA 305 with a grade of "C" or better
Advisory:ENGRD 310 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L3
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

SILA 306 is second course in a series of four courses in American Sign Language, ASL, which is designed for students who have completed SILA 305. The study in this course continues on vocabulary, syntactic structures, conversational skills and narrative skills. In addition to these, the learners’ language monitoring skills will be improved with accuracy. The learners will learn on how to engage in discussions with peers. Moreover, the application of audism-free environment will be engaged to foster the cultural understanding and respect of Deaf people. Students may be required to attend local deaf event(s). SILA 306 is a former course name of DEAF 312.

SILA 315 American Sign Language 3

Units:4
Hours:72 hours LEC
Prerequisite:SILA 306 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L3
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is third level of ASL courses. This course is designed for students who have completed SILA 306 or two years of high school ASL study. It emphasizes expressive and receptive visual language acquisition. It provides an understanding of deaf cultural processes by identifying behaviors and norms from activities assigned in the class. It also includes dialogs that involve asking, empathizing, negotiating and agreeing or disagreeing. Moreover, this course covers the language and cultural relationship to onomatopoeia. The deaf perspectives of U.S. and Canada history will be examined. Audism-free will be emphasized to appreciate and respect the struggles of Deaf people in its relationship to White Western colonialism.

SILA 316 American Sign Language 4

Units:4
Hours:72 hours LEC
Prerequisite:SILA 315 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L3; Cal-GETC Area 3B
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

The fourth course of the series explores in the domains of presentation, discussion, negotiation, and inquiry in the targeted language, ASL. The platform of this course is to strengthen the fluency in ASL receptively and expressively. In addition to these, the Deafhood theory, social norms and history will be explored.

SILA 495 Independent Studies in Sign Language Studies

Units:1 - 3
Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

SILA 499 Experimental Offering in Sign Language Studies

Units:0.5 - 4
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.