American Sign Language (ASL)

All students must receive a minimum grade of C in ASL classes in order to continue to the next level.

Students with prior experience in ASL are required to take a placement test (email linguist@hawaii.edu). The placement test is required even if you have had previous ASL courses approved for transfer credits from another institution.

The placement exam is strongly recommended if you are interested in taking advanced courses (300-400 level) and there has been a gap since your last language class, or if you would like a firmer sense of your proper placement.

The 101 course is intended for students with no prior experience in the language. If your language proficiency is judged to be beyond the 101-level on the first day of class, you will be placed in a higher-level course. Students who are placed 102 or a higher level may complete the language requirement faster and also earn back-credits (up to 16 credits, which can be counted toward graduation. Restrictions apply: see the Manoa Back Credit Policy at https://manoa.hawaii.edu/ovpae/academic-policies/5-403/). Students starting from 101 will receive no back-credits. A placement adjustment made in the first week of class does not guarantee a seat in the course appropriate for the student.