ASL and Deaf Studies Certificate is a certificate in English Language Studies programme taught at Vancouver Community College in Vancouver, Canada. The programme runs for 10 months, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition is CAD 5,400 per total for local students.
At a glance
Degree:Certificate
Field:English Language Studies
Duration: 10 months
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 5,400 / total
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The ASL and Deaf Studies certificate consists of practice and theory in American Sign Language (ASL), as well as courses on Deaf culture, public speaking, English grammar, becoming sensitized to the Deaf community and its issues, and Deaf/ASL literature. The primary focus of the program is the acquisition and understanding of ASL, which comprises nearly 70% of the program. Receptive and expressive skills with appropriate cultural applications are developed through a functional/notional approach to second language acquisition. This also involves studies in ASL grammar/syntax, which is markedly different from English grammar/syntax.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Two requirements only: American Sign Language Level 1 (VCC's SIGN 1020) or an equivalent at a minimum 'B-' grade, and English 12 at a 'C' grade or an equivalent, or English language proficiency assessed at an English 12 level. VCC states this programme is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents and directs international students to VCC International, which lists separately the programmes open to them. College-wide rules also apply: applicants must be 16 or older or a secondary-school graduate, with some exceptions, and official transcripts and every required supporting document must reach VCC before the application counts as complete.
Application Details
Start Date:September intake only. VCC's academic year runs in three terms: Winter (January to April), Spring/Summer (May to August) and Fall (September to December).
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) apply through EducationPlannerBC. VCC publishes this programme's windows term by term on its When to Apply page: Fall 2027 entry (September start) — open 1 October 2026, close 1 June 2027. Seats go to eligible applicants in the order their applications are completed, so the programme can close before the listed end date once it fills. VCC's page for this programme states it is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and points international students to VCC International, which lists separately the programmes and intakes open to them; there the application periods open on 1 February, 1 June and 1 October of the previous year for the Winter, Spring/Summer and Fall terms, with no fixed closing date — a programme accepts applications until roughly three to four months before classes begin, or until its seats are gone.
