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Tech launches online American Sign Language dual enrollment courses
A view of the Volpe Library on Tennessee Tech’s campus. Dual enrollment students at
Tech enjoy free access to campus resources, including the library.
High school students looking to expand their horizons, satisfy a foreign language
requirement and get a jump-start on college credit hours can do so this fall through
Tennessee Tech University’s new American Sign Language dual enrollment course offerings.
The program, open to all high school students across Tennessee, provides a unique
opportunity to learn sign language through online courses, including American Sign
Language I, beginning this fall, and American Sign Language II, set to be offered
in the spring.
Courses are taught by Tech instructors and meet online asynchronously, allowing students
to complete assignments at their own pace. Tech’s program is also designed to eliminate
the need for textbook costs, with all necessary course materials provided directly
to students.
“We wanted to offer something that was unique but would also be relevant and meet
a practical need,” said Ted McWilliams, assistant director for admissions at Tech.
“In our conversations with high school guidance counselors across the state, we saw
there was significant interest in American Sign Language among their students.”
McWilliams continued, “We’re excited to do this in a way that brings the quality and
reputation of Tennessee Tech directly to high school students; helping them earn college
credit hours while still in high school and develop a valuable skill to better communicate
with deaf or hard of hearing individuals – typically at zero cost to them.”
Funding from the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) covers the full cost
of up to five dual enrollment courses for Tennessee high school students. Between
six and 10 courses can be taken at a discounted cost, with TSAC covering $100 per
credit hour.
McWilliams adds that, in the state of Tennessee, American Sign Language meets the
criteria to satisfy public high schools and college admissions departments’ foreign language
requirements.
Dual enrollment students at Tech enjoy multiple benefits beyond the early exposure
to a college-level education, including access to university resources such as the
Marc L. Burnett Student Recreation and Fitness Center, the Angelo & Jennette Volpe
Library and discounts through the Golden Eagles Perk Program. They are also exempt
from the $25 application fee when they apply to Tech after their courses.
Beyond American Sign Language, Tech offers a variety of other dual enrollment options
including English, French, engineering, cybersecurity, history, social sciences and
others.
For more information on this program or to apply, visit the Tennessee Tech Dual Enrollment
site at www.tntech.edu/dualenrollment.
Interested students and parents can also contact McWilliams directly at (931) 372-6820
or dualenrollment@tntech.edu.
Tennessee Tech University is ranked as a “Best National University” by U.S. News &
World Report. With over 200 academic programs, Tech provides its graduates with the
lowest debt burden among all public universities in the state. In fact, based on a
combination of total cost and alumni earnings, Tech offers students the highest return
on investment of any public university in Tennessee, according to PayScale. Learn
more at tntech.edu.
