CREDIT BY EXAMINATION IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE

General Policy Information for the Academic Year 2009-2010*

*This is to be used as a guide only. Policies are subject to change.

UT Austin provides you with the opportunity to earn course credit by examination. Such credit will satisfy degree requirements in the same way as credit earned by passing a course, except that it will not count as credit earned in residence. Although you may take tests before you enroll in UT Austin, you must be a currently or previously enrolled student in order to receive credit. Unsuccessful attempts to earn credit by examination will not become part of your official transcript.

Faculty members in the Department of Linguistics select the test, set the levels of performance required for credit, and specify who is eligible to take the test. Such credit is awarded to students who demonstrate adequate knowledge of American Sign Language. This assumes knowledge beyond what is covered in a typical high school course. DIIA-Student Testing Services assists the department by communicating policies, giving the test, and reporting the credit.

The test for credit in American Sign Language (ASL) 506, first-year American Sign Language I, uses the computer-based test (CBT) format with true/false or multiple choice objective questions.

Students for Whom the Test Is Required or Appropriate
Students who have prior knowledge of American Sign Language (regardless of how it was acquired) and who do not have college credit in American Sign Language 506 must take the UT Austin Test for Credit in ASL 506 before they can enroll in their first UT Austin American Sign Language course. 

Students transferring college credit in American Sign Language are not required, but are strongly encouraged, to take this placement test and to use the results to help them choose their first course in American Sign Language at UT Austin. Transfer students may also use the placement test to earn additional credit in American Sign Language or to earn credit for lower-division courses from which they were exempted without credit at another institution. In no way will American Sign Language credit already earned be jeopardized by the results of this test.

Students who do not intend to enroll in an American Sign Language course but who wish to attempt to earn credit by examination may also take the placement test.

Eligibility for Credit by Examination in ASL 506
To be eligible for credit by examination, you must not already have a passing or failing grade in ASL 506 or an equivalent course.  In addition, if you are enrolled in ASL 506 or an equivalent course for as long as the date on which the official enrollment is taken (twelfth class day for a long semester and fourth class day for a summer session), then you cannot receive credit by examination for ASL 506.

Description of the UT Austin Test for Credit in ASL 506
The test consists of two parts: (1) an assessment of factual knowledge of ASL and of Deaf culture and (2) a comprehension test.  Factual topics include the basic linguistics of American Sign Language and the Deaf culture, and the comprehension section tests your receptive skills in American Sign Language, that is, your ability to understand ASL signs and sentences.  For each test item, you will view a person presenting an ASL sign or a simple sign sentence.

Level of Performance Required for Credit

The UT Austin Test for credit in American Sign Language (ASL) 506 has a score range of 1-100. Satisfactory scores for credit by examination are as follows:

The faculty in the Department of Linguistics strongly recommends that students placing out of ASL 506 and wishing to go on to the next course do so only if they obtain a score of 46 or better.

Interpreting Your Score on the ASL 506 Test.

Suggested Textbook and Study Topics for the UT Austin Test for Credit in ASL 506

To prepare for the UT Austin Test for Credit in ASL 506, use the textbook Signing Naturally Level 1 by Cheri Smith, Ella Mae Lentz, and Ken Mikos. Study all the topics in Units 1-12 and the cumulative review that includes grammar, culture, and language notes.

Test Administration

Test Periods: The UT Austin Test for Credit in ASL 506 is offered only on the UT Austin campus, regularly scheduled times in May, August, and January.

Test Registration: You must register for the test online. 

Test Registration for Students with Disabilities:If you require academic accommodations or assistance due to a documented disability, you should contact these two offices at least five business days before the day of the test:

• Services for Students with Disabilities, in the Office of the Dean of Students at ssd@uts.cc.utexas.edu, http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/ssd/, or (512) 471-6259 to seek approval for authorized accommodations;
• DIIA-Student Testing Services at (512) 232-2662 to register and make arrangements to take the test.

Registration Fee and Test Fee Payment: The total test fee is $65 (subject to change). When you confirm your registration for a test you will be immediately billed a non-refundable test registration fee of $15. The remainder of the test fee will be billed after you take the test. Payment is due within 14 days after the test administration.

Repeating the Test: You may take the UT Austin Test for Credit in ASL 506 only once.

Admission to the Test Room: At the test room you must present a generally accepted form of identification that includes both your signature and a photograph. Without such identification, you will be admitted only if you bring and relinquish a photograph of yourself.

Test Results: Results are available within a few working days after the test date, in time to register for classes. UT Austin students must petition (or claim) their credit to have it appear on their official transcript. DIIA-Student Testing Services reports petitioned credit to the Office of the Registrar.

Petitioning/Claiming Credit

UT Austin students must petition (or claim) their credit to have it appear on their official transcript. DIIA-Student Testing Services reports petitioned credit to the Office of the Registrar.

*POLICIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE