by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Linguistics of ASL & Other Sign Languages explores Linguistics Of Asl And Other Sign Languages. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific And Scholarly Study Of The Development, Structure, And Use Of American Sign Language (Asl) And Other Visual Signed Languages, Both As Vehicles For Communication Within The Deaf Community And In Relation To Spoken And Written Languages. Includes Instruction In Cognitive Linguistics; Asl And Sign Language Phonology, Syntax, And Morphology; Sociolinguistics Of The Deaf Community; Comparative Linguistics; And Studies Of Specific Sign Languages, Including, But Not Limited To, Asl, Auslan (Australian Sign Language), Lsf (French Sign Language), Shuwa Jiten (Japanese Sign Language), Hamnosys (German Sign Language), And Gestuno. Continue reading for the important information every linguistics of asl & other sign languages major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering linguistics of asl & other sign languages programs.
Across the country, linguistics of asl & other sign languages draws strong interest, with 10 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Linguistics of ASL & Other Sign Languages Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for linguistics of asl & other sign languages students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of linguistics of asl & other sign languages programs later in this article.
Coursework for Linguistics of ASL & Other Sign Languages develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations linguistics of asl & other sign languages graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a linguistics of asl & other sign languages program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a linguistics of asl & other sign languages major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several linguistics of asl & other sign languages degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to linguistics of asl & other sign languages tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in linguistics of asl & other sign languages careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying linguistics of asl & other sign languages opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to linguistics of asl & other sign languages.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to linguistics of asl & other sign languages.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of linguistics of asl & other sign languages graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,601 |
| 4 years | $38,080 |
| 5 years | $43,723 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for linguistics of asl & other sign languages graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers linguistics of asl & other sign languages grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
With 2 different linguistics of asl & other sign languages programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased linguistics of asl & other sign languages school rankings to help you.
Those considering linguistics of asl & other sign languages, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sign Language Interpretation and Translation | 1,420 |
| American Sign Language (ASL) | 879 |
| American Sign Language, Other | 2 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
