Degrees and Diplomas in ASL | From High School Diplomas to PhDs
Degrees and Diplomas in ASL: Overview
Understanding the significance of Degrees and Diplomas in ASL is crucial for effective communication in both educational and professional settings.
In academic and professional conversations, being able to describe your diploma or degree in American Sign Language is a vital skill. In this guide, we’ll walk through the most common diplomas and degrees — including abbreviations like A.A., B.S., M.S.W., and Ph.D. — and show how to sign them naturally using Time-Topic-Comment (TTC) and Object-Subject-Verb (OSV) grammar.
This section will focus on different Degrees and Diplomas in ASL that individuals can achieve.
Obtaining a Degree and Diploma in ASL can enhance your career opportunities in various fields.
🎓 High School-Level Diplomas
High School Diploma
Sign HIGH SCHOOL (H-S) + DIPLOMA (fingerspell or classifier showing certificate)
Example (TTC):
YEAR 2020 HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA I GET.
(I got my high school diploma in 2020.)
GED (General Educational Development)
There are several types of Degrees and Diplomas in ASL available, depending on your educational goals.
Fingerspell G-E-D
Example (OSV):
GED ME PASS.
(I passed the GED.)
📘 College Degrees: Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorates
Degrees and Diplomas in ASL
Degrees
Use DEGREE (can be fingerspelled) or DIPLOMA depending on the context. Add academic level with classifier or abbreviation.
🪪 Associate Degrees
Associates in Arts (A.A.)
Fingerspell A-A
Example:
ME HAVE A-A DEGREE.
(I have an A.A. degree.)
Associates in Arts and Sciences (A.A.S.)
Fingerspell A-A-S or sign ASSOCIATE + DEGREE + SCIENCE
📗 Bachelor’s Degrees
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Many people pursue Degrees and Diplomas in ASL to better serve the Deaf community.
Fingerspell B-A or sign BACHELOR + ART
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Individuals with Degrees and Diplomas in ASL often find that their skills are in high demand.
Fingerspell B-S or BACHELOR + SCIENCE
Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)
Fingerspell B-S-W or sign BACHELOR + SOCIAL + WORK
Example:
SHE FINISH B-S-W DEGREE.
(She finished her B.S.W. degree.)
📘 Master’s Degrees
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Fingerspell M-A or sign MASTER + ART
Master of Science (M.S.)
Fingerspell M-S or sign MASTER + SCIENCE
Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)
Fingerspell M-S-W
Example (TTC):
MSW DEGREE REQUIRE FIELDWORK.
(An MSW degree requires fieldwork.)
Masters in Education (M.Ed.)
Fingerspell M-E-D or sign MASTER + EDUCATION
📙 Doctorate Degrees
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Fingerspell P-H-D
Optionally sign DOCTOR + ACADEMIC FIELD
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Fingerspell E-D-D or sign DOCTOR + EDUCATION
Example (OSV):
PH.D. PROFESSOR HE.
(He’s a professor with a Ph.D.)
🧑🏫 How to Talk About Degrees in Sentences
Time-Topic-Comment (TTC)
- TTC Example:
GRADUATE SCHOOL MASTER’S ME COMPLETE.
(I completed my master’s degree in graduate school.)
Object-Subject-Verb (OSV)
In conclusion, Degrees and Diplomas in ASL are invaluable for both personal growth and professional advancement.
- OSV Example:
DEGREE B.A. I HAVE.
(I have a B.A. degree.)
✅ Quick Reference Table
| Degree Type | Abbreviation | ASL Expression Example |
|---|---|---|
| High School | — | HIGH SCHOOL + DIPLOMA |
| GED | G-E-D | Fingerspelled |
| Associate | A.A., A.A.S. | ASSOCIATE + ART / SCIENCE |
| Bachelor | B.A., B.S. | BACHELOR + ART / SCIENCE |
| Social Work | B.S.W., M.S.W. | SOCIAL + WORK or fingerspelled |
| Master | M.A., M.S., M.Ed. | MASTER + SUBJECT or fingerspelled |
| Doctorate | Ph.D., Ed.D. | DOCTOR + FIELD or fingerspelled |
Final Thoughts
Being able to sign your degree or diploma in ASL opens the door for job interviews, academic conversations, and community introductions. Whether you fingerspell or use classifier structures, knowing how to express your education is a point of pride and clarity in the Deaf community.
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