JumpStart

Get a JumpStart on the immersive American Sign Language (ASL) and English experience you’ll encounter at Gallaudet before the start of your first semester. This four-week program is packed with Deaf Culture and ASL to get you and your peers comfortable and confident as new signers.

At Gallaudet University, the primary languages used on campus are American Sign Language (ASL) and written English. To support the bilingual mission of the university, all students are expected to develop proficiency in both ASL and written English. However, not all students are fluent in ASL when they come to campus. JumpStart-ASL is an opportunity for deaf and hard-of-hearing undergraduates who are new to the Deaf community and Deaf culture to learn and develop their ASL skills in a community of peers with similar backgrounds.

JumpStart: ASL, is a four-week immersion program for emerging signers held each summer before the start of the Fall semester. It provides incoming students with courses in Deaf Culture, American Sign Language (ASL), and Visual and Gestural Communication. The goal is to provide a foundational understanding of the ASL language to help students develop their confidence as new signers. This ensures that students can communicate with peers, staff, and faculty as the Fall semester begins.

• Learn ASL Develop your ASL skills with an immersive experience leading up to your first semester.
• Make Friends Discover new friendships and get involved before the Fall Semester even starts!
• Explore DC Get familiar with your home away from home with four weeks to explore Washington, D.C. before classes begin.

Arrival Day: Sunday, July 23, 2023 Gallaudet University will require all Gallaudet students and employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be admitted to campus. For more information regarding the vaccination requirement, please visit the COVID-19 website. Students who are interested in science, technology, or mathematics are also encouraged to join our Summer Stamp Bridge program.