For the love of language Illustration by Lin Parker

LEARN TO SIGN

Here is a list of local colleges and whether they have regular courses in American Sign Language.

* UTC -- Doesn't offer regular, for-credit courses.

* Chattanooga State Community College -- Offers several levels of sign language courses.

* Tennessee Temple University -- Offers a bachelor of science degree in sign language interpreting and a minor in deaf studies.

* The University of Tennessee -- Offers the Education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teacher Preparation Program for a bachelor's degree; also has the Educational Interpreting Program, which has 36 credits hours of course work.

* Cleveland State Community College -- Doesn't offer regular, for-credit courses.

* Dalton State College -- Doesn't offer regular, for-credit courses.

Source: College officials and websites