Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Indian Sign Language Syllabus - Mumbai University
This is the syllabus of the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan, which is the only college offering the B.S.W. under the University of Mumbai. The college has been autonomous since 2019-20 and empowered autonomous since 2024-25, so it sets this syllabus and conducts these examinations itself, and the degree awarded is still a University of Mumbai degree. The University last set a common B.S.W. paper of its own in 2019; this is the current document, amended in June 2026.
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Syllabus for Indian Sign Language
About this course
In recent times, Social Work education and practice is beginning to align with the motto of ‘inclusivity’ when it comes to the people that they work with. Social Work trainees being offered the India Sign Language (ISL) at the BSW level is a proactive step towards bringing in inclusivity in social work practice. This skill would be useful to build rapport, ask specific questions, for data collection, counselling or for simply interacting with persons having speech and hearing- impairment, without requiring a sign language instructor. Especially for the social work students who may want to specialize in Disability studies, learning ISL may facilitate their work with persons who have speech and hearing-impairment. In general, ISL may be promoted and offered as a language in its own right, to have a channel of communication for the persons who are speech and hearing impaired. The specific purpose of introducing ISL for social work students is to aid them to gain exposure and communicate at the basic level. The social work students’ perspective on what is ‘inclusivity’ in the real sense will be shaped when they are actually learning the basics of the language used by persons who are speech and hearing- impaired. These students can speak verbally as well as use sign language in classroom, fieldwork, meetings, conferences, workshops and public gatherings for the benefit of persons with speech and hearing impairment. Social workers who go on to take up advanced courses in ISL may be in a position to play the important role of translators for persons with speech and hearing impairment.
Course objectives
- Introduce the learner to the concept of Indian Sign Language (ISL) and its characteristics.
- Provide the learner an understanding about the history and development of Indian Sign Language (ISL) and introduce them to deaf culture and deaf communities.
- Facilitate the learner to gain knowledge about the detailed structure and components of ISL.
- Build capacity of the learner to engage in various forms of interactions with persons having speech and hearing impairment in different settings through the use of communicative ISL.
- Guide learner to appreciate the relevance and scope of learning Indian Sign Language in the field of social work for inclusivity for persons with speech and hearing impairment.
Learning outcomes
- CO 141 Discuss the concept of Indian Sign Language (ISL) and its application in the community as part of Social Work practice.
- CO 142 Comprehend the history, development of Indian Sign Language (ISL), deaf culture and deaf communities and learning ISL for ensuring inclusivity of Deaf persons.
- CO 143 Demonstrate various forms of interactions in different settings using ISL.
- CO 144 Comprehend the relevance and scope of learning Indian Sign Language in the field of social work.
Unit I: Introduction to the Indian Sign Language (ISL)
- Concept, Characteristics and Common Misunderstandings about Sign Language
- History of ISL: Its Origin, Development, Deaf Communities, Deaf Culture and linguistic identity; Towards an inclusive society for persons with hearing and speech impairment
- Relevance and scope of learning ISL for Social Work Professionals
Essential readings
- Rehabilitation Council of India. Deaf, Deafness and Communication Options (Paper Code: DISLI T1)
- Bhattacharya, T., Grover, N. and Randhawa, S. (eds). 2014. The People’s Linguistic Survey of India Volume 38: Indian Sign Language(s)
Unit II: Structures and Components of ISL and Interactive ISL for Social Work Professional s
- Definition and design features of language and Indian Sign Language
- Manual and Non- Manual Components of ISL
- English alphabet, numbers, days of week, months
- Word-Level Structures: Words and sentences
- Introducing self and knowing about others Seeking basic information
- Engaging in basic interactions in different field settings
Essential readings
- Rehabilitation Council of India. (n.d.). Deaf, deafness and communication options (Paper Code: DISLI T1) . Rehabilitation Council of India.
- Goswami, S P, Ravindra, A & Sharma, K. (2020). Introduction of Indian Sign Language in Inclusive Education. Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development.
- Zeshan, U. (Ed.). (2006). Interrogative and negative constructions in sign language . Ishara Press.
Reproduced from Regulations and Syllabus of Bachelor of Social Work Degree (2023), Amended 2026, published by the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan, which is affiliated to the University of Mumbai and sets this syllabus itself. Wording is as printed in that document.
The complete syllabus
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