I am working on getting an initiative passed which would allow sign language to fulfill the core language requirement for those education students, psychology students, and social work students who feel it would benefit them in their intended career paths. I feel that having the option of taking sign language is important for these students, because of the children they may/will have in their classrooms and other work environments. I think this change is important and needs to be considered because many students are taking this language, because they truly need it effectively work in their field. If any students find a course like sign language to have as beneficial an effect as is proven by extensive studies, then such a course should also count towards their major in an equal manner of importance. For the majors listed above specifically it is critical to have a background in sign language for many, but many undergraduates are unable to complete it due to the fact that it does not count towards the common core language requirement. These undergrads do not have enough time in their few years of schooling, and their busy schedules, to allow for the cultivation of mastery and fluency in sign language, a language that many will need to have a background in to work in their respective fields. This occurs primarily due to the conflict of core requirements that causes these students to be forced to take a foreign language such as Spanish or French when, in reality, many of these students know they will be working with people who speak no oral or written language at all. This leaves students who will be working primarily with people who will use sign language as their primary means of communications without the proper background and training to communicate with those they will be working with, and in no scenario should this conflict ever arise if it can be avoided. My basic proposal is to ask for the acknowledgement of sign language as an OPTION for the fulfillment of the common core language requirement only for education, Psychology and social work students so they may graduate with the tools and training they feel they need to be both competitive, and, even more importantly, best equipped to help those they plan on working with. If a student plans on pursuing a field in interpretation for the purpose of giving those who speak different languages a chance of communicating, and having their voices heard, then that student must learn the language they plan on interpreting. The students who take sign language, and those who want to but cannot, take it so as to be the interpreter and voice for those who have little to no oral voice at all. This only makes it all the more crucial that sign language be given greater importance and near equal rights to other languages, if not for all students, at least for those who plan on working directly with those who use this language every minute of everyday to communicate their needs. The definition of an education according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is "A person who provides instruction or education". How can an educator be expected to educate if they cannot communicate with those they are teaching? I know changes are not easy and require great amounts of administrative work, but I believe the benefits will grossly outweigh the labor. I thank you for your time and consideration in reading my proposal and openly invite anyone to email me with any suggestions of revisions or improvements if any are thought of.