Program Faculty: Buchholz, Gajewski-Mickelson, Siebert, Swabey* (*department chair)
Program Description:
The goal of the department is to provide "state of the art" education in American Sign Language and in ASL-English interpretation. By developing linguistic, social and cultural competence in ASL, graduates are able to interact successfully and comfortably in the Deaf community.
ASL/Interpreting majors must choose to take a concentration in Interpreting or ASL. In the Interpreting concentration students develop a specialized ability to facilitate communication between Deaf people and people who can hear. As an interpreter, graduates may work in several settings including healthcare, education, rehabilitation, performing arts and business. ASL/English interpreters are language professionals who facilitate communication between people who do not share a common language. The Interpreting concentration prepares graduates to sit for the national interpreting exams.
Students choosing the ASL concentration study the language and culture of American Deaf people. These students may go on to work in the fields of linguistics, social work, education or theater. Many students choose to double major (i.e., education, psychology, communication, theater) or pursue a master's degree in ASL or a related field.
All majors need to develop and maintain proficiency in ASL. All courses with an ASL prefix are taught in American Sign Language. Students need to seek opportunities to use ASL on campus as well as in the community.
ASL and Interpreting majors are encouraged to pursue a minor in Language Studies and/or participate in a study abroad program in order to further their knowledge of language issues.
Major Requirements:
There is a core of 19 specified credits that students in either concentration are required to take. Students in the Interpreting concentration take an additional 16 credits (for a total of 35 credits), and students in the ASL concentration take an additional 14 credits (for a total of 33 credits).
Required supporting course work:*
ASL 111, 112 Beginning American Sign Language I & II
ASL 211, 212 Intermediate American Sign Language I & II
ASL 311, 312 Advanced American Sign Language I & II (Interpreting concentration)
ENGL 305 Introduction to Linguistics
ENGL 310W Language as Power
PHIL 220W Ethics
One communication studies course and one sociology course, selected with a departmental advisor
*Second major ASL/Interpreting students only need to complete the ASL required supporting courses, not the English, Philosophy, Communication and Sociology courses.
CORE COURSES FOR ASL AND INTERPRETING CONCENTRATIONS (19 credits):
ASL 250 Fingerspelling Lab
ASL 301 American Deaf Culture
ASL 302 ASL Linguistics or INT 202 Introduction to the Interpreting Profession
ASL 333 ASL Classifiers
INT 305 ASL & English Text Analysis
INT 306 ASL/English Translation
INT 421W Senior Seminar
INTERPRETING CONCENTRATION (16 credits):
INT 321 The Interpreting Profession
INT 405 Consecutive Interpreting
INT 406 Simultaneous Transliteration and Interpreting
INT 460 Internship
At least one of the following:
ASL 313 Conversational ASL
INT 431 Healthcare Interpreting
INT 441 Educational Interpreting
ASL CONCENTRATION (14 credits):
ASL 311 Advanced American Sign Language I
ASL 312 Advanced American Sign Language II
ASL 313 Conversational ASL
ASL 310 ASL Literature or ASL 410 Interacting in the DeafBlind Community or other ASL/INT elective
Minor Requirements: Prerequisite for the ASL minor:
ASL 212 Intermediate American Sign Language II
Required courses:
ASL 301 American Deaf Culture
ASL 311 Advanced American Sign Language I
ASL 312 Advanced American Sign Language II
Six additional credits, selected with a departmental advisor
American Sign Language/Interpreting majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing INT 421W. They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 100W and CORE 399W, and any other writing-intensive course in another department).
