American Sign Language-English Interpretation
Associate of Applied Science
PURPOSE: The degree in American Sign Language (ASL)-English Interpretation is designed to prepare individuals for a career in sign language interpretation.
OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES: A majority of full-time ASL-English Interpretation positions in the Commonwealth are found in the K-12 public school setting. The minimum requirement to work as an ASL-English Interpreter in the K-12 setting in Virginia is a VQAS Level III, an EIPA of 3.5 or higher, or National Interpreting Certificate (NIC) certification. Interpreters may also consider freelance and contract interpreting opportunities, including the expanding fields of video relay service (VRS) and video remote interpreting (VRI), which both utilize interactive video technology via the Internet.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: General college curricular admission
PROGRAM NOTES: ASL-English Interpretation is a two-year, full-time course of study that enrolls new students annually to begin coursework during the spring or summer semester with programmatic content provided year-round until completion. Candidates for admission to the program must provide evidence of fluency in both English and ASL. Fluency in English is demonstrated by placement into ENG 111. Fluency in ASL is demonstrated by completion of the American Sign Language IV with a "B" or higher. Fluency in ASL may also be demonstrated through a diagnostic interview with the American Sign Language and Interpreter Education (ASL&IE) program head.
Successful completion of the 3-step NIC process results in national certification as an ASL-English Interpreter, which may be maintained through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) via continuing education. As of July 1, 2012, individuals are required to have a bachelor's degree, or equivalent, as determined by the National Council on Interpreting (NCI), in order to sit for the NIC evaluation. For more information, please contact the ASL&IE coordinator regarding alternative pathways to certification (i.e., without a bachelor's degree). For more information on the NIC, please visit www.casli.org.
As part of the ASL-English Interpretation AAS curriculum, the student must receive a passing score on the VQAS written assessment and "B" or higher in INT 130 prior to initiating INT 280, Interpreter Assessment Preparation. It is typical for students to sit for the VQAS or EIPA performance exam during the fall semester of year 2. Initiation of INT 290, ASL-English Interpretation Internship, during the spring of year 2 is typical. The Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) is a state screening, valid for three years, by which time the interpreter must be screened again or the credential is no longer valid. For more information on the VQAS, please visit http://www.vddhh.org or contact the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) at 1-800-552-7917 [V]. The Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) is administered by Boys Town National Research Hospital. For more information on the EIPA, please visit www.classroominterpreting.org.
CONTINUATION IN THE PROGRAM: To continue in the program, students must achieve a minimum course grade of "B" (80) in each INT course.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS:
| Books and Supplies | $400 first semester; $200 for all other semesters |
| Certification/Testing Fees |
Contact CASLI for NIC fees; contact VDDHH for VQAS fees; contact Boys' Town for EIPA fees |
COMPUTER COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT: Students in this program will meet the college's computer competency requirement by successfully completing ITE 115. Students can also meet this requirement by passing the college's computer competency exam administered in the testing centers on each campus, in which they will receive college credit for ITE 115. Students not passing the computer competency exam may retake the exam only once.
|
Order |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
|
1 |
Interpreting Foundations I (English) |
4 |
|
|
2 |
Interpreting Foundations I (ASL) |
4 |
|
|
3 |
SDV 101 |
Orientation to American Sign Language and Interpreter Education |
2 |
|
4 |
______1 |
1 |
|
|
5 |
College Composition I |
3 | |
|
6 |
Translation Skills |
4 |
|
|
7 |
INT 1332 | ASL-to-English Interpretation I | 3 |
|
8 |
INT 1342 | English-to-ASL Interpretation I | 3 |
|
9 |
______3 | Math or Science Elective | 3-4 |
|
10 |
INT 1304 | Interpreting: An Introduction to the Profession | 3 |
|
11 |
INT 2332 | ASL-to-English Interpretation II | 3 |
|
12 |
INT 2342 | English-to-ASL Interpretation II | 3 |
|
13 |
ASL 208 | ASL for Classroom Settings | 3 |
|
14 |
INT 2804 | Interpreter Assessment Preparation | 3 |
|
15 |
PSY 230 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
|
16 |
ASL 261 | American Sign Language V | 3 |
|
17 |
INT 237 | Interpreting ASL in Safe Settings | 3 |
|
18 |
INT 2504 | Dialogic Interpretation I | 3 |
|
19 |
ITE 115 | Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts | 3 |
|
20 |
ASL 262 | American Sign Language VI | 3 |
|
21 |
ASL 225 | Literature of the U.S. Deaf Community | 4 |
|
22 |
INT 2905 | ASL-English Interpreter Internship | 3 |
|
TOTAL |
American Sign Language-English Interpretation Associate of Applied Science | 68-69 | |
01.25.21
1 Some classes offered via hybrid class. Check specific schedule for further information.
2 INT 133-134 and INT 233-234 are course tandems that are designed to be taken concurrently.
3 A list of approved mathematics and science electives is provided in the General Education section of the catalog under Curriculum Planning and Design. In addition to the Reynolds list of approved electives, in order to satisfy this requirement, the ASL&IE coordinator may also approve either: 1) a combination of mathematics and/or science credits transferred from another post-secondary institution and received by Reynolds; or 2) the selection of a different course which is identified in supporting documentation generated by a representative of receiving institution that will satisfy the mathematics or science requirement for a bachelor degree.
4 Successful completion of INT 130 with "B" or higher and successful completion of the VQAS written test typically as part of INT 130 are required prior to enrolling in INT 280 - Interpreter Assessment Preparation.
5 In order to be placed in an internship (INT 290), the student must sit for and be awarded an interpreting credential (e.g., VQAS level, EIPA award, or NIC certification) or demonstrate acceptable proficiency on a mock ASL-English Interpreter assessment approved by the ASL&IE program head.
| Name | Program | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrie Humphrey | American Sign Language CSC | CHumphrey@reynolds.edu | 804/523-5748 |
| Brenda Thornton | American Sign Language CSC | BThornton@reynolds.edu | 804/523-5623 |
Common Job Titles1: Court Interpreter; Deaf Interpreter; Educational Interpreter; Interpreter; Medical Interpreter; Paraprofessional Interpreter; Sign Language Interpreter; Spanish Interpreter; Technical Translator; Translator
Labor Market Statistics (Richmond, MSA)
Projected Employment (2029): 389
Current Wage Range (Entry - Experienced): $36,800 - $64,700
Bright Outlook occupations are expected to have rapid growth over the next 10-years (employment increase of 10% or more in the Richmond, MSA over the period of 2019-2029) or are expected to have a high demand (projected to have 750 or more job openings in the Richmond, MSA over the period of 2019-2029).
1 This program may prepare you for one or more of the listed jobs; however, graduates may not be qualified for all of the jobs listed in this section.
Reynolds Community College makes every attempt to provide students with the best, most accurate information possible. The data was sourced from external agencies (O*NET and JobsEQ) on January 29, 2020.