Associate of Applied Science | 70 credits
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Program Description
The ASL/English Interpreting program is designed to prepare new and returning students for state and national certification testing. Obtaining certification can lead to employment in the rapidly expanding and rewarding field of ASL/English Interpreting. After successful completion of the program, students must apply for and pass the Utah State Interpreter Certification exam, National Interpreter Certification and/or the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) to work as a professional interpreter. The ASL/English Interpreter Education Program will prepare students to test for Utah Interpreter Certification, Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment and/or the National Interpreter Certification. To sit for the National Interpreter Certification candidates must have a bachelor’s degree (in any field) or 120 college credits. At this time, Utah Interpreter Certification and the EIPA do not require a bachelor’s degree.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities are available in a variety of settings and fields, including education, social services, religion, government, business, performing arts, mental health, medical and legal settings, and more.
Transfer/Articulation Information
While an AAS is typically a terminal degree, graduates of SLCC’s ASL/English Interpreting program can continue their studies at a four-year institution by completing that institution’s residency and upper-division requirements because they have completed their entire general education core at SLCC. Students who complete the AAS in ASL/English Interpreting can decide to pursue a BS degree at USU, which has a special agreement with the ASL/I Program. See an Academic Advisor for ASL as SLCC has identified a number of good transfer and pathway options.
Estimated Cost for Students
Tuition and student fees: http://www.slcc.edu/student/financial/tuition-fees.aspx
Course fee: $70.00
Supplies: $50
Other: $150
Note: Fees vary based upon specific registration and are subject to changes.
Program Entry Requirements
Entrance into the ASL English Interpreting program is selective and requires prerequisites and an application. To apply for the program students must complete the following courses:
For each of these courses, students must receive a grade of “B-” or better and the ASL courses must have been completed within the past two years. For application information, please see the website http://www.slcc.edu/asl/index.aspx, contact the ASL Department or the ASL Academic Advisor.
Licensure Information
Graduation from the American Sign Language/English Interpreting AAS program does not guarantee the ability to obtain a Utah state certification to practice as an ASL/English Interpreter. Licensure is the exclusive right and responsibility of each state. In order to work as an ASL/English Interpreter, students must satisfy individual state requirements, independent of SLCC graduation requirements. It is highly recommended that students consult in advance with the Utah Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH), or similar agencies in other states, to find out more about eligibility for certification. Find out more at the DSDHH website.
If you have difficulty finding the licensure requirements for your state, please contact your academic advisor or SLCC’s state authorization coordinator for help.