Interpreting/American Sign Language Education Associate Degree
American Sign Language/Deaf Studies Certificate

The Interpreting/ASL Education Associate Degree program prepares graduates for entry-level interpreting/ASL positions where persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and hearing persons must communicate with each other. The Associate Degree program offers extensive course work in American Sign Language. A language lab helps students develop skills during six core courses. A three-quarter practicum gives students opportunities to gain first-hand experience applying their interpreting/transliterating skills and knowledge of professional ethics under the supervision of an agency interpreter.

To qualify for admission to the Associate Degree program, students must (1) have an entry-level knowledge of American Sign Language and deaf culture (equivalent to CSCC’s ITT 141, 142, 130 and 111); (2) have a good command of spoken English; (3) agree to adhere to the Code of Ethics established by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.; (4) attend a Mandatory Information Session conducted by the coordinator to complete an application form for the program; and (5) agree to complete a minimum number of ITT courses each quarter. Prior to acceptance into the Interpreting program, students may take any general education courses listed in the Plan of Study, and any courses listed in the ASL/Deaf Studies Certificate without permission of the ITT program coordinator.

The seven-quarter program is sequential, carefully integrating theory and skills with problem solving and critical thinking. Students must adhere to the Code of Professional Conduct of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), or risk dismissal from the program. In order to ensure successful language learning, students are REQUIRED to participate each quarter in activities and events outside of class time.

Upon completion of the Associate Degree in Interpreting/ASL Education, the graduate will be able to:
• Demonstrate unique skills required for interpreting in specialized settings (e.g., oral, medical, mental health, deaf-blind, etc.).
• Demonstrate an understanding of the interpreting/transliterating RID Code of Professional Conduct.
• Demonstrate basic competency with American Sign Language (ASL) as well as a basic understanding of signed English.
• Demonstrate ability to interpret spoken English messages into ASL, and ASL messages into spoken English.
• Demonstrate ability to transliterate spoken English messages into Manually Coded English, and Manually Coded English into spoken English.
• Explain the role of the interpreter/transliterator to both deaf and hearing consumers.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the deaf community and sensitivity toward the cultural traditions of the community.
• Assess a deaf consumer’s preferred mode of communication.
• Analyze and adapt the physical aspects of the interpreting setting or be able to adapt to physical aspects that cannot be changed.
• Demonstrate knowledge of various agencies/organizations serving the deaf community.

The CSCC Interpreting/American Sign Language Education Program is approved by the State of Ohio Department of Education. Students who successfully complete the Interpreting/American Sign Language Education Associate Degree are eligible to apply for their Educational Interpreting License from the State of Ohio Department of Education.

Specific Program Admissions Information

Listed below are additional requirements for admission to Interpreting/ASL Education Program:
• High school graduate or GED equivalency
• Entry-level American Sign Language skills equivalent to CSCC’s ASL I (ITT 141), ASL II (ITT 142), Fingerspelling (ITT 130), and Introduction to the Deaf Community (ITT 111)--all with a “C” or better. ASL I and Introduction to the Deaf Community are offered Autumn and Spring quarters; ASL II and Fingerspelling are offered Winter and Summer quarters. Individuals with ASL experience may meet this requirement by taking an ASL placement exam. Contact Alan Atwood, (614) 287-5164, for more information.
• COMPASS test placement into ENGL 101 Beginning Composition or above, “No Reading Required, and MATH 102.
• Complete the form “Application to Become an Interpreting/ASL Education Major”. This form can ONLY be obtained from the coordinator during a Mandatory Information Session. Mandatory Information Sessions tend to be scheduled in early January and July. Contact the coordinator of the Interpreting/ASL Education program, Chris Evenson, (614) 287-5616, for dates/times of the next Mandatory Information Session.
• Submit all previous college and university transcripts to the Registrar’s Office.
• Admitted with, and maintain, a minimum 2.0 GPA.

Students who go out-of-sequence may re-enter the Interpreting program providing space is available. Those students will be required to meet with an advisor, take applicable skills assessment exams, and must follow the current year’s Plan of Study for graduation, including any and all course work that has been added to the curriculum since their original start of the program.

Note: American Sign Language/Deaf Studies Certificate candidates do not need to attend a Mandatory Information Session.

Interpreting /ASL Education Associate Degree

American Sign Language/Deaf Studies Certificate

For those individuals wanting to learn about people who are deaf, their unique culture and community, and to be able to converse with them via American Sign Language (ASL), Columbus State offers a certificate program. This program does not prepare individuals to become interpreters; it is strictly a program to enhance/establish communication skills and to learn about deafness. Attending a Mandatory Information Session with the coordinator is not required; students simply register for the courses. Once all courses have been successfully completed, students apply for the certificate by contacting the Interpreting/ASL education coordinator. Individuals successfully completing the following eight courses (35 credit hours) must apply for their certificate within four quarters of completing ASL V.

For additional information about the American Sign Language/Deaf Studies Certificate, please see the Interpreting/ASL education program coordinator. Individuals who have ASL experience may take an ASL placement test. Contact Alan Atwood, (614) 287-5164, or aatwood@cscc.edu for more information.

*Registration for the following eight courses may be restricted to Interpreting/ASL Education majors for the first two weeks of registration. Seats not taken by majors will be released to any nonmajor students meeting the prerequisites 14 days after the first day of registration. Contact the coordinator for registration dates for nonmajors.