American Sign Language/English Interpreting (INT)
Description:
The ASL/English Interpreting (INT) curriculum prepares students to work as professional interpreters with Deaf and non-deaf (hearing) people. The goal of the ASL/English interpreter is to make communication as complete and equal as possible for both Deaf and non-deaf participants by accurately conveying the thoughts, feelings, words, attitudes and meanings of the message, whether it is expressed in spoken English, American Sign Language (ASL) or other forms of signed communication. Thus, interpreters must be bilingual, skilled in both English and ASL, and bicultural, knowledgeable about the cultures of both Deaf and non-deaf people.
A skilled interpreter must also be versatile, mature and flexible in order to successfully work with people from a variety of backgrounds with diverse communication needs. The field encompasses a multitude of situations and settings, including medical, legal and psychological, that frequently contain sensitive and personal issues. In responding to these situations it is the interpreter's professional responsibility to thoroughly understand, and adhere to, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. Code of Professional Conduct. It is therefore imperative that interpreters also be of high moral character, nonjudgmental and well-informed in order to be able to meet the challenges which arise in these sensitive, diverse and ever-changing situations.
The INT curriculum covers a variety of subject areas, including Deaf culture, structure of ASL, comparative English and ASL, professional practices and ethics, interpreting processes in theory and application, and guided skill development in ASL and interpreting with diagnostic feedback. The INT lab offers practice opportunities in both video and digital formats in a small group, supportive environment.
In addition to traditional classroom lectures and laboratory activities, the curriculum utilizes hands-on experience through fieldwork, guest lectures, observations and internships. Cooperative relationships with professional and community agencies and organizations are maintained to provide opportunities for networking and interaction with the Deaf community, as well as the professional interpreting community.
The INT program prepares students for entry-level work as interpreters. It also prepares students for the national certification evaluation given by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID). For the majority of students, however, several years of professional work experience after graduation are needed before certification can be attained. Students completing the curriculum receive an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. Beginning July 1st, 2012 RID will require a Bachelor's degree in any major in order to take the national certification exam. In order to meet that requirement, CCP has developed collaborations with baccalaureate institutions to provide suitable options to students graduating with the A.A.S.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this curriculum, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced ASL proficiency and Deaf culture awareness as it applies to a wide variety of deaf-hearing interaction settings and participants
- Practice ethical standards of interpreting as they apply to the role and function of interpreters described within the RID Code of Professional Conduct.
- Work effectively with other members of their profession in collegial ways to support their Deaf and non-deaf clients.
- Demonstrate the ability to assess and analyze one's own competencies in order to identify areas of need for continuing education and professional development
- Demonstrate interpreting and transliterating competence necessary for effective facilitation of communication in a variety of settings.
Program Entry Requirements:
ASL/English Interpreting program students must be English 101 ready. Developmental coursework must be completed before admittance into the program. To be accepted into the ASL/English Interpreting program students must earn a minimum grade of "C" in ASL 101 and a minimum grade of "B" in ASL 102 (both program prerequisites). Applicants to the ASL/English Interpreting program who have not taken ASL 101 and/or ASL 102, and who have prior experience with the language of ASL, may request a proficiency screening for acceptance and placement in the program.
Applicants requesting transfer of ASL courses from another college must have earned a minimum grade of "C" in ASL 101 and a minimum grade of "B" in ASL 201 and 202 equivalents at their former college(s) for these courses to be transferable.
Program Retention Criteria:
A student who demonstrates attitudes and behavior viewed as inconsistent with professional ASL/English interpreting standards may be dropped from the curriculum pending a departmental hearing.
ASL skills can diminish over time if not used regularly. Therefore, it is recommended that students who leave the program for more than one year and wish to return be evaluated by a faculty member for the need to retake coursework previously taken.
Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:
To qualify for an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in ASL/English Interpreting, a student must complete 67 credits as prescribed, have an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, and a "C" or better in all ASL, ENGL and INT courses.
Course Sequence:
Summer I
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASL 201 - Intermediate American Sign Language I | ASL 102 with a grade "C" or better (or Program placement) | 3 credits | |
| ENGL 101 - English Composition I or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors) | 3 credits | Writing, Research, and Info Lit 1 |
Summer 2
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASL 202 - Intermediate American Sign Language II | ASL 201 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits | |
| CIS 103 - Introduction to Information Technology | 3 credits | Technological Competency |
Semester 1
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASL 230 - Structure of American Sign Language | ASL 202 with a grade of "B" or better, ENGL 101 which may be taken concurrently | 3 credits | |
| ASL 231 - Advanced American Sign Language I | ASL 202 with a grade of "B" or better | 3 credits | |
| INT 105 - Introduction to the American Deaf Community | 3 credits | ||
| INT 240 - Introduction to the Field of ASL/English Interpreting | ASL 230, ASL 231 & INT 105 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits |
Semester 2
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASL 232 - Advanced American Sign Language II | ASL 231 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits | |
| INT 106 - American Deaf Culture | INT 105 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits | |
| INT 242 - Introduction to Interpreting Processes | ASL 230 and ASL 231 all with a grade of "C" or better Pre- or coreq: INT 240 | 3 credits | |
| INT 260 - Interpreting in Specialized Settings | INT 240 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits |
Summer 1
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASL 215 - American Sign Language Fingerspelling | ASL 202 with a grade of "B" or better | 3 credits | |
| INT 251 - ASL/English Interpreting I | ASL 232, INT 240, INT 242 all with a grade of "C" or better. INT 106 with a grade of "C" or better, which may be taken con currently | 3 credits |
Summer 2
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 115 Public Speaking or ENGL 116 - Interpersonal Communication | ENGL 101, which may be taken concurrently | 3 credits | Oral Communication/Creative Expression |
| FNMT 101 - Quantitative Reasoning or FNMT 118 or higher* | FNMT 017 or FNMT 019 completed or FNMT 118 (or higher) placement | 3 credits | Quantitative Reasoning |
Semester 3
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| INT 252 - ASL/English Interpreting II | INT 251 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits | |
| INT 255 - Transliterating | INT 251 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits | |
| ENGL 102 - The Research Paper or ENGL 102H - The Research Paper (Honors) | ENGL 101 with a grade of "C" or better | 3 credits | Writing, Research, and Info Lit 2 |
| SOC 101 - Intro to Sociology or ANTH 112 - Cultural Anthropology | 3 credits | Cultural Analysis & Interpretation |
Semester 4
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| INT 297 - Internship in Interpreting | INT 252, INT 255 both with a grade of "C" or better | 4 credits | |
| BIOL 106 - General Biology I or BIOL 108 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology or AET 102 - Science, Technology and Public Policy | 3 or 4 credits | Scientific Reasoning |
Notes:
* Some colleges and universities require a mathematics course above FNMT 118. Here are the options:
- Students who are FNMT 118 ready may take MATH 137 or MATH 150 instead of FNMT 101.
- Students who are FNMT 118 ready who intend to transfer to Temple University should take FNMT 118, which is the prerequisite for MATH 161.
- Please visit the transfer agreements web page for more information and consult with an advisor when selecting a quantitative reasoning course.
Minimum Credits Needed to Graduate:
67General Education Requirements:
All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request For Course Substitution Of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College's general education requirements is also available.
For More Information, Contact:
The Division of Liberal Studies, Room BR-21, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, Telephone (215) 751-8450; or the College Information Center (215) 751-8010.