Sign Language Interpreting Program

AAS Sign Language Interpreting Advisement Form   (PDF file - requires Acrobat Reader)

AAS Sign Language Interpreting Advisement Form (Fillable form - requires Microsoft Word)

    There is a great and ever-increasing demand for qualified sign language/English inter­preters. Interpreters are employed full- and part-time in education, business, government, and as independent freelance interpreters. The two-year sequence of courses leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree with a major in Interpreting for the Deaf. This pro­gram prepares students with the skills and knowledge to enter the growing profession of interpreting.

Once admitted, students complete a sequence of professional courses in sign language and interpreting. Students who are able to take at least ten hours per semester can com­plete their professional studies in two years. Completing the general studies requirements for an Associate of Applied Science degree may require additional semesters. Students who are able to take only one course per semester should consult with an advisor to develop an individual plan of study. To complete the final course in the professional program, students must fulfill all assigned hours of field experience and pass a comprehensive examination. Students accepted into the program who subsequently withdraw from the course sequence are required to get written permission from the Program Coordinator before enrolling in future INTP courses. They may be required to pass an additional assessment of their signing skills.

Students wishing to audit or enroll in selected courses from the program must obtain approval from the Program Coordinator. Students will be required to earn at least 80 per­cent on the final examination in the prerequisite skills class. Such students will be admitted on a space-available basis. It is expected that the students will possess the necessary knowledge and skills to complete requirements of the selected course.

This program of study requires special admission as explained below. Contact the Sign Language Interpreting office at (678) 891-3600 or visit our website at www.gpc.edu/~gpcslip for more information.

Admissions to the Sign Language Interpreting Program
This program requires special admission. The Sign Language Interpreting Program sequence of professional courses (INTP) begins only in the fall semester, and enrollment is limited. The Department of Sign Language Interpreting confirms official notification of acceptance to the program. Admission requirements include the following:

• Acceptance to Georgia Perimeter College.
• Attendance at a program orientation.
• Academic credit for ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1101H and ENGL 1102 or ENGL 1102H, each with a grade of "C" or better.
• A passing score on the Regents' Test. (The Regents' Test is waived for students with a Bachelor's degree.)
• Completion of Sign Language Interpreting Program application available in that department.
• Successful completion of an entrance interview demonstrating intermediate conversational proficiency in American Sign Language.
• Demonstration of spoken English fluency.
• Contact the Sign Language Interpreting office at 404-299-4322 for additional information
• The College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) does not apply to this career program. An applicant that is admitted to the college under this program and subsequently changes to a transfer program will be subject to CPC requirements.

Sign Language Interpreting
General Education and Professional Curriculum

NOTE:
            (a) These courses do not apply toward graduation requirements.
 

General Education for Sign Language Interpreting AAS degree
28-30 hours
ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102 must be completed prior to admission to this program. The remaining courses in this list may be taken while taking the American Sign Language prerequisites and the INTP professional curriculum courses.

Required Courses:

ATEC 1201	Computer Concepts	1 hour
RSCH 1203	Research Strategies and Technology	1 hour
COMM 1201*	Public Speaking	3 hours
ENGL 1101*	English Composition I	3 hours
ENGL 1102*	English Composition II	3 hours
HIST 2111* or HIST 2112*	United States History I   United States History II	3 hours   3 hours
MATH 1101	Introduction to Mathematical Modeling	3 hours
PHED	Physical Education Electives	2-4 hours
POLS 1101*	American Government	3 hours
PSYC 1101*	Introduction to General Psychology	3 hours
Select elective from Core I Area C      Humanities/Fine Arts		3 hours
Regents' Test (b)

NOTE:
        * Or Honors version
        (b) The Regents' Test is a required competency level test in writing and reading. Both parts of the Regents' Test must be passed prior to enrolling in the professional curriculum. Students are advised to register for the Regents' Test as soon as ENGL 1101 is completed. For information on the Regents' Testing Program, see the college Catalog. Students holding a bachelor's degree or higher are exempt.

Professional Curriculum for Sign Language Interpreting AAS degree

42 hours

First-year courses:

INTP 1911	American Sign Language Narrative and Discourse	6 hours
INTP 1911L	Interpreting Lab 1	1 hour
INTP 1915	Deaf History and Culture	3 hours
INTP 1923	Consecutive ASL to English	3 hours
INTP 1924	Fingerspelling and Numbers	1 hour
INTP 1925	Classifiers in ASL	1 hour
INTP 1931	English to ASL Interpreting	3 hours
INTP 1931L	Interpreting Lab 2	1 hour

Second-year courses:

INTP 1941	Introduction to Interpreting	3 hours
INTP 2901	Interpreting in Specialized Settings	3 hours
INTP 2901L	Interpreting Lab 3	1 hour
INTP 2912	Simultaneous ASL to English	3 hours
INTP 2912L	Interpreting Lab 4	1 hour
INTP 2932	English to American Sign Language II	3 hours
INTP 2934	Transliteration	3 hours
INTP 2951	Practicum (c)	6 hours

NOTE:
            (c)    A comprehensive exam and student portfolio are required to exit the program.