American Sign Language/English Interpreting, BA
Program Description
The Bachelor of Arts in American Sign Language/English Interpreting prepares students to work as interpreters between hearing English users and Deaf American Sign Language users. Our graduates will learn to negotiate linguistic and cultural variations between English and ASL and to faithfully render the interpreted message. Upon graduation, our students should be prepared to take the Utah Novice exam.
Utah requires a certification for ASL Interpreters. There are two levels of the Utah Interpreting Certification, Novice , which allows an individual to interpret in almost any situation excluding technical or specialized situations; and Professional, which allows interpreters to work in more technical and specialized situations. The Utah Interpreting Certification does not require a university degree to obtain and is also accepted by neighboring states. Candidates must pass a written exam and a performance exam.
The National Interpreter Certification is also available and does require a bachelor’s degree. This certification will allow an interpreter to work anywhere in the United States.
Professional Licensure/Certification (PLC) Requirements
The curriculum for programs at Utah Tech University leading to professional licensure are designed to prepare students for Utah licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions requiring licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the University, and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time.
Licensure boards in each state establish requirements for licensure and certification for their respective state. States vary by which professions are required to be licensed and how licensure functions, and such requirements may change at any time. The terms related to licensure and certification, among others, also vary by state as well.
Students and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact the state licensure entity in the state where they intend to work to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by the student’s state(s) of choice. The University cannot provide verification of a student’s ability to meet licensure or certification requirements unrelated to its educational programming. Some states require individuals to complete additional requirements that are unrelated to educational prerequisites. For more information, visit the State Authorization and Professional Licensure web page and select the program, or speak to the director of the program.
Utah Tech University shall not be held liable if a student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction.
This disclosure is made pursuant to 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C).
Admission Requirements
Students can begin taking the required courses for the BA in ASL/Eng major in one of two ways:
- By beginning with any of the lower division courses (ASL 1010, 1020, 2010, or 2020 - the first class depends on a student’s background in ASL). Students who begin with ASL 1020, 2010, or 2020 may receive vertical credits for the lower classes, if needed, according to policy. ASL 1500 and ASL 2000 are not eligible for vertical credits.
- By beginning with ASL 3060 students can receive vertical credits for the classes skipped, according to policy.
The Bachelor of Arts foreign language requirement may be filled with any of these two options as soon as the student receives credit for either ASL 2020 or ASL 3060.
Placement in foreign language classes is at the discretion of the Department Chair.
An application process is required for admission to the BA in American Sign Language/English Interpreting program. The application can be found at https://goo.gl/forms/VnCVUNopEgw7kTL93
Students must provide a recommendation from someone in the Deaf community as well as someone in the interpreting community. Students must also complete the below classes with a B or higher or be eligible for and purchase vertical credits.
Program Curriculum
120 credits
Utah Tech General Education Requirements
All Utah Tech General Education requirements must be fulfilled. A previously earned degree may fulfill those requirements, but courses must be equivalent to Utah Tech's minimum General Education standards in American Institutions, English, and Mathematics.
General Education Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| English | 3-7 | |
| Mathematics | 3-5 | |
| American Institutions | 3-6 | |
| Life Sciences | 3-10 | |
| Physical Sciences | 3-5 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Literature/Humanities | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Exploration | 3-5 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts: Foreign Language Requirement | 3-16 | |
| Complete one of the following: | ||
- Complete 16 credits in a single foreign language, through earned credit (grade C or higher), credit by examination, or vertical credit from the courses listed on the GE Foreign Language Requirement page 1 | ||
- Complete a 2020 or higher foreign language course (grade C or higher) | ||
- Complete a 3060 foreign language course listed below (grade C or higher) | ||
- Receive 16 transfer credits for GEFL 1000 (8) and GEFL 2000 (8) in a single foreign language (grade C or higher) | ||
| OR | ||
| Complete a 1010 course listed below in a second foreign language (grade C or higher) AND one of the following: | ||
| 1. In a language not taught at Utah Tech, receive 12 FLATS exam credits for FLAT 1000 (8) and FLAT 2000 (4) | ||
or | ||
| 2. In a language not taught at Utah Tech, receive 12 transfer credits articulated as GEFL 1000 (8) and GEFL 2000 (4) (all grade C or higher) | ||
| OR | ||
| Available only to students who are nonnative English speakers, complete one of the following: | ||
- Complete 16 credits of ESL courses listed below (grade B or higher) | ||
- Submit one of the following test scores required for unconditional Utah Tech admission: TOEFL (61 iBT, 173 CBT, or 500 PBT); or Michigan (70); or USU-IELE equivalent score. Other tests may be accepted for admission to Utah Tech but will not fulfill this requirement. Official scores must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. | ||
| Total Hours | 3-16 | |
ASL/English Interpreting Requirements
Students can begin taking the required courses for the ASL Major one of two ways:
1) Begin with the lower division courses (ASL 1010, 1020, 2010 or 2020) depending on the student's proficiency level (as determined by the program director). Students who begin with 1010, 1020, 2010 or 2020 may receive vertical credits for the lower classes, if needed, according to policy.
or
2) Beginning with ASL 3060. Placement is at the Program Director's discretion.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ASL 1500 | Exploring Deaf Culture Through Film | 3 |
| ASL 2000 | Fingerspelling and Numbers in American Sign Language | 2 |
| ASL 2300 | Introduction to Interpreting | 3 |
| ASL 3060 | Advanced American Sign Language I | 3 |
| ASL 3070 | Advanced American Sign Language II | 3 |
| ASL 3300 | Current Trends in Interpreting (ALPP) | 3 |
| ASL 3400 | American Sign Language Linguistics | 3 |
| ASL 3500 | Deaf History | 3 |
| ASL 3600 | American Sign Language Literature | 3 |
| ASL 4300 | Transliterating | 3 |
| ASL 4350 | Internship in Interpreting | 3 |
| ASL 4400 | Topics in Interpreting | 3 |
| ASL 4450 | Legal Interpreting | 3 |
| ASL 4500 | Advanced Deaf Culture | 3 |
| ASL 4650 | Health Care Interpreting | 3 |
| ASL 4660 | Educational Interpreting | 3 |
| ASL 4700 | Ethics of Interpreting | 3 |
| Total Hours | 50 | |
*Consider minor coursework in another field to improve career opportunities.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 college-level credits (1000 and above).
- Complete at least 40 upper-division credits (3000 and above).
- Complete at least 30 upper-division credits at Utah Tech for institutional residency.
- Cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher.
- Grade B or higher in each Core Discipline and Emphasis course.