African-american woman using sign language.

American Sign Language Interpreter, A.A.S.

The American Sign Language Interpreter degree will prepare students for a career working as a sign language interpreter for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing. This degree combines both the 21 credit hour certificate of American Sign Language proficiency as well as the 24 credit hour certificate in American Sign Language Interpreting and provides instruction in communication models and processes of American Sign Language, Deaf culture, interpreting skills, ethical understanding, and hands-on training in oral and manual interpreting in a wide range of situations. This degree also requires completion of 19 to 22 general education credit hours. Successful completion of this program will prepare students for certification examinations conducted by the State of Illinois and national accrediting agencies. This degree requires a minimum of 64 credits in program requirements and general education in the courses listed below.

For more information about American Sign Language Interpreting, please visit the program page.

Degree Requirements

Field of Study Code: ASLI.AAS

Program Requirements
SIGN 1101American Sign Language I3
SIGN 1102American Sign Language II3
SIGN 1103Fingerspelling and Numbers in ASL/Interpreting 3
SIGN 1104Cultural Perspective of the Deaf Community3
SIGN 2101American Sign Language III3
SIGN 2102Linguistics and Grammatical Aspects of American Sign Language3
SIGN 2103American Sign Language IV3
INTP 2104Introduction to American Sign Language Interpreting and Ethics3
INTP 2105ASL/English Skills Development4
INTP 2106Cognitive Processing ASL/English4
INTP 2107Translating from ASL to English/English to ASL4
INTP 2108Consecutive & Simultaneous Interpreting4
INTP 2109Educational Interpreting and Transliterating3
INTP 2110American Sign Language Interpreter Practicum2
General Education
Select 19 to 22 credits 119-22
Total Credits64-67
1

In addition to the courses listed above.

Suggested Semester Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredits
SIGN 1101 American Sign Language I 3
SIGN 1104 Cultural Perspective of the Deaf Community 3
ENGLI 1101
or ENGLI 1105
 English Composition I
or Workplace Writing
 3
Gen EdGlobal Multicultural Studies 3
orContemporary Life Skills  
 Credits12
Second Semester
SIGN 1102 American Sign Language II 3
SIGN 1103 Fingerspelling and Numbers 3
SPEEC 1100 Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3
MATH 1100
or MATH 1218
 Business Mathematics
or General Education Mathematics
 3
Gen EdHumanities and Fine Arts 3
 Credits15
Summer Semester
SIGN 2101 American Sign Language III 3
 Credits3
Third Semester
SIGN 2102 Linguistics and Grammatical Aspects of American Sign Language 3
SIGN 2103 American Sign Language IV 3
INTP 2104 Introduction to American Sign Language Interpreting and Ethics 3
Gen EdSocial and Behavioral Sciences 3
 Credits12
Fourth Semester
INTP 2105 ASL/English Skills Development 4
INTP 2106 Cognitive Processing ASL/English 4
BIOLO 1100
or BIOLO 1110
or CHEMI 1105
 Survey of Biology
or Environmental Biology
or Contemporary Chemistry
 4
 Credits12
Summer Term
INTP 2107 Translating from ASL to English/English to ASL 4
 Credits4
Fifth Semester
INTP 2108 Consecutive & Simultaneous Interpreting 4
INTP 2109 Educational Interpreting and Transliterating 3
ElectiveAny Elective 3
ElectiveAny Elective 2
 Credits12
Sixth Semster
INTP 2110 American Sign Language Interpreter Practicum 1 2
 Credits2
 Total Credits72
1

This course requires includes 80 observation/interpreting hours of off-campus practicum assignments under the supervision of a licensed interpreter.

Program Milestones

First Semester

  • Consider joining or visiting with a professional, cultural or interest-based Student Club.

Second Semester

  • If you have not done so yet this semester, it is important to make an appointment with a Faculty or Program Advisor to discuss your future academic progress.