Bachelor's Degree in American Sign Language – Interpreting
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major: American Sign Language
Concentration: Interpreting
Hours: 120
ASL - Interpreting Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in American Sign Language with a concentration in interpreting at 17³Ô¹Ï will help you become proficient in ASL. Along with validity within the deaf community and networking opportunities within the professional community. This degree could lead you to a career as a sign language interpreter, certified teacher, advocate and lobbyist, or even as a speech-language pathologist, postsecondary foreign language and literature teacher or social worker.
ASL interpreting is considered one of the best, most meaningful jobs in the country. Within this program, you will learn valuable communication skills. ASL is a language that brings everyone together, and you'll get to learn from experts every day.
The 17³Ô¹Ï Department of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education is an accredited member of the . Lamar presents ASL as a culture- and community-based language that interacts with other world languages. Our program techniques include immersion and bilingual-bicultural comparison classes, community interaction, research, lab activities and use of digital video technology.
ASL - Interpreting Courses You May Take
ASL I: This course is an introduction to the basic skills in production and comprehension of American Sign Language (ASL). It includes the manual alphabet and numbers, vocabulary, grammar, sentence structures, conversational strategies, and cultural/language notes. This course will assist the student in developing conversational ability; culturally appropriate behaviors and exposes students to ASL grammar.
Introduction to Deaf Studies: Historical and current trends about the American Deaf community, their culture, and the education of deaf youth.
ASL Structure: A study of the basics of ASL linguistics including phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics.
Linguistics of Fingerspelling: The study of manual performance development of number concepts in American Sign Language used in the Deaf Community.
ASL Literature: A survey of Deaf Cultural themes as expressed in short stories, poetry, drama, humor, and the visual arts will be addressed.
Career Paths for ASL - Interpreting
Working as an ASL interpreter opens up roles in a variety of professional settings like education, healthcare and legal environments. Interpreters can be full-time employees, work as freelancers or pursue roles like specialized certification (certified deaf interpreter) or training/mentoring new interpreters.
Primary Careers
ASL interpreters and translators, teacher, speech-language pathologist
- Primary education
- Secondary education
- Higher education
- Public service
- Communications
- Interpreting
- Public schools
- Colleges and universities
- Government agencies
- Social service providers
- Media organizations
- Private corporations
Zanthia Smith
Dr. M. Diane Clark
Joseph Mann III