Academic Courses
American Sign Language/English Interpreting (INT)
ASL 101Elementary American Sign Language I
3-0-3
Introductory course in American Sign Language (ASL) as used by the majority of deaf people in the U.S.?and Canada.? A functional-notional approach is utilized which encourages natural conversational interaction. Students are introduced to the American Deaf community through outside field observations. ASL 102
Elementary American Sign Language II
3-0-3
Continuation of Elementary American Sign Language I, utilizing a functional-notional approach to developing natural conversation skills. Continuation of field experiences in the Deaf community. Prerequisite: ASL 101. ASL 201
Intermediate American Sign Language I
3-0-3
Continuation of the study of American Sign Language, focusing on conversa-tional skills using topics which naturally occur within the Deaf community. Students connect with members of the Deaf community through outside interaction. Prerequisite: ASL 102. ASL 202
Intermediate American Sign Language II
3-0-3
Further development of ASL conversa-tional skill through a functional-notional approach and outside interaction with the Deaf community. Prerequisite: ASL 201. ASL 215
ASL Fingerspelling
2-2-3
Students develop increased facility in recognizing and producing fingerspelled words and numbers in context. Students view and study careful, rapid, and lexicalized forms of fingerspelled words, acronyms, and number systems through developmentally sequenced exercises and develop the skills necessary to produce these linguistic items in their expressive signing. Prerequisite: ASL 202 with a minimum grade of “C.” Additional course fee: $66. ASL 230
Structure of American Sign Language
3-0-3
Introduction to basic concepts in linguistics and the grammatical structures and rules of American Sign Language (ASL). Focus is given to those features that are unique to ASL, particularly non-manual (facial) behaviors, spatial mapping, and sign modulations. Students identify and analyze specific structures in American Sign Language utterances and narrations presented live and through technology. Transcription and translation activities enhance language analysis skills. The language of instruction in this course is ASL. The course is intended to be complemented and reinforced by ASL 231 – Advanced ASL I. Prerequisites: ASL 202 and ENGL 101, which may be taken concurrently. ASL 231
Advanced American Sign Language I
2-2-3
This course is the first of a two-part advanced ASL sequence, moving students beyond the language require-ments of ASL 101, 102, 201, and 202 by continuing to develop conversational fluency at a beginning advanced level. The focus is on interactive experiences with language structures, functions, and vocabulary necessary for building narrative and conversational skills that enable efficient communication in ASL and Deaf Cultural contexts. Particular attention is given to development of visualization skills necessary for effective use of a visual-gestural language. The course also aims to expand students’ range of cultural and personal topics of discussion, and to use the target language in meaningful and creative ways. Prerequisite: ASL 202. Additional course fee: $66. ASL 232
Advanced American Sign Language II
2-2-1-3
This is the second of a two-part advanced ASL course sequence. Focus continues on interactive experiences with language structures, functions, and vocabulary necessary for efficient communication in ASL and Deaf Cultural contexts. Particular attention is given to enhanced fluency in the use of ASL classifiers, non-manuals, role shift, and spatial mapping within both conversational and more formal situations. Attention is also given to expanding the range of cultural and personal topics of discussion in meaningful and creative ways. Students apply ASL language skills in a field experience in the Deaf Community. Prerequisite: ASL 231. Additional course fee: $66. INT 105
Introduction to the American Deaf Community
3-0-3
This course provides a framework for understanding cultural and historical perspectives of the deaf community in America. Students will gain a deeper appreciation of in-group attitudes, values and beliefs of deaf people. They will study the American deaf community as a minority group with distinct social, linguistic, and political norms. Topics covered include misconceptions in the hearing world about deaf people, in-group perspectives, organizations of and by deaf people, and history of the deaf community from ancient to modern times. Prerequisite: ASL 102. INT 106
American Deaf Culture
3-0-3
The study of the American Deaf Community and its culture from a sociological and intercultural point of view. Students will explore the meaning of culture, intercultural communication, American Deaf and American hearing cultures, attitudes and prejudices toward the Deaf Community, diversity in Deaf Culture, communication access, as well as Deaf art, literature, and folklore. Prerequisite: INT 105. INT 240
Introduction to the Field of ASL/English Interpreting
3-0-1-3
Overview of both traditional and contemporary perspectives on inter-pretation and interpreters. Topics include history of interpreting, cognitive models of the interpreting process, factors influencing the interpreted interaction, settings for employment, professional ethics, and the business of interpreting. Interpretation is studied as an intercultural, as well as an inter-lingual, process. Field observation to observe working interpreters on the job is a required part of this course. Prerequisite: ASL 230, ASL 231, INT 105. INT 242
Introduction to Interpreting Processes
2-2-3
INT 242 is an introduction to the cognitive processing skills that are components of the complex process of interpretation. Students perform exercises and activities that help develop the ability to translate and consecutively interpret texts in both ASL and English. Students are first introduced to individual processing skills which are later combined in the complex act of interpretation. Major skill areas developed include: visualization, shadowing, listening and comprehension, abstracting, structuring, paraphrasing, dual task, cloze, and sight translation. Prerequisites: ASL 215, 230 and 231. Pre- or corequisite: INT 240. Additional course fee: $66. INT 251
ASL/English Interpreting I
2-2-1-3
INT 251 prepares students for the processing skills needed to interpret between American Sign Language and English. Students learn discourse mapping, a systematic approach for analyzing texts to produce successful, effective interpretations. Students progress from working with familiar to unfamiliar texts, and from translation to consecutive interpreting to simultaneous interpreting. Students also learn to evaluate both their work and the work of others. A field experience in which students shadow working interpreters on the job is a required feature of this course. Prerequisites: ASL 232, INT 240, INT 242, INT 106 (pre- or co-requisite). INT 252
ASL/English Interpreting II
2-2-3
This second interpreting skills course builds upon information and skills learned in INT 251, with a focus on interactive interpretation and application of professional decision-making. Students practice activities that are dialogic and interactive, in which Deaf and hearing people interact and communicate with each other. Situational analysis, identification of features of conversational style, application of interpreting coping strategies, and analysis of message equivalency will be applied to simulated practices and roles plays. Prerequisite: INT 251. Additional course fee: $66. INT 255
Transliterating
2-2-3
Transliteration between spoken and signed English messages, focusing on secondary and post-secondary educational settings. Course work includes analysis and interpretation of the macrostructure and microstructure of academic texts, translating frozen texts, and the application of interpreter management strategies frequently used in educational settings. Students work with rehearsed and unrehearsed texts. Prerequisite: INT 251. Additional course fee: $66. INT 260
Interpreting in Specialized Settings
3-0-3
Overview of issues related to interpreting for specialized populations and situations. Consumer populations that present unique challenges for Sign Language interpreters include: children, deaf-blind people, deaf individuals with minimal language skills (MLS), and deaf people in mental health settings. Interpreted situations and settings with distinct demands to be addressed include working in interpreting teams, video relay interpreting, and performance/platform interpreting. Prerequisite: INT 252. INT 297
Internship in Interpreting
2-0-10-4
This course offers students supervised practice in ASL/English interpretation in actual work situations. It is the final, integrative course of the ASL/English Interpreting Program. Students are placed at a minimum of two different work situations during the semester, and must complete a minimum of 120 hours of successful internship experience. At weekly seminars and individual meetings with the instructor, students address topics related to the profession of interpreting, discuss progress and skill development, and explore career options. Prerequisite: INT 252 and INT 255 and a grade point average of 2.5 in Core and English coursework