American Sign Language and English Interpreting Courses

ASL 101 - Elementary American Sign Language I

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 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
Credit Hours: 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 with a grade of "C" or better.

ASL 201 - Intermediate American Sign Language I

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

Continuation of the study of American Sign Language, focusing on conversational skills using topics which naturally occur within the deaf community. Students connect with members of the deaf community through outside interaction.

Prerequisite:

ASL 102 with a grade of "C" or better

ASL 202 - Intermediate American Sign Language II

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

Further development of ASL conversational skill through a functional-notional approach and outside interaction with the deaf community.

Prerequisite:

ASL 201 with a grade of "C" or better.

ASL 215 - American Sign Language Fingerspelling

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 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 grade of "B" or better.

ASL 230 - Structure of American Sign Language

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 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.

Prerequisite:

ASL 202 with a grade of "C" or better and ENGL 101, which may be taken concurrently.

 

ASL 231 - Advanced American Sign Language I

2-2-3
Credit Hours: 3

This course is the first of a two-part advanced ASL sequence, moving students beyond the language requirements 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.

Course fee: $85.

Prerequisite:

ASL 202 with a grade of "B" or better

ASL 232 - Advanced American Sign Language II

2-2-1-3
Credit Hours: 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.

Course fee: $85.

Restricted to INTR Majors

Prerequisite:

ASL 231 with a grade of "C" or better.

INT 105 - Introduction to the American Deaf Community

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 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.

INT 106 - American Deaf Culture

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 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. 

Restricted to INTR Majors

Prerequisite:

INT 105 with a grade of "C" or better.

INT 240 - Introduction to the Field of ASL/English Interpreting

3-0-1-3
Credit Hours: 3

Overview of both traditional and contemporary perspectives on interpretation 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.

Restricted to INTR majors.

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

ASL 230ASL 231, and INT 105 with a grade of "C" or better.

Co-requisites:

ENGL 101 with a "C" grade or higher.

INT 242 - Introduction to Interpreting Processes

2-2-3
Credit Hours: 3

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. 

Restricted to INTR majors.

Additional course fee: $85
Prerequisite:

ASL 230 and ASL 231 with a grade of "C" or better.

Co-requisites:

INT 240 (pre- or corequisite) with a grade of "C" or better.

INT 251 - ASL/English Interpreting I

2-2-1-3
Credit Hours: 3

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. 

Restricted to INTR majors.

Additional course fee: $85
Prerequisite:

ASL 232INT 240INT 242 with a grade of "C" or better.

Co-requisites:

INT 106 with a grade of "C" or better.

INT 252 - ASL/English Interpreting II

2-2-3
Credit Hours: 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 role plays.

Restricted to INTR majors.

Additional course fee: $85
Prerequisite:

INT 251 with a grade of "C" or better.

INT 255 - Transliterating

2-2-3
Credit Hours: 3

Transliteration between spoken and signed English messages, focusing on secondary and postsecondary 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. 

Restricted to INTR majors.

Additional course fee: $85
Prerequisite:

INT 251 with a grade of "C" or better.

INT 260 - Interpreting in Specialized Settings

3-0-3
Credit Hours: 3

This course allows students to learn best practices for interpreting in a variety of settings, including, but not limited to, legal, medical, mental health, deaf-blind, Deaf interpreting, performing arts, and vocational rehabilitation. Students will learn the requisite skills, knowledge and ethical considerations critical to working effectively in these unique situations. Field observation to observe working interpreters on the job is a required part of this course.

Restricted to INTR majors.

Offered Online: Yes
Prerequisite:

INT 240 with a grade of "C" or better.

INT 297 - Internship in Interpreting

3-0-10-4
Credit Hours: 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.

Restricted to INTR majors.

Prerequisite:

INT 252 and INT 255 with a grade of "C" or better.