Sign Language Interpreting (Certificate T0801)
Humanities and Social Sciences Division
Certificate T0801
The Mt. San Antonio College Interpreter Education Program’s mission is to inspire students and to provide a brave space for students to learn a foundation of skills and knowledge necessary to interpret languages and cultures among diverse signing and non-signing populations while cultivating students’ professional dispositions: equity mindedness, ethical decision making, interpersonal skills, lifelong learning, and world knowledge. Our program is based the competencies and curriculum set by the Commission of Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE).
Sign Language Interpreters are needed wherever communication happens between diverse signing and non-signing populations. This type of work requires interpreters of diverse languages, cultures, and backgrounds to work with a wide range of consumers. Interpreters are employed by video relay companies, school districts, colleges and universities, government agencies, medical settings, corporations, nonprofits, and private businesses.
After graduation, the graduates are encouraged to seek higher education and internship opportunities. Students can take credentialing exams such as the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) or the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI). With a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, interpreters can take the National Interpreter Certification (NIC). The State of California does not currently require a license to work as a general interpreter. Certification is the preference of hiring entities and consumers. There are requirements to work as an educational interpreter. Students will learn a foundation of skills and knowledge necessary to interpret.
Resources:
CCIE
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (NIC)
Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment
Board for Evaluation of Interpreters in Texas
Required Courses
| Course Prefix | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| COMM C1000 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 4 |
| or COMM C1000H | Introduction to Public Speaking - Honors | |
| ENGL C1000 | Academic Reading and Writing | 4 |
| or ENGL C1000H | Academic Reading and Writing - Honors | |
| or AMLA 1A | College Composition for Non-Native English Speakers | |
| SIGN 101 | American Sign Language 1 | 4 |
| or SIGN 101H | American Sign Language 1 - Honors | |
| SIGN 102 | American Sign Language 2 | 4 |
| SIGN 103 | American Sign Language 3 | 4 |
| SIGN 104 | American Sign Language 4 | 4 |
| SIGN 105 | American Sign Language 5 | 4 |
| SIGN 201 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 |
| SIGN 202 | Cultures in the Deaf Community | 3 |
| SIGN 206 | Social Justice and Intersectionality within the Deaf Community | 3 |
| SIGN 212 | American Sign Language Features and Linguistics | 3 |
| SIGN 213 | Linguistics for Interpreters | 3 |
| SIGN 223 | Introduction to Interpreting | 3 |
| SIGN 227 | Interpreting 1: Skills, Equity, and Ethics | 4 |
| SIGN 231 | Interpreting 2: Skills, Equity, and Ethics | 4 |
| SIGN 232 | Interpreting 3: Skills, Equity, and Ethics | 4 |
| SIGN 239 | Interpreting 4: Skills, Equity, and Ethics | 4 |
| SIGN 241 | Video Interpreting | 3 |
| SIGN 243 | Team Interpreting | 3 |
| SIGN 245 | Business of Interpreting and Assessment Preparation | 1.5 |
| SIGN 247 | Interpreting Capstone and Reflective Practice | 3 |
| Required Electives | ||
| Complete a minimum of 6 units from the following: | 6 | |
| Creative Uses of American Sign Language | ||
| Community Interpreting | ||
| Interpreting with Diverse Consumers | ||
| K-12 and Mock Interpreting | ||
| Post-Secondary and Mock Interpreting | ||
| Performance Arts Interpreting | ||
| Trilingual Interpreting | ||
| Complex Topics in Interpreting | ||
| Special Projects in Sign Language/Interpreting | ||
| Total Units | 78.5 | |
- Demonstrate a professional disposition: equity mindedness, ethical decision making, interpersonal skills, lifelong learning, and world knowledge
- Use the foundation of acquired skills and knowledge to find potential transfer and internship opportunities
- Interpret languages and cultures among diverse signing and non-signing populations
Review Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for this program.
