Sign Language/Interpreting (Certificate T0801)
Humanities and Social Sciences Division
Certificate T0801
The Mt. San Antonio College Interpreter Training Program is designed to prepare individuals for careers as Sign Language Interpreters. Interpreters are needed wherever communication happens between the hearing community and the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. There are an endless number of settings in which this communication takes place. Interpreters are employed by school districts, cruiseship companies, corporations, government agencies, hospitals, colleges and universities, and a vast number of other organizations and private businesses.
Program Preparation: Preparation for the program includes fluency in American Sign Language demonstrated by the completion of SIGN 104, (or the equivalent skill) and English fluency demonstrated by the completion of ENGL 1A.
National Certification: There are many specialties within the field of Sign Language Interpreting, but the focus of this program is on preparing the interpreter generalist. Although requiring some type of certification is becoming more common in California, there are still many job opportunities for the precertified interpreter.
Completing the certificate in Sign Language/Interpreting does not make one a “Certified Interpreter”; however, graduates of this program are encouraged to apply for National Interpreting Certification (NIC) through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) at www.rid.org.
Required Courses
| Course Prefix | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| SIGN 105 | American Sign Language 5 | 4 |
| SIGN 108 | Fingerspelling | 2 |
| SIGN 201 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 |
| SIGN 202 | Cultures in the Deaf Community | 3 |
| SIGN 210 | American Sign Language Structure | 3 |
| SIGN 220 | Translation: American Sign Language and English | 4 |
| SIGN 223 | Principles of Interpreting | 3 |
| SIGN 225 | Ethical Decision Making for Interpreters | 2 |
| SIGN 227 | Cognitive Processing for Interpreters | 4 |
| SIGN 231 | Interpreting | 4 |
| SIGN 232 | Advanced Interpreting | 4 |
| SIGN 239 | Applied Interpreting | 2 |
| Required Electives | ||
| Choose three courses from the following: | 5-5.5 | |
| Vocabulary Building for Interpreters | ||
| Interpreting with Classifiers | ||
| Video Interpreting | ||
| Special Projects in Sign Language/Interpreting | ||
| Total Units | 43-43.5 | |
- Apply Demand Control Schema (DC-S) Theory to the field of Sign Language Interpreting.
- Given an English narrative, successfully give a functional equivalent message in ASL in a simultaneous mode.
Review Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for this program.
Looking for guidance? A counselor can help.
This Guided Pathways for Success (GPS) is a suggested sequence of coursework needed for program completion. It is not an official educational plan. Schedule an appointment with a counselor or advisor as soon as possible to create an individualized Mountie Academic Plan (MAP) specific to your goals and needs.
| Fall Term 1 | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| SIGN 105 | American Sign Language 5 | 4 |
| SIGN 210 | American Sign Language Structure | 3 |
| SIGN 220 | Translation: American Sign Language and English | 4 |
| SIGN 223 | Principles of Interpreting | 3 |
| SIGN 223 request prerequisite override for ENGL 1A 1 | ||
| contact Sign Language Dept. Chair contact Sign Language Dept. Chair | ||
| Ann Walker ann.walker@mtsac.edu Ann Walker ann.walker@mtsac.edu | ||
| Recommend SIGN 105 be completed prior to this term 5 | ||
| 14 units required to stay on track to completion 4 | ||
| Units | 14 | |
| Winter Term 1 | ||
| ENGL 1A | Freshman Composition | 4 |
| ENGL 1A prerequisite for SIGN 227 7 | ||
| Units | 4 | |
| Spring Term 1 | ||
| SIGN 108 | Fingerspelling | 2 |
| SIGN 227 | Cognitive Processing for Interpreters | 4 |
| SPCH 1A | Public Speaking | 4 |
| SPCH 1A prerequisite for SIGN 231 1 | ||
| Electives: SIGN 240, 250, 260 299 3 courses 3 | ||
| (5-5.5 units) to be completed this semester 5 | ||
| following terms as noted; may be taken fall/spring following terms as noted; may be taken fall/spring | ||
| SIGN 250 1.5 | ||
| Units | 10 | |
| Fall Term 2 | ||
| SIGN 201 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 |
| SIGN 202 | Cultures in the Deaf Community | 3 |
| SIGN 231 | Interpreting | 4 |
| SIGN 201 202 may be completed before this term 2 | ||
| Units | 10 | |
| Winter Term 2 | ||
| Apply for Certificate at Admissions Records Apply for Certificate at Admissions Records | ||
| SIGN 240 possible for elective 0 | ||
| SIGN 240 OR SIGN 260 2 | ||
| Units | 0 | |
| Spring Term 2 | ||
| SIGN 232 | Advanced Interpreting | 4 |
| Units | 4 | |
| Summer Term 2 | ||
| SIGN 240 OR SIGN 260 2 | ||
| Units | 0 | |
| Fall Term 3 | ||
| SIGN 225 | Ethical Decision Making for Interpreters | 2 |
| SIGN 239 | Applied Interpreting | 2 |
| SIGN 299 elective course preferred w/SIGN 239 9 | ||
| SIGN 299 2 | ||
| Units | 4 | |
| Total Units | 46 | |
