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 105American Sign Language 54
SIGN 108Fingerspelling2
SIGN 201Introduction to Deaf Studies3
SIGN 202Cultures in the Deaf Community3
SIGN 210American Sign Language Structure3
SIGN 220Translation: American Sign Language and English4
SIGN 223Principles of Interpreting3
SIGN 225Ethical Decision Making for Interpreters2
SIGN 227Cognitive Processing for Interpreters4
SIGN 231Interpreting4
SIGN 232Advanced Interpreting4
SIGN 239Applied Interpreting2
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 Units43-43.5

Sign Language/Interpreting Department Website 

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, a student will be able to:

  • 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.

Plan of Study Grid
Fall Term 1Units
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
 Units14
Winter Term 1
ENGL 1A Freshman Composition 4
ENGL 1A prerequisite for SIGN 227 7
 Units4
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
 Units10
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
 Units10
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
 Units0
Spring Term 2
SIGN 232 Advanced Interpreting 4
 Units4
Summer Term 2
SIGN 240 OR SIGN 260 2
 Units0
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
 Units4
 Total Units46
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