Sign Language Interpreting (AS S0801)
Humanities and Social Sciences Division
Degree S0801
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
This degree requires the completion of General Education coursework plus the following:
Required Courses
| Course Prefix | Course Name | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| ENGL 1A | Freshman Composition | 4 |
| or ENGL 1AH | Freshman Composition - Honors | |
| or ENGL 1AM | College Composition for Non-Native English Speakers | |
| 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 |
| SPCH 1A | Public Speaking | 4 |
| or SPCH 1AH | Public Speaking - Honors | |
| 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.
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 | 3 | |
| SIGN 220 | 4 | |
| SIGN 223 | Introduction to 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 | ||
| SIGN 105 recommendation to have completed prior to 5 | ||
| this term; 14 units is required to stay on track 4 | ||
| to completion to completion | ||
| 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, Numbers and Classifiers | 2 |
| SIGN 227 | Interpreting 1: Skills, Equity, and Ethics | 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 | |
| Summer Term 1 | ||
| AA/S ARTS | Area C-1 Arts Course | 3 |
| Area C1: ARTS recommendation THTR 11 1 | ||
| Units | 3 | |
| Fall Term 2 | ||
| SIGN 201 | Introduction to Deaf Studies | 3 |
| SIGN 202 | Cultures in the Deaf Community | 3 |
| SIGN 231 | Interpreting 2: Skills, Equity, and Ethics | 4 |
| AA/S BEHAV | Area D-2 Elective Course | 3 |
| SIGN 201 202 may be completed before this term 2 | ||
| Area D: BEV recommendation SOC 110, PSCY 1A, 1 | ||
| SPCH 30, ANTH 6 6 | ||
| Units | 13 | |
| Winter Term 2 | ||
| AA/S KINES | Phys Ed (KIN) Activity Course | .5 |
| Submit petition: inside.mtsac.edu, Student Tab#45 5 | ||
| SIGN 240 possible for elective 0 | ||
| SIGN 240 OR SIGN 260 2 | ||
| Units | 0.5 | |
| Spring Term 2 | ||
| SIGN 232 | Interpreting 3: Skills, Equity, and Ethics | 4 |
| AA/S USHIS | Area D-1 Hist/Pol Sc Course | 3 |
| AA/S MATH | Meet AA/AS Math Comptcy Req | 3 |
| Units | 10 | |
| Summer Term 2 | ||
| SIGN 240 OR SIGN 260 2 | ||
| Units | 0 | |
| Fall Term 3 | ||
| SIGN 225 | 2 | |
| SIGN 239 | Interpreting 4: Skills, Equity, and Ethics | 2 |
| AA/S SCNCE | Area B-1 or B-2 Science Course | 3 |
| AA/S LIFE | Area E Lifelong Undrstg Course | 3 |
| SIGN 299 elective course preferred w/SIGN 239 9 | ||
| Area E: Recommendation SPCH 26, PUBH 24, COUN 5 5 | ||
| Area B 1/2: Recommendation PSYC 1B, BIOL 6, ANTH 1 1 | ||
| SIGN 299 2 | ||
| Units | 10 | |
| Total Units | 64.5 | |
